Discussion: Junior Team Update April 2013

There will be an open call with me and Erin this Wednesday at 9pm EST, 6pm PST. We'd like to use it to focus on JST, Europe and JWOC. You are welcome to call in with your comments and questions about training, A meets, selection, fundraising, and the logistics of the European trip. Dial 1-213-342-3000 and enter access code 135506# This is an open call; any one in the orienteering community can call in, but our focus initially will be JST/JDT/JWOC.

Erin's monthly report is posted.

Looking over the progress against the one-year goals in Erin's contract, I'm excited that several of these goals have been met. The Junior Standing Team has been selected and is off and running. We're seeing older juniors interacting with younger ones, and senior team members helping the elite juniors. There was a goal of two training camps attended by at least 20 different kids; about 150 kids have attended 8 junior training events, including one created as a result of AttackPoint discussion about juniors. There was a goal of junior activities and meetings at 4 A meets; this has happened at 6 A meets, with 4 more in the planning stages. Personally, I can't wait until we get past some of the current logistics and planning and fundraising, and on to the core of the spring meets and training leading up to JWOC. With at least 18 kids planning to go to Europe for intensive training and competition this summer (and already training - see their Attackpoint logs!), we are in great shape for making the USA a stronger competitor on the world stage and building the junior program over the next few years.

I love reading AP discussion posts like this. The progress with the junior program is really fantastic. Kudos to all involved.

It was great to have Erin round up all the juniors and go over the courses in fine detail at Run Black Diamond, Day Two. Made for a nice finish-line gathering, and much wisdom was passed along by the elders led by Eric Bone.