Orienteering is a unique sport that challenges participants to navigate through various terrains using maps and landmarks, testing both their physical and cognitive abilities. Camp Abilities, a specialized camp for children with visual impairments, is making orienteering an exciting and empowering part of their curriculum. Maria Lepore-Stevens, a passionate advocate for mobility and physical education, has been instrumental in introducing orienteering to Camp Abilities, adapting the activity to meet the needs of children with low vision and blindness.
The Origins of Orienteering at Camp Abilities
Maria’s journey with orienteering began long before she started working with Camp Abilities. As a health and physical education student, Maria had the opportunity to learn basic orienteering concepts through a class called "contemporary activities"—designed to explore unconventional sports. She found herself fascinated by the connection between movement, outdoor exploration, and map reading, especially for children with visual impairments. Her academic background in Orientation and Mobility (O&M) further fueled her interest. O&M focuses on teaching individuals with visual impairments how to navigate and use the world around them effectively, including cane techniques, public transit, and reading tactile maps.
Maria’s firsthand experience with kids in nature also helped her understand the thrill and value of trail hiking, which is a significant component of orienteering. She discovered that kids, especially those with visual impairments, were drawn to the sensory experiences of hiking—such as feeling the wind, hearing the sounds of wildlife, or identifying the texture of a tree trunk. This discovery led her to design orienteering activities that not only incorporated these sensory elements, but also provided valuable movement skills and confidence for children to navigate the world independently.
Image 2: Two types of tactile maps are shown being used by students at Camp Abilities.
At Camp Abilities, orienteering is more than just navigating through the woods—it’s an adventure. The goal is to complete an adventure race or navigate from one checkpoint to another using tactile maps and clues. The clues may include cardinal directions and landmarks. The tactile maps are made with puff paint and other textured materials like pipe cleaners and plastic beads. Maria makes simple maps with these materials starting with a base map such as black-and-white copies of Google maps or other simple area maps. Key locations, such as landmarks or buildings, are marked with different tactile symbols that children can touch and identify.
Checkpoints along the trail are also marked by physical and auditory cues, such as the sound of an approaching road, or the feel of a change in terrain. One memorable experience took place when a trail intersected a road, and kids used cues—such as hearing a passing car and feeling a bump on the ground before the road (known as a detectable warning surface)—to orient themselves.
Maria also has students take their own turn at designing map symbols and simple maps through fun, hands-on activities that help them connect physical objects with their representation on paper. For example, one activity involves using PE equipment, sticks, and wax-coated yarn to create tactile maps, where each item—like a cone or hula hoop—has a one-to-one correspondence with a map symbol. Children then build obstacle courses using these items and create a map to represent it. They can switch roles, where the teacher makes a map and the students replicate it, or students create both the obstacle course and map, guiding the teacher through it.
At times, Maria also involves technology to aid campers in their navigation. Smartphones with compass apps and built-in accessibility features help campers orient themselves by providing auditory directions as they go. This combination of tactile, auditory, and visual cues makes orienteering an inclusive activity that meets the needs of children with various levels of vision.
Image 5: Left- A teacher and student use tactile maps and an auditory compass app to plan a route.
Right- students take off on a course at high speed!
Teaching Independence and Confidence
One of the most valuable aspects of the orienteering program at Camp Abilities is its emphasis on building independence. Kids with visual impairments often rely on others for navigation and support, but orienteering at camp encourages them to take the lead, use their maps, and trust their instincts. Maria explained that, at first, some kids feel anxious or unsure, but once they experience the thrill of navigating a course on their own or with a small team, their confidence soars.
Moreover, orienteering at Camp Abilities encourages collaboration and leadership. As part of the adventure race, campers are intentionally grouped, so that those with varying levels of vision can work together. Sometimes, kids who are blind ask their peers who have limited visual ability for help, saying, “I know where I need to go, but I can’t see it, so you’ll help me.” This cooperative environment fosters a sense of teamwork and mutual respect, empowering kids to lead and support each other.
A Future of Growth and Inclusivity
Maria’s work with orienteering at Camp Abilities continues to grow. With programs expanding in three different states, including Delaware, New Jersey, and Arizona, Maria hopes to spread the joy of orienteering to more kids with visual impairments.
Camp Abilities is more than just a summer camp; it’s a place where children with visual impairments can discover new adventures, learn valuable life skills, and experience a sense of accomplishment. For Maria, it’s a dream come true to see kids with visual impairments thrive in the world of orienteering, confidently navigating their way through the physical and sensory landscapes of life.
Want to learn more about Camp Abilities? Check out their website at campabilitiesworld.com!
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