Orienteering is a skill that is used to find out where someone or something is using just a map and a compass. Using a combination of a map’s geographic features, such as forests, shrublands, and waterways, and a compass’s directional information, a person can figure out where they are, where they need to go, and how far away they need to go. This makes orienteering a very useful skill for someone to know. Last October 28th your local Scouting Troop, Troop 1033, tested their orienteering abilities at the Jug Bay Natural Area of Patuxent River Park in Southern PG County. This competition was one of two run every year by the Baltimore Area Council, who run many different events throughout the year to promote fun and learning in the Scouting program. The lead organizer was Dave Linthicum, a former State Department Cartographer.
While there, they competed against 44 other troops, totaling over 600 scouts. During the competition, the Troop competed in two different sections: a competition in pairs and an overall troop competition. Four scouts in the troop placed 8th and 7th out of the over 300 pairs at the event for the first section. The troop then finished fifth in the overall competition out of the 35 troops in the large troop division, an incredible achievement. In the pairs competition, the scouts had to walk along a predetermined path and try to mark on their maps where they thought they were along the way. They then scored points based on how close they were to the actual positions. Congratulations to Antoine and Kevin for placing 8th and Jason and Marcelo for placing 7th in this event! In the overall troop event, the troop had to send scouts out to find markers that were on their maps, collect a stamp to show that they had found the correct marker, and finally return to cash in their points before time was up. This event typically ends with scouts pouring out the forest during the last few minutes, all rushing to not miss the deadline.
The troop typically does well at these competitions, and this was one of its best performances in years. Considering how many scouts were at the event in total, the troop is very proud that four of the eight scouts from it that came placed 7th and 8th in the pairs. If this sounds fun, and you are aged 11-17, please consider coming to one of the meetings. The troop meets on Sundays from 6-7:30 at the Emmanuel United Methodist Church on Cedar Lane. If you have any questions, email Scoutmaster Kevin D’Eustachio at kdeustachio@gmail.com.