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Lesson 3: Map Treasure Hunt

"You get to choose where to go and in what order"

Time	45-60 minutes
Space	Schoolyard, local park, or camp area with an orienteering map
Materials	Orienteering maps with checkpoint circles marked (1 per pair), Checkpoint markers (cones or flags) with letter codes, All-checkpoints map, Scorecards and pencils
Setup	Place checkpoints according to the all-checkpoints map; spread them out across the area
Vocabulary	Score-O, Route choice, Orient the map

Activities

core

Score-O

Visit as many checkpoints as possible in any order within a time limit.

Goals

Orienteering Goals

• Navigate independently using an orienteering map to find checkpoints
• Plan a route, choosing which checkpoints to visit and in what order
• Orient the map using visible features
• Record checkpoint codes accurately
• Manage time to return before the limit

Delivery

1. Safety briefing (5 min): review boundaries and gathering signal. Emphasize: when you hear the signal, return to the start immediately, even if you have not finished.
2. Map orientation (5 min): hand out maps and orient them together. Point out the checkpoint circles on the map. Show how each circle marks a location where a checkpoint is placed. Review the thumb technique: keep your thumb on your current location.
3. Practice run (10 min): do a short practice round with a small number of checkpoints (3-5) and a generous time limit. Pairs visit checkpoints, recording the letter code at each one. Return and check codes against the all-checkpoints map.
4. Map Treasure Hunt (Score-O) (25-30 min): full round with all checkpoints. Set a time limit (15-20 minutes). Pairs plan their route and navigate independently. At each checkpoint, record the letter code on the scorecard.
5. Scoring and wrap-up (5-10 min): check scorecards against the all-checkpoints map. Celebrate the results. Which pair found the most? Which checkpoint was hardest to find?

Reflection

• What was your strategy for choosing which checkpoints to visit?
• How did you keep track of where you were on the map?
• Which checkpoint was hardest to find? Why?
• Did you change your plan during the activity? Why?
• How did you manage your time?

Extensions

• Run a second round with a shorter time limit
• Individual Score-O instead of pairs
• Add bonus checkpoints worth extra points in harder-to-find locations
• Design your own course: mark 5 checkpoints on a blank map for another pair to find