Pupils and staff from Hayeswood First School took part in their inaugral orienteering course at Bytheway in Wimborne.
Children from a Wimborne first school were invited to test run a brand new orienteering course in the area.
The Year 2 children from Hayeswood First School were among the first people to enjoy Christchurch and East Dorset Council’s brand new course at BytheWay.
Armed with maps and navigation tools, the youngsters were tasked to find their way around and locate markers.
Headeacher Pippa Gerrett, said: “Despite the very cold weather, the children had a really enjoyable time and tackled the course very well.
“Before starting they were taught how to read the maps of the area to find their way around.
“They worked very cooperatively in pairs and teamed up with other pairs to pool their ideas.”
The Bytheway orienteering course was put in by Christchurch and East Dorset Council’s Community and Open spaces team and Wimborne Orienteers.
It is a permanent course open to anyone who would like to use it.
And it’s a course designed for the 21st century, with each orienteering post containing a QR code for smartphones.
Using a free smartphone app for android or iPhone (www.iorienteering.com), people can walk or run their way around the course, using their phones to prove they have visited a control post.
And when the course has been completed, participants can upload their results to see how they have fared against other people.
On Hayeswood’s experience of the course, Pippa added: “Not only was it a fun exercise but the children learned lots of new skills and the importance of team work.”
Hayeswood First School is one of seven First and Middle schools in Wimborne Academy Trust (WAT), along with Allenbourn Middle School, Colehill First School, St John’s First School, Merley First School, St Michael’s Middle School and Witchampton First School.
WAT was formed in March 2015.
All of its academies are rated either Good or Outstanding.
Note to editors: For more information please contact Rachel Read, account director at Deep South Media, on 01202 534487.
