Looking for a fun way to learn the art of orienteering? Orienteering is a growing sport that challenges the body and mind as you navigate winding paths and take in the scenery and fresh air.

What is Orienteering?

Orienteering is the sport of navigation, using a highly detailed map. Whether you’re an experienced hiker, competitive runner, or just a family or group out for an activity in a park, this sport helps you improve your navigation each time.

Orienteering can gradually build your map-reading skills from exploring a local city park full of obvious structures to navigating remote terrain with few, if any, man-made features. 

On orienteering maps, a course consists of a triangle, circles, a double circle and sometimes connecting lines all in purple. The triangle is the start. The double circle is the finish. All the circles in between are checkpoints. Numbered orange and white flags are placed in the terrain to show you that you have reached the correct location. At each checkpoint you will punch registering that you found the correct location. You may use any route you want between checkpoints.

About the Course

In December 2021, the Faulkner Orienteering Course was created and installed by Tyler resident, William Barker with the help of the Tyler Boy Scouts, as his Eagle Scout Project.

Navigating the Faulkner Orienteering Course

• Print the orienteering map
  •  To complete the course, you will need to find all the locations (called control points or controls) on the map in numerical order from start to finish.
  • Download and print the orienteering course map, which shows the course controls, sequence numbers, and descriptions. 

• Head to the start point
  •  On the map, you will see the start point represented by a purple triangle with a double circle around it. This denotes that the start and finish points are the same location. 
• Find the control points
  •  From the start point, go to each of the control points on the course, on numerical order. Controls are circled and numbered on the map. In this terrain, the control points are marked with an orange and white marker.

  

  • Each marker has an identification code, 1 through 9. These codes are shown on the top-left corner of the markers in the park. To help find the controls, use the control descriptions on the map.  

• Verify arrival
  •  On each control marker, the bottom right corner with show two (2) verification letters. To complete the course, be sure to note these letter on the matching box on the map. 
  • After completing the course you can view the Master Code Sheet to confirm the verification letters for the course.
• Navigating
  • Using a compass, either handheld or an app on your phone, to orient your map will ensure you are going in the right direction. The map is oriented to magnetic north, so there is no need to adjust your compass bearings or us magnetic declination. 

Reminders

• Take water with you and stay hydrated
• Wear sunscreen to prevent burn
• Be aware of your surroundings and avoid dangerous plants and animals. 
• Orienteering best practices
  • Using “handrails.” Although the shortest route between two points is a straight line—as shown on the map in purple—a straight line is usually not the best route. Instead, look for features like trails, paved paths, or edges of forest that you can follow to your destination. These are called “handrails” in orienteering.
  • Using “attack points.” Find on the map a recognizable feature—such as a trail junction or bridge—located just before your control point. Navigate to that feature, and then proceed slowly to the nearby control point.
  • “Catching features.” Look for a feature that will let you know that you have gone past your destination, for example, a trail junction just past your control point.

Resources

• Faulkner Park Orienteering Course Map
• Master Code Sheet - Only use after you complete the course to verify.
• www.OrienteeringUSA.org

For more information about this or other Tyler Parks and Rec special projects, contact Parks Admin at (903) 531-1370 or fill out the Contact Us form.