This course teaches participants how to interpret lidar data and draw contours and other features from various layers of lidar information. Over the course of four 3hr sessions you will learn about the following topics:

• Day 1: Intro to contours and bezier curves
• Day 2: Reading lidar contours and drawing orienteering contours
• Day 3: Interpreting lidar data and more drawing contours
• Day 4: Drawing non-contour features and contours in sprint maps

Upcoming dates:
Tuesday, March 10, 2026 | Zoom
Thursday, March 12, 2026 | Zoom
Tuesday, March 17, 2026 | Zoom

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:
Tuesday, January 20, 2026 | Zoom
Thursday, January 22, 2026 | Zoom

This 6 hour course teaches participants advanced fieldwork topics and techniques. The specific content of this course changes depending on the terrain it' being taught in.

Typically the class starts with a morning of exploring an existing map and how it was mapped and why it was mapped that way. After lunch in the field, participants will have a few hours to practice making complex mapping decisions in the field with guidance from the instructor.

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