Courses

Courses

Want to learn how to make orienteering maps? We offer an ever-expanding catalogue of introductory and professional development style courses. Check out our calendar and catalogue below.

Can't find what you're looking for or want a specific course offered for your club? Email jeff@navigationsports.ca

Upcoming Offerings

Thursday, November 20, 2025

Zoom | 7:30 PM ET | 2.5 hrs

Starting a map project

This 2.5 hour online module will teach participants what you need to know to set up your first mapping project to modern mapping standards.

Details

Tags: Introductory | OCAD | practical | PRIVATE | theoretical

Thursday, December 4, 2025

Zoom | 7:30 PM ET | 2.5 hrs

Using Ocad

In this course, you will learn how to use the Ocad drawing tools. Participants will spend the majority of the class practicing using the software.

Details

Tags: Introductory | OCAD | practical | PRIVATE

Thursday, December 11, 2025

Zoom | 7:30 PM ET | 2.5 hrs

Generating Basic Contours

In this course you will learn how to use free software (Karttapullautin) to generate smoothed contours you can import and use directly in your map projects.

Details

Tags: Intermediate | PRIVATE

See full calendar

*Times shown are in your local time.

Course Catalogue

Introductory
Duration: 2.5 hrs Cost: $60.00 Level: Introductory
theoretical practical

This 2.5 hour online course is part 1 of Navigation Sports' Introduction to Orienteering Mapping course. In it, you will learn what you need to know to set up your first mapping project to modern mapping standards.

This module is mix of learning about foundational topics and tutorial-style practice. You will learn about a variety of topics that will make your first project (and all future projects) better, easier, and more rewarding while assembling your first project! Topics include:

  • Basic mapping concepts: Working with data, drawing maps, fieldwork, base map layers / templates, etc.
  • Common orienteering mapping software; OCAD or Open Orienteering Mapper (OOM)*
  • Georeferencing
  • Declination
  • Sourceing and using Open Data
  • How to get aerial photos using SAS Planet

* Instances of this course will focus either on OCAD or OOM.

The Using Open Orienteering Mapper or Using OCAD, Introduction to Fieldwork, and Laying out Your Map modules will allow you to take the project you start in this course to completion. See our course catalogue for more.

Upcoming dates:
Thursday, November 20, 2025 | Zoom

Intermediate
Duration: 2.5 hrs Cost: $60.00 Level: Intermediate

In this 2.5-hour course you will learn how to use Karttapullautin (KP) to generate smoothed contours which you can import and use directly in your map projects. In addition to contours you will also learn about other KP outputs such as vegetation and cliffs.

In the class will talk about the pros and cons of this method – namely that they are a great way to get started but are just that – a starting point if you’re willing to put the time in.

This course uses free software so is easily accessible to new mappers.

Upcoming dates:
Thursday, December 11, 2025 | Zoom

Advanced
Duration: 6 hrs Cost: $120.00 Level: Advanced

This 6 hour outdoor class will show participants some timps and strategies to use when doing fieldwork in large areas of forest/wilderness.

In this class you will learn about the following:

  • Managing fieldwork
  • Reading the lidar
  • Minimum areas and gaps
  • Classification of objects
  • Concepts of priority and prominence
  • Correcting contours in the field

Upcoming classes: There are no scheduled classes. If you would like to request a class, email jeff@navigationsports.ca

See full catalogue