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Troop 308 · 75 min meeting plan
Orienteering Mini-Score-O
Eight controls hidden on Grace Church property. Each Scout gets a punch card and 30 minutes to find as many controls as they can. Most controls in 30 minutes wins. Builds map-reading reps no classroom can match.
Why this format
A score-O is the friendliest version of orienteering for new Scouts: there's no fixed order, no penalty for missing controls, and the hardest controls just give more points. Slow Scouts still finish.
Print a hand-drawn map of the church property in advance. Place 8 numbered controls (orange-and-white markers, painted PVC, or printed cards stapled to stakes) with letter codes. Scouts copy the letter into the matching box on their punch card to prove they were there.
75-minute meeting plan
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 0–10 min | Brief: parts of the map, declination, control codes, safety boundary |
| 10–20 min | Demo control hunt: SPL leads everyone to control #1 together |
| 20–25 min | Plan: each Scout circles their planned route and stamps start time |
| 25–55 min | Run the score-O — 30-minute timer, hard cutoff |
| 55–65 min | Score cards, recognize fastest Scout and most controls found |
| 65–75 min | Debrief, recover all controls, signoff |
Sample 8-control set (point values)
| Control | Hint | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northeast corner of the parking lot | 10 |
| 2 | Behind the dumpster enclosure | 10 |
| 3 | Base of the largest tree on the south lawn | 20 |
| 4 | Halfway down the west fence line | 20 |
| 5 | At the property's farthest survey marker | 30 |
| 6 | Corner where the storm drain enters | 30 |
| 7 | Behind the AC compressor on the east wall | 20 |
| 8 | Inside the playground border, NW corner | 10 |
Scouts can hit them in any order. Late finishers lose 5 pts per minute.
Per-Scout scorecard
| Skill | Demonstrated |
|---|---|
| Oriented the map with compass | ☐ |
| Planned a route before starting | ☐ |
| Found ≥ 4 controls in 30 min | ☐ |
| Stayed inside the safety boundary | ☐ |
| Returned on time | ☐ |
Supplies
| Item | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Hand-drawn property map (printed) | 1 per Scout |
| Numbered control markers (PVC, cone, or stake) | 8 |
| Letter-code cards at each control | 8 |
| Punch cards (or just pencils + boxes) | 1 per Scout |
| Compasses | 1 per Scout |
| Stopwatch (mass start) | 1 |
| Whistle (recall signal — 3 short blasts) | 1 |
| Adult roving the property boundary | 1 |
Safety rules
- Define a hard boundary; anyone who hits it stops, returns to start, and re-plans.
- Buddy system if any Scout is uncomfortable solo.
- 3-whistle recall = come back NOW, no questions.
- Phones in pockets; emergency only.
Sources
- Scouting America — Second Class & First Class Rank Requirements (2025)
- Orienteering merit badge pamphlet — score-O format and control descriptions
- U.S. Orienteering Federation — youth event guidelines