Co-organisers Judith and Lester Evans reflect on the day
First of all a HUGE thank you to all the DVO volunteers who gave up a large part of their Saturday (and in some cases much more) to help make this venture a success, especially Jane Kayley-Burgess who planned the courses and instigated the National Trust collaboration. We’ve now had our debrief meeting with NT so can give you some feedback from the day.
Summary
The festival’s aim was to introduce NT Hardwick visitors, as opposed to established orienteers, to the sport of orienteering via a series of bespoke mapped courses (thank you Richard) within the grounds of the main hall and out into the park estate. The event name, conversation and maps were free of jargon in an attempt to demystify the sport for newcomers. Some 120 entries were registered involving over 100 individuals, most of whom were children. In total more than 250 individuals were exposed to orienteering for the first time. The event ran from 11am to 3:30pm. Some 20 DVO volunteers assisted in the running of the event with most able to run the longest course.
We wanted the NT to see this very much as a collaboration, with us providing something for their customers, and we achieved this.
What went well?
The conversations and maps were deliberately free of jargon and every effort was made by DVO volunteers to be super welcoming and make the sport fun and accessible.
The NT pink star tent was literally the star of the show. It’s location in the Stableyard meant it was a perfect assembly point, making us very visible and accessible. The Start and Finish being adjacent to the star tent made it easy to get immediate involvement.
There were lots of enthusiastic DVO volunteers (dressed in DVO tops) up on their feet and helping visitors get started meant that no-one was kept waiting. The same volunteers could see them again at Download and ask how they got on. They would then encourage them to do the next level course.
The use of dibbers, electronic controls and printed downloads for all courses was a great attraction especially for youngsters and their parents. Many repeated the courses and compared times with others.
The circular maps used in the hall grounds were very well received and got them navigating appropriately.
The NT staff and volunteers were enthusiastic and helpful. Everyone felt involved and invested in what we were doing and the high number of DVO members, in DVO tops, made it feel like a real club effort.
Alex Welch from BOF attending, getting involved and producing a video report which then appeared immediately on the BOF FB page was a bonus and great PR for the club.
Positive feedback has been received from the NT resulting in them wanting us to repeat the event at least once a year, but certainly next summer and redeveloping the permanent orienteering course for a launch at that event.
What could be improved?
NT staff were reluctant to get involved handing out the specially prepared postcard with an explanation of the event. Better briefing of the NT staff and volunteers on the day so that they could help in promoting the event. It has been suggested that we attend their morning briefing at 9.00am.
All visitors who took part were given a flier with more details of future events and contacts. It would be good to take more contact details and get express permission to mail with more details of DVO, permanent courses and clubs etc. near to their homes.
The location of the Start and Finish for longer courses nearer to the others would make it easier for the transition from one to the other. The Start and Finish teams, understandably, felt they were a little divorced from the action.
Learning points
For events designed to attract newcomers the location of assembly, starts and finish, and download needs to be very visible and close to the venue’s main amenities. We tend to tuck ourselves away a bit, and try not to be a nuisance but to attract people’s attention, we should be more ‘public’.
Dibbers, electronic controls and printouts attract youngsters so that they will do a course more than once and move up a course.
A welcome team dedicated to getting people understanding and taking part is key to success. Being present at the end of their run is also essential. Engaging with people at both ends of their run means they are much more likely to remember what they did and hopefully want to do it again.
A really short simple course with all the usual features of map, dibber, controls and printouts is likely to attract more young newcomers and their parents than the traditional string course. The Markeaton event in August proved that to be the case.
The host organisation should be encouraged to view the event as a partnership with positive benefits for them as much as for DVO.
The small gifts given to the volunteers were appreciated: a different approach for a different type of event.
The event structure worked and largely achieved its objectives. We can make improvements but shouldn’t be encouraged to add more elements. We now have an event template that can be used in other locations across Derbyshire and will visit other NT properties over the next few months to see if we can make the same model work there.
