Orienteering is a fun and challenging way to explore the outdoors. Many of us are fond of our GPS and may not be accustomed to reading maps in our daily lives. Orienteering is all about using maps and a compass to navigate terrain. Boothbay Region Land Trust is excited to share a new orienteering course at Penny Lake Preserve that encourages visitors of all ages to study maps, notice terrain features, use a compass and discover the hidden markers (punches) throughout the preserve to complete the challenge. 

The inspiration for the orienteering course came from Boothbay Region High School STEM teacher Emily Higgins and her ninth grade Earth Science class. Higgins recalls, “We were studying how to read maps and making a dream hike using topographic maps as part of a modeling standard in the Next Generation Science Standards. The entire ninth grade did an orienteering course at Pineland Farms, and one class section thought it would be fun to make a similar course at Penny Lake.” Higgins approached BRLT in the spring of 2023 about collaborating. Environmental Educator, Tracey Hall, was excited to work with the students and spent last spring meeting with Higgins and her class to plan out the course.  

In developing the course, students considered the topography, cardinal direction, and natural landmarks in order to locate markers. Higgins notes, “Students chose most of the sites, plotted the sites on a map, and included how to find the orienteering marker. In the process of designing the course, the students found many organisms, including a small red belly snake. Tracy Hall of BRLT helped us explore Penny Lake.” 

Tracey was thrilled when Higgins approached her with the idea for the orienteering course. She notes, “The students’ thoughtful research and design resulted in an entertaining orienteering course that is available for everyone to enjoy at their own pace and on their own schedule.” Other Boothbay classes are already enjoying the challenge. Last spring, the BRES sixth grade class tested out the trail with teachers Michelle Miclette, Soren Barker, and Molly King, and they had a wonderful time finding the markers. Higgins plans to share it with future classes as well. 

Hikers who would like to try the orienteering challenge can find printed guides at the Penny Lake Preserve trailhead as well as compasses for borrowing (please be sure to return these to the kiosk). The guide provides a map on one side, and numbered clues on the other. The map indicates the relative location of fourteen markers that must be found throughout the preserve. All markers are in close proximity to the trail, though hikers will have to travel slightly off-trail to discover them. Use the map to note trails as well as topography to help you along the course. Each marker comes with a hint. Using a compass may help to decipher cardinal directions provided in the hints. Hints also challenge hikers to consider their knowledge of local features such as tree species. Each dark red marker is numbered to match the map and hint, and includes a punch-pattern that matches the punch-marks on the orienteering guide. Punch your course guide as you go until you locate all fourteen markers and complete the challenge!  

Autumn is a great time to get out on the course while leaves and ground terrain are still visible, or, for those of you looking for an added challenge, check out the course in winter.  Happy exploring!