Corridor Orienteering: You Only See a Strip
The map is blank except for a narrow strip around the ideal route: step outside it and the map is useless. It trains staying in contact with the map and fixing any drift right away.
How to play
- Compare a full map and a corridor map: what information disappears and why it makes you stay on route (5 min).
- Short practice corridor, walked in pairs (6 min).
- Main corridor solo, with starts one minute apart (14 min).
- Same course with the full map, then compare time and how it felt (7 min).
- Reflection: what did you do to stay inside the strip (3 min).
Rules
- If you leave the corridor, backtrack the way you came until you recognize the map.
- Whistle: three blasts if you're lost, and stay where you are.
- Park boundaries and return time are clear before anyone leaves.
- Run only where there are no obstacles; walk on slopes.
Variations
Easier
A wide corridor along paths.
Standard
A narrow corridor crossing open areas.
Harder
A corridor with gaps: one stretch with no map at all, done on a compass bearing.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: a corridor on accessible paths, compared only with their own time.
- Low vision: a wider corridor and starting with a partner.
- Hesitant students: run the main corridor in a pair and the full-map course solo.
Learning goals
- Keep continuous contact with the map.
- Spot and fix route drift.
- Move safely in a park.
Equipment for a class of 25
- park maps: 30
- orienteering markers: 10
- control cards: 30
- whistles: 15
- stopwatch: 1
Teacher tip
Make the map by covering everything except the strip with white paper before copying. Always place controls inside the corridor and check the strip has recognizable features.
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