Info for Schools and Groups

Fit for purpose

Schools, youth and community groups and other groups are welcome to use the Daylesford Permanent Orienteering Course (POC). The POC was fine tuned for such use over 3 days by 3 cohorts from Wesley College, Clunes campus.

The feedback after the event was overwhelmingly positive with two thirds of the students rating it as a 7 out of 10 or above with 10 being the best experience of the program so far.

Mike Hall, Teacher, Wesley College, Clunes campus

For groups and schools

The benefits

As a group leader, your first question is likely ‘how will this benefit my group’?

In essence, success in orienteering activity develops problem solving, perseverance, resilience, physical fitness, spatial awareness and navigation skills.

What do your members need?

  • An introduction to basic map reading skills (we may be able to help with that).
  • Fit enough to walk a course on tracks.
  • A compass per team is desirable although not essential.

Sometimes loan compasses may be available. However loss or breakage will require replacement. For equipment, including large class demonstration compasses, check out Orienteering Services of Australia online shop.

Facilities

Groups might prefer to use the adjacent Daylesford Community Park as a base. It has a group size shelter with bbq, two toilets, playground and a new skate / bmx / scooter park. Access to the POC start/finish for public courses is via a track and grassed area shown on the map.

Background info

Public courses

We have 3 public courses on offer. Short & easy, Medium & moderate, Long and more difficult. These may be used via traditional paper maps or smart devices.

If you wish to use these, further information is on this page.

Customised courses

At Cornish Hill

Groups and classes often have time constraints. So, to get multiple teams or individuals starting within a narrow time band, we have designed additional courses to complement the 3 provided on the map. 

If group leaders outline to us their participant numbers, available time and other requirements, then we can usually provide the optimum number & type of courses.

For groups using the adjacent Daylesford Community Park / Skate Park as a base, the custom courses can start and/or finish there for convenience.

At Victoria Park

For the very young, the easier and more visibly open terrain of Victoria Park may be preferred. Like Cornish Hill, Victoria Park has a multitude of features, many of which have a story to add to the experience.

Safety

Cornish Hill courses

The POC area is surrounded by roads or residential. Thus you should advise your members not to proceed past those.

To avoid the few mining holes not sealed off, your members should be restricted to the mapped tracks and paths.

Victoria Park

Victoria Park is enclosed by fences and 3 gates.

Help with monitoring

Some Eureka Orienteers members, with Working with Children status, live in Daylesford. If available they may be able to help out with monitoring your members on a care but no responsibility basis.