Discover Orienteering is a come and try event aimed at anyone who wants to give orienteering a go – all ages are welcome. Participants will be given the opportunity to try real orienteering courses in a safe, welcoming environment, surrounded by people with similar experience levels and a team of enthusiastic helpers.

Regular orienteers are encouraged to come along and support their newcomer friends: just register all newcomers in the group to ensure enough maps and helpers are available.

At Discover Orienteering participants will:

• learn 5 helpful hints for map navigation.
• complete your first orienteering course!
• have the opportunity to progress at your own pace.
• meet new people and participate in fun, social activities.
• be guided how to take the next steps in your orienteering journey.

Now is the perfect time to give O a go, before the next Learn to Orienteer programme and upcoming Metro Series community event series.

The post Discover Orienteering – Come & Try It – 11 October appeared first on Orienteering ACT.

There are only 24 days until this thrilling inaugural joint event, hosted by two states and located in the charming tourist town of Mogo on the South Coast, just a quick two-hour scenic drive from Canberra.

The ACT & NSW team of Mapper, Course Setters, Course Controllers, MeshO experts, and Championship Organisers from both states has worked very hard to bring this thrilling event to you! Great courses are ready, trails are freshly maintained, and Mogo is calling!

BULLETIN 2 is now available here.

Entries close 11 October, don’t miss this unique MTBO adventure in Mogo!

• Middle
• Sprint
• Long

Remember to enter the Presentation Dinner, entries close 9 October.
It will take place at relaxed and rustic local Restaurant Smokey Dan’s in Tomakin on 17 October at 6:30pm.

Share the Facebook Event with your friends and bring your adventurous friends and family along!
We will have a Come & Try MTBO tent with MTBO coaches – so all beginners can attempt their first ever MTBO Course!

We will be thrilled to see you in Mogo:)!

The post ACT & NSW MTBO Champs in Mogo, 17-18 October appeared first on Orienteering ACT.

Orienteering Australia and Oceania Carnival

• The Board noted updates from the Orienteering Australia Stakeholders process.
• OA Safety Committee matters will be discussed further after Oceania.
• Oceania access and venue matters are progressing well.
• The OACT Board would like to thank everyone who is helping make Oceania happen. A huge amount of work goes on behind the scenes and on event days, and we really appreciate the time, effort and care being put in by all our volunteers. We hope everything runs smoothly, the weather is kind, and that everyone involved has a great week and gets the chance to enjoy the carnival as well.

Authorised photographers

• OACT has two trained authorised photographers and is following up with OA about vests and any available media kit.
• The future social media officer will also need authorised photographer training.

Volunteer policy

• The Board noted concerns that the draft OA volunteer policy may be too complex for volunteers.
• OACT will ask for more time to respond after Oceania.

Finance

• The Treasurer’s report was accepted and QuickBooks has been updated for the Oceania account.
• Travel support is now $0.60 per kilometre, or $1.00 per kilometre when towing a pre-approved trailer, from 18 August 2026.

Event planning

• The Event Planning Committee will meet in October to plan for 2027. Discussion to include a proposal to add a Monday event for Capital O, to be organised by ACT Cockatoos.

Participation

• Learn to O is expected to restart in late October.
• Discover O will run again this year, coordinated by David.
• Saturday Metro is stable, but attendance could be stronger.

Series Updates

• Street-O is planned to restart in November with availability of Wednesday mass starts.
• Nina will contact the ONSW President about Ski-O arrangements, as OACT is not expected to host the event going forward.

Mapping

• Summer Series locations need to be finalised by 25 September.
• Five locations are in the pipeline, with a target of seven events and the first event planned for Sunday 1 November.
• Foxlow drone mapping was well received.
• MTBO mapping is progressing for the ACT/NSW Championships.

Coaching and development

• Frank Townley’s arrival has been delayed by visa issues, with the aim still to have him here for Oceania.
• Coaching Coordinator candidates remain in progress.

Mesh-O

• Mesh-O Athlete will not be available for Oceania.
• Documentation and payment arrangements for ACT League and major events will continue after Oceania.
• New remote-start units have been added to OACT stock.

Other notes

• Old OACT shirt stock will move to the office for possible volunteer use at major events.
• Natalie and Andrew will coordinate welcome-person cover while Andrew is away.

Next meeting: Monday 19 October 2026.

The post Board Shorts – September 2026 appeared first on Orienteering ACT.

Bulletin 2 is available here.

The post Oceania Start Times and Bulletin 2 Available appeared first on Orienteering ACT.

Join orienteers from across Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia for an an action-packed seven-event program, Oceania 2026 will showcase Canberras’ most varied and exciting orienteering terrains. Experience a weekend of running in the rugged beauty of Namadgi National Park; take on the steep, physically demanding and varied terrain of Stromlo; enjoy the midweek action with the Australian Schools Orienteering Championships (ASOC) and the accompanying Flight of the Bogong races; and finally, switch gears for fast, technical sprint racing through the intricate buildings, courtyards and route-choice challenges of ANU.

And for the elites, the stakes are even higher — WOC places are on the line! The winners of the Men’s and Women’s 21E Middle and Long Distance races will earn automatic selection for the 2027 World Orienteering Championships in Hungary.

Diverse terrain. International racing. An unforgettable week.
Get your entry in before it’s too late!

oceania2026.orienteering.asn.au

The post Last Chance to Enter Oceania 2026 appeared first on Orienteering ACT.

Orienteering Australia updates

• The Board received an update from the 10 August Orienteering Australia Stakeholders meeting.
• NOL travel reimbursement arrangements are now in effect.
• OA is reviewing its Volunteer Policy, including a proposed volunteer register and annual reporting on volunteer numbers and training.
• The updated OA Operations Guide will apply for Oceania.
• State levies and fees will increase in line with previous advice.

OACT travel expense support increased

• The Board approved an increase in travel expense support from 18 August 2026.
• Approved travel will now be reimbursed at 60 cents per kilometre, or $1.00 per kilometre when towing a pre-approved trailer.
• The relevant information on the OACT website will be updated.

ACT Government equipment grants

• ACT Sport and Recreation grant applications for non-consumable equipment are opening soon.
• Ideas already raised include mapboards, control stands and surveyor flags.
• Members and clubs will be invited to suggest other equipment that could benefit OACT activities.

Remote Area First Aid

• The funded Remote Area First Aid course is expected to run in November.
• Further information will be provided when arrangements are confirmed.

Ski-O wraps up

• The 2026 Ski-O event has now finished.
• The event returned a profit and the Board thanked Marina and the team for the work involved in making it happen.
• The Board also noted interest in how Ski-O may develop in future.

Learn to O

• Learn to O continues to show positive results, with up to 11 participants continuing to attend.
• Supporting pathways for new participants remains an important part of OACT’s participation work.

Summer Series and Street-O

• Planning is underway for the coming Summer Series, with seven locations to be allocated to clubs.
• The Mapping Committee is working through the remaining venues and mapping requirements.
• Work is also continuing on the proposed Street-O relaunch for summer 2026–27, including event format, management and the possible use of MapRun for mass starts.
• Promoting team entries remains part of the wider participation work.

Mapping

• Mapping work continues across sprint, Metro, ACT League and MTBO events.
• Commodore Lane is being investigated as a possible event area, with mapping and permissions work underway.
• New maps are also being prepared for summer events.
• OACT’s first drone-assisted map was used at Foxlow.

Coach-in-Residence

• Scottish coach Frank Townley is expected to arrive on 2 September.
• Planning continues for his Coach-in-Residence period and the coaching activities and opportunities he will support while in the ACT.

ACT uniform

• Available to order through our website.

Refund policy

• The Board agreed to change the timing in OACT’s refund policy so that cancellations align with the relevant event entry closing date.
• The website will be updated to reflect the change.

Oceania 2026

• Planning for Oceania continues as the carnival approaches.
• Mapping, event operations and other preparations are progressing.

Next meeting: Monday 14 September 2026.

The post Board Shorts – August 2026 appeared first on Orienteering ACT.

We have a deal with Wear it! to get a bulk order of shirts at a discounted price. If we place this order by COB Monday, they should arrive in time for our home ground Oceania carnival. You and your relay teammates can represent the ACT in coordinated style!

To save $5 and have it in time for Oceania, order before 4pm Tuesday 25 August.

Sizing

The shirts come in a womens cut and unisex cut. This is the same shirt supplier as for Oceania 2026 and the 2025 Australian Orienteering Championships in Brisbane. If you have one of those shirts, pick the same size for this! 

Cost

$60 each, $55 for youth sizes.

After this bulk order is placed, the shirts will still be available to buy directly from Wear it! for $65 + shipping. 

The post New OACT Shirts – Order Now For Discount appeared first on Orienteering ACT.

The terrain is classic, fast running, Canberra spur gully with small areas of rock detail and some thicker tea tree vegetation. Longer hard courses cross areas of subtle contour detail and runners will visit complex erosion gullies. Vegetation mapping has been updated by David and Matt Stocks for this event. The previous map of the area can be viewed here.

Courses

Course details are as follows:

Entries

Pre-entry only. Entries close 11:59pm Wednesday 19 August. 
Late entry will be available available for Hard 4, Moderate 2, Easy and Very Easy until 5:00pm Saturday 22 August, +50% late entry fee applies.
Enter here.

The post ACT League #9, Foxlow, Sunday 23 August appeared first on Orienteering ACT.

Australian and New Zealand school students will contest the championships which will be part of the 2026 Oceania Orienteering Championships, being held in Canberra over nine days in September-October. Each Australian state and territory can send a team of up to 20 students, along with two New Zealand teams of 20 students.

Congratulations to the following students on their selection.

Team officials are Sarah Bruce and Michael Radajewski (managers), and David Stocks (coach).

The post ACT Schools Team for ASOC 2026 appeared first on Orienteering ACT.

All students in the ACT, as well as those close by in NSW, are very welcome to attend. Entries will close on 30 August.

See the information flyer for class details.

Enter here

Public courses will also be available for others starting after 10:30am. 

The post ACT Schools Orienteering Championships, 5 September appeared first on Orienteering ACT.