Orienteering in Jamaica

1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

With the recognition that many young researchers and natural resource managers on Jamaica have had few training opportunities to become proficient in using the basic tools of orienteering - a compass and topographic maps -- to locate themselves (or their research projects) precisely on a map, Windsor Research Centre developed and hosted a map reading and orienteering training workshop in Windsor, Trelawny from November 25th to 29th, 2002. Theoretical (lecture) and practical (field) training modules included: accurate recording of field data; use of an orienteering compass; identifying features of topographic maps; developing an orienteering route; and using a map to orient in the field. The Windsor environment presented a diverse landscape, from well-defined, easy to locate road junctions, small bridges, and isolated hills in an alluvium plain through a complex cockpit karst topography.

Ten participants, representing four institutions on Jamaica, participated in the workshop. Nine of the ten successfully completed all components of the course. These nine demonstrated consistently high levels of interest and enthusiasm in both the lecture and practical field exercises. All participants easily mastered the use of an orienteering compass. Eight of the ten quickly mastered recognizing topographic features on the map (e.g., hilltops vs. depressions; saddle-corridors). In teams of two, all participants successfully completed a pre-determined orienteering road that took them along a road, trail, and then traversing off-trail around a cockpit hill. The one individual who failed to pass the course did develop an understanding of basic principals but requires additional supervision in the classroom to review map features. However, he, along with the other nine participants, was able to develop a suitable orienteering route on a map and provide written instructors to navigate this route. The final field examination, ground­truthing a route created by one of the workshop participants, proved very useful in highlighting that maps often will not align perfectly in the “real world. The exercise also reinforced the need to be constantly aware of one’s surroundings and accurately record activities when traversing a topographically complex terrain. Participants evaluated the workshop as being extremely useful for their professional activities.