TWO new permanent orienteering courses have been installed in Castledykes Park at Dumfries.
The People’s Project worked collaboratively with Solway Orienteers, Active Schools, the PE department of St Joseph’s College and Dumfries and Galloway Council to complete the project.
The council provided materials and installed the new courses and the People’s Project and Solway Orienteers worked with Signcraft to create graphics for the posts and the maps.
There are now two courses: the junior course has eight control posts, with orienteering symbols and graphics of wildlife that can be found in the park. It is suitable for pre-school and lower primary pupils. And the senior course has 11 control posts and is suitable for upper primary and secondary pupils.
Pupils from surrounding schools tested out the new courses on Friday. A spokesperson from the People’s Project said: “We realise the importance of getting young people to enjoy the outdoors, for their mental health and well-being. This has been an excellent collaborative project and we hope the orienteering courses are used and enjoyed by many people in beautiful Castledykes Park.”
Principal teacher pastoral care at St Joseph’s College, Lorna Read added: “We wish to thank The People’s Project and Solway Orienteers for their help in making the two permanent courses in Dumfries a reality. We hope to integrate orienteering into our school curriculum. The cost of hiring buses is ever increasing therefore we are delighted to have this resource on our doorstep. The permanent shelter is fabulous in leading groups from a central location.
“These courses will enable people of all ages to enjoy Castledykes Park. It will promote health and wellbeing and enable people to connect with nature.”
