Getting families to go orienteering

[SeanC]

One of our club members is giving very useful feedback about how we might get more families into our sport. I'd like to hear some more ideas, but sadly we don't have many families. Any more ideas?

I'm particularly interested in families with children in the 6-12 age range as I assume this is the optimum age to get children into the sport (usually too small before aged 6, usually fixed on other things when teenagers to try orienteering).

I know we've done this thread before - however we'd done the M/W21 turnout thread before and the later thread threw up some good points.

Looking forward to hearing from the usual suspects, but would also like to hear from anyone with kids in this age range....

[NFKleanne]

My kids are not in that age group. I have a W2, M5, M14, W14 and W18.
I'll have a think and ask them for any thought too.

[frog]

My kids are in that age range and generally they go to stuff I go to, so the trick in attracting them to events is to attract me. I'm generally not in favour of children only events where I'd be twiddling my thumbs. Weekends are my leisure time too.
They have started getting interested in badge events, unfortunately the SOA has got a bit slack in publishing badge times for the SOLs, but is developping badges for colour coded events and folders.
So badges for the kids, other kids to much around with, and good events to attract the parents are my suggestions.

[graeme]

families with children in the 6-12 age range

That would be us then. Here's some lists.

Questions asked beforehand...
"Will there be a string course?"
"Can I get SOL/SoSoL points?"
"Who else will be there?"
"How far is it?"
"Will there be Wilfs/TeaShop"

Things which are clearly enjoyed...
Doing well at the orienteering.
Playing with other kids.
Playing in streams.
Building dens in forests.

Things which are not...
Spending time in the car with adults (split starts)
Long walks to the start*
Smiley faces (right/wrong way on white/yellow)
Cold, rain, hunger

Things which are enjoyed by parents...
Happy kids.

Most of these are pretty obvious. One I've been thinking about is the walk to the start. Although about 2k white/yellow courses are ideal, it's often the case in Scotland that to only viable loop gives a walk+course around 4km. In such cases, I believe, it would be better to keep the walk to the start down, even if the course is too long.

[DM]

Sean,

For our lot, takes Graemes post and copy it, just about exactly what we would say.

[NFKleanne]

Been thinking - much the same as graeme said.

How far away. Will there be a string course (my 2 year old loves them - even if she hasn't got a clue what shes doing - they all like the chocolate at the end) Is there a teashop/cafe nearby.

Other things that are important : Are there toilets, baby changing facilities (not 6-12 year olds). Is there a play park? Is there shelter available? What will the weather be like - if weather is good a football works wonders. How hilly the courses will be - not a problem in norfolk.

I have considered taking the gazebo, fold up table and taking colouring stuff. I could then have a worry free run knowing they are enjoying themselves.

[HOCOLITE]

So nothing much has changed since mine were that age. It is important for them to achieve and have sucess benchmarks. Once they feel they are not achieving something the interest wains.

[SeanC]

Thanks - good advice, please keep them coming.

My friend with the young family made many suggestions similar to Graeme - but he made another point that is interesting.

They prefer orienteering areas that are family friendly. There are many areas that make an area family friendly, places for the kids to hang out, something interesting to do afterwards etc. but the key factor for them is whether the area is safe for their children to orienteer on their own. By safe they mean that if they do get lost they can't go too far (ie not an enormous forest) and they are unlikely to bump into any unpleasant strangers.

This thread and the M/W 21 turnout thread has got me thinking. Different groups have different needs. I see 4 main groups with the following priorities:

a) over 40's experienced orienteers: want technical orienteering in different forests every week.
b) sociable 21's want challenging orienteering with a good social element.
c) families: want local orienteering, fun safe areas, simple courses and a good social element.
d) schools: want simple local events which fit in with the school timetable.

I suggest that orienteering's decline is because we gear our events towards the group that dominates orienteering in terms of numbers - group A - but this group can't be sustained in the long term unless replaced with those from groups B, C or D. We make lots of effort trying to accommodate all groups, but if there is a conflict of interest, group A generally wins. The classic colour coded event is a good example of this.

Even at the local level this can happen. Tomorrow's Kent Orienteering League is at Joydens Wood and not Downe because at a committee meeting I suggested that group A is bored with Downe Activity Centre (it's a very small area and we've been there a few times recently). However my friend with the family say that Downe is their favourite area because the kids can't wonder too far, there's a nice green to hang out on, start/finish next to car park, a cafe, shelter, proper toilets. They would happily go there several times a year. Instead they will get a long walk to the start. Parking at the golf club means there's good toilets, a golf club bar (and food) for the sociable types, but limited hanging out opportunities for kids (unless they enjoy being told off by scary golfers for running on the golf course).

[summo]

For me, split starts are OK, provided the walks to/from the start & finish are not too long, eating into what is sometimes a small starting time window.

Agree with all the above points about, toilets, space to play, safe and suitable courses, nearby food.

At some overseas events they have small creches organised by the hosting club. ie A tent (say 4m x 4m), with some tables, chair, toys and a supervisor. Lone parents or at events without split starts, people can leave their kids with appropriate supervision. This tent is also often convieniently the start / finish of the string course. So in theory a parent could leave a really small one, whilst do the string with a slighlty older child. Works very well.

[Mrs H]

while I sympathise I'm afraid Child protection issues coupled with health and safety have rendered that almost impossible in this country (I have tried to organise that provision myself at a couple of big events and failed)

[Blanka]

while I sympathise I'm afraid Child protection issues coupled with health and safety have rendered that almost impossible in this country (I have tried to organise that provision myself at a couple of big events and failed)

Surely if (as organiser) you say you don't take any responsibility if something beyond your control goes wrong, then that's fine? No different to leaving your children with a club mate who has their own children to look after. It's the parents' call to decide whether you think the person running the creche is responsible but with orienteering being quite a small sport, most people will at least know someone who knows that person, so should be OK to build up some kind of trust.

I used to babysit and did so because the parents thought me responsible enough - there is no Child Protection legislating babysitting. It works on trust, and a creche could work in the same way.

[Spookster]

The results of Steve Vernon's participation survey ("how did you start orienteering?") are now available. I've only skim read some of it so far, but it looks like it contains some interesting stats and quotes from a good level of respondees (over 800 people). Certainly some of it is relevant to this thread.

Results of Questionnaire - How did you start orienteering?

[summo]

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.

But I don't think this is the most critical factor, the other existing facilities around the event location are more important.

[PKJ]

Earlier this year, I tried to get my daughter (then 10-yrs old) more interested in orienteering by showing her 'Catching Features'. She liked it and I was surprised how quickly she picked it up -though she tends to run into trees or swim across lakes just for a laugh.
But she's still not interested in the real thing.

Perhaps more helpfully..

the key factor for them is whether the area is safe for their children to orienteer on their own

I do think some experienced orienteers underestimate this, and can seem a bit out of touch with how many parents think.

[SeanC]

"I do think some experienced orienteers underestimate this, and can seem a bit out of touch with how many parents think."

Which is exactly what I did, and quite easy to do if you haven't got kids in this age range. Even if you have in the past, current parents/children may have different attitudes to the past.

A simple practical suggestion. Parents rank their clubs areas according to "family friendliness". This information is then used by the club committee to help decide where future events are held.