Orienteering festival

For a blustery winter Monday morning Gildredge Park in Eastbourne was uncharacteristically busy; filled with excited and active school pupils from the local area.

The event was the annual Orienteering Festival, led by second year Physical Education BA(Hons) and Physical Education BA(Hons) with QTS students.

The aim of the festival was to provide the students valuable experience in working with children whilst also applying the skills and activities learned in the Teaching and Learning through Adventurous Activities module.

The activity was undertaken enthusiastically and eagerly by the school pupils and university students alike, proving a great success and a fine example of the professionalism expected of future teachers of physical education.

Module leader and event organiser Kevin Morton said: “This is a wonderful opportunity for our students to lead children in a fun and engaging activity. For some it is potentially their first experience of organising children and we tend to throw them in the deep end somewhat.

“The day was a huge success and our Year 2 cohort did us proud. The school staff were highly complementary about them.”

The wind proved the main obstacle as the marquees and trees shook and surged in the strong gusts, however the personal fortitude of the participants overcame the elements with an enthusiasm and determination that transcended the weather.

Encouraged by the enthusiastic future teachers the children took part in relay, star and loop orienteering activities before a final competition using state of the art technology supplied by the university.

Budding PE teacher Jack Groves said: “It was an amazing morning; it was great fun to work with the kids and I feel like I got tons of experience from this event alone.” Jack added: “I really enjoyed using the state of the art equipment.”

For most of the children this was their first experience of orienteering and they will have certainly left with a positive impression of the sport and a possible future hobby. Whilst for the students it was a chance to build a rapport with visiting schools and confidently apply the skills and attributes they have been developing so far.