TFT offers free introduction to orienteering field program
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EAGLE RIVER, Wis. -- Trees For Tomorrow or TFT, in partnership with Tara Lila LLC, invites beginner navigators to a free Introduction to Orienteering program from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, at the TFT campus in Eagle River.
Thanks to a wonderful partnership with Tara Lila LLC, TFT is able to offer a free program to teach the basics of using a map and a compass to guide participants of all ages through the forest. This program begins in the classroom on TFT's campus, where participants will learn parts of a compass, how it works, and how to follow a bearing. Navigators will then caravan to a nearby Tara Lila trail unit to put these new skills to the test on a beginner course.
While the course stays on existing trails for easier navigation, participants should expect rolling terrain and some uneven footing.
"Map and compass skills may seem outdated in an era of smartphone GPS," program coordinator Bethany Heft said. "But they're fun to learn, plus it doesn't hurt that your compass never runs out of battery! I've personally used these exact skills, learned right here at TFT many years ago, to navigate to incredible campsites in locations where cell phones had no signal."
Restrooms and a water filling station will be available at the TFT campus, and outhouses will be available at the Tara Lila trailhead.
Although free, preregistration is required and spaces are limited. No walk-ins will be able to participate. Interested individuals can sign up online at www.treesfortomorrow.com/Current-Activities or by calling the main office at 715-479-6456.
The program is recommended for ages 5 and older, but younger children will require adult assistance. Participants younger than 18 must be accompanied by an adult, who must remain with them during the field portion.
Trees For Tomorrow's campus in Eagle River includes National Forest property under permit from the USDA Forest Service. Private property owned by Trees For Tomorrow, the Wisconsin Newspaper Association and Tara Lila LLC are also utilized for education and outreach purposes.
TFT is an accredited nonprofit environmental center specializing in overnight environmental education programs for K-12 school groups, with facilities that include dormitories, a full-service dining hall, and classrooms. Trees for Tomorrow annually serves 14,000 youth and adults, with the mission to promote sustainable management of natural resources through educational experiences.