Note
Navigation Games conducted 114 hours of teaching this spring. Most of those were regular classes meeting every week or more often. I estimate that there were 1078 student-hours of orienteering education, and 196 different kids in grades JK through 8 participated - some once, and some up to a dozen times. Two boys came to CSU events. 6th grader Keegan attended 13 regular classes, 2 CSU Park-Os, and two days of sprint camp which included 3 races as well as other exercises. (He is fast, and accurate enough to beat several old-timer orienteers in the sprint races.)
I count at least 30 adults and juniors who helped to teach and prepare for the classes.
We had 11 regular teachers: Barb, Geoff, Anna L, Anna S, Mike P, Sarah G, Dan F, Ann Marie M, Klara S, Peggy, Julia B. Eight staff were provided by the schools, and a few additional staff who substituted got to experience the classes. Julia B taught her students in class, without me, in preparation for the all-day field trip.
Another 12 helpers participated once or twice. There were 9 from the orienteering community: Isabel B, Addison B, Austin F, Erin, Brendan Shieds, Julia, Colin, Peg Davis, Dave Yee. From Cambridge we had Liz McNerney, Rain, Frannie, Julia B and two of her students helping out at Girls Sports Day (not to mention Isabel and Anna L).
Just by setting up courses and activities in a dozen parks and school grounds, we raised awareness among far more people who at least saw and noticed the funny looking flags. That impression is something to build on in the future. I will post one of my favorite pictures making this point: four younger girls at King Open gathered around an epunch control while 8th grader Darino arrives to punch.
We are grateful to NEOC, CSU, the SOS Memorial Foundation for financial support. This allowed us to pay some of the teachers, purchase equipment and supplies, and print a ton of maps. Thanks also to the others on the Navigation Games board for their inspiration and guidance: Sara Mae Berman, Linda Fobes, Dave Yee, Katia Bertoldi, Julia Bishop, Deb Humiston. And most of all, thanks to Erin, Jason, Sarah, Mike, Geoff, Anna, Dan, Keegan, and Dave, who contributed to the development and improvement of the curriculum and class activities.
I think it's cool that the number of person-hours of orienteering activities that we provided is in the same ballpark as what NEOC provided in its spring events.
Going forward, Mr F definitely wants to see orienteering continue as an elective at King Open. I've mentioned to him that I'd like to find ways to work it into the PE curriculum. The Community Schools are also interested in continuing the orienteering classes. There are some kids who could be drawn into NEOC and CSU events with enough planning; this will require additional effort, outreach, and perhaps financing for transportation.
We have the opportunity to participate in 3 summer programs in July and August, though my time is limited and I don't have teachers lined up.
A major issue is signing up reliable teachers as well as subs. I was teacher (usually with at least one helper) for 64 of the 114 hours we delivered. That was both hard on me (since I work full time), but also a wonderful opportunity to develop the lesson plans, see how they worked, and get to know the kids. I knew going into it that I would be the backup if teachers could not make it. We had one teacher who I thought would take two of the classes, but had to back out before they even started (though after I had made the commitment to the schools). Another teacher, Mike, was awesome - and taught three days a week - but had to leave for a full time job in June.
What I'm thinking we should do is hire a coordinator who is responsible for recruiting and managing the teachers, as well as other things like working with the schools, identifying new opportunities, getting grants, and so on. Dave and I are willing to put up money for that purpose, though of course it would be great if we could find other sources. I am sure that there is money out there, but it takes some time and networking to find it.
Finally: the hat - I am still a fan. It says "we can have lots of good fun that is funny."