Young people across South Cambridgeshire are mapping out a new way to have fun, stretch their legs and their minds with the launch of free orienteering sessions at Milton Country Park.

The all new Xplorer sessions, launched by South Cambridgeshire District Council in partnership with Cambridge Sport Lakes Trust, offer an outdoor activity and navigation challenge that is both educational and fun.

Sessions will give participants a sense of adventure as they use a simple, large scale map to explore the park and navigate in sequence between a series of control points to find markers. At each marker, participants try to identify what is pictured and enjoy learning a fun fact to tell their friends.

Supported by Sport England and British Orienteering, the activity is tailored to pre-school and primary aged children and provides a healthy mix of physical activity and mental challenge. Older children will have fun competing against their friends and family whilst younger children will enjoy the excitement of successfully finding the markers at their own pace.

Councillor Mick Martin, South Cambridgeshire District Council’s cabinet member with responsibility for sport, said:

We are very keen to encourage people to get out and enjoy the great outdoors that South Cambridgeshire has to offer and to improve health in the local community.

Orienteering is a fun way to exercise both leg power and brain power, and will see participants running around exploring the park in a fun, safe, controlled environment, fostering a love of both green spaces and sport from a young age.

Xplorer sessions will start outside the café at Milton Country Park on the following dates:

• Saturday 20th September from 10:30am to 1:30pm
• Wednesday 24th September from 10am to 12noon
• Saturday 4th October from 10:30am to 1:30pm
• Saturday 11th October from 10:30am to 1:30pm
• Saturday 18th October from 10:30am to 1:30pm
• Saturday 1st November from 10:30am to 1:30pm

For more information, contact Xplorer Activator Tim Herod on therod@britishorienteering.org.uk or 07891091476, or visit www.xplorer.org.uk