Getting families to go orienteering

[Neil M40]

The last creche I encountered was 2 years ago in Sweden and they 'always' follow legislation! I vaguely recall that you signed your kid in and out.

I was at the O-Ringen in the summer and the creche was set up in a temporary cage with a signing in desk at the entrance. Inside the cage were a bunch of 4 to 10 year old Swedes being kept occupied doing a bit of carpentry - each child had a saw or a hammer or a little axe, and I mean real hammers, real saws and real axes. My 6 year old daughter was quite keen but fortunately we had enough babysitting cover.

Different culture I suppose.

[EddieH]

OF COURSE it is good to identify what is good for families, and to try to provide as much as possible, but do I detect from SeanC's comments that he thinks that if you con't provide it in any particuar area you should stop using it

[DIDSCO]

Neil M40 wrote

I was at the O-Ringen in the summer and the creche was set up in a temporary cage with a signing in desk at the entrance. Inside the cage were a bunch of 4 to 10 year old Swedes being kept occupied doing a bit of carpentry - each child had a saw or a hammer or a little axe, and I mean real hammers, real saws and real axes. My 6 year old daughter was quite keen but fortunately we had enough babysitting cover.

Different culture I suppose.

The nanny culture in Britain has really gone to far when NeilM40 steers his daughter away from a great first experience of carpentry . Whats wrong with kids using hammers, saws and axes - we used to use stuff like that all the time when we were little. I know a young boy of 4 years old here in Gothenburg that drives his dads tractor around on his own and works on the farm, amazing but true. At least the kids in sweden know how to handle tools of various kinds, and have respect for their uses. Perhaps if the kids in England had been taught from a young age to use and respect knifes they might not so lightly go round stabbing people. Britains fear culture is so sad, especially when it seems to be even filtering down to people here on nopesport.

[Blanka]

I thought hell would have to freeze over before I would ever say so, but I have to second Didsco's sentiments totally!

For the last 10 years I've been going as an instructor on a canoeing summer camp in the Czech Republic. We sleep in tents, get our own firewood with saws and axes, make food on a campfire and the kids are fully involved in all that (they're usually aged 10-16). I certainly hope the culture there won't go to the British extreme of "nothing fun's ever allowed"!

[greywolf]

The O Ringen creche looked brilliant - wish they'd've had one for adults...

I'd endorse most of Graeme's list - though I think long (more than about 1km) distances to the start (or back from the finish) are a pain whatever your age, and especially unnecessary in low key events (which also tend to have a smaller window for starts).

my 12 year old is not too bothered about orienteering, although he can sometimes be persuaded to find his way round an orange course in a rather leisurely fashion, but he does enjoy meeting his mates, exploring the woods and roaring around on his bike - so a "safe" car park close to the start / finish / competition area is a real plus

last event i decided to try another tack to enthuse him.. inspired by GG's vid of the London race i told him to bring his camcorder and film some orienteers ... it didn't quite work out as planned

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=NO0nuoVNRrk

[Gnitworp]

Who said orienteering wasn't a spectator sport?

Seriously though, did he fill out a BO risk assessment form before proceeding?

[SeanC]

EddieH wrote

"OF COURSE it is good to identify what is good for families, and to try to provide as much as possible, but do I detect from SeanC's comments that he thinks that if you con't provide it in any particuar area you should stop using it "

No I'm not saying that, but if the primary aim of the event is to attract families then maybe another area should be used (if a better one can be found).

I don't know if this sounds familiar, but at my club event locations are decided in a committee meeting. The committee is mainly composed of group A's (over 40's experienced orienteers who don't go with their families). Naturally we understand our own needs and the needs of the other groups are less well understood. If committees understood the needs of groups B to D a bit better there might be a different mix of venues.

[epocian]

Greywolf

Get him to send the clip into ITV's 'Now You've Been Framed!'

It could earn him £250!

[DavidJ]

The committee is mainly composed of group A's (over 40's experienced orienteers who don't go with their families). Naturally we understand our own needs and the needs of the other groups are less well understood. If committees understood the needs of groups B to D a bit better there might be a different mix of venues.

The committee might consist of this group but I would have thought that amongst the "over 40's" there will be some who went through quite a long period when they had young children. In my case I gave up competing for many years whilst the children were young (and survived on permanent courses ), Now they have mostly left home, and I have returned to the sport, I am contemplating offering to join our committee at the next AGM and I would bring quite a bit of 'family' knowledge with me (but I expect the committee will already have several like me).

[Mrs H]

All the answers here have been about making orienteering events family friendly but the title implies you have to get the families along in the first place.

the whole success of the MADO programme was based on one simple challenging question to parents.
"How do you want your children to grow up?"

I suggested rather bleakly that the alternatives were as couch potatoes wrapped in cotton wool or as independent, self-confident out going individuals who could get themselves out of a situation if it arose. I said with some authority that the sport was a good way to work towards the latter (because it had done exactly that for my own children). Most parents want to do the right thing by their kids - it definitely struck the right chord .

Unfortunately it's not particularly the line which BOF wants to take. Pity.

[EddieH]

Couldn't agree more Mrs H. Trouble is you give them that independance so they decide to go and try something else - great for them , not so good for orienteering's medium term numbers

[Gross]

No worries.... participation will increase.... BOF have got lots of money now and such splendid schemes in schools & a participation manager & a whole sport plan to keep the government happy.... it's bound to work out right