Even though our radio-O classes are offered through our local orienteering club, many of our beginner students are not good orienteers. For some, it is their first orienteering experience of any kind. Thus, foxoring is not a good format for them to start with: they’d need to learn how to orienteer while learning to use the radio.
Instead of foxoring, we start beginners on a small classic course. We offer a series of two or three classes. The first two classes have the students go out as a small group, and an instructor walks the course with them and is always there to instruct or answer questions.
Class #1 uses constantly transmitting foxes on a ~1.6 km long, simple course with no maps and no compasses. This first class is all about learning to use the receiver and interpret what the signal is telling them. That is plenty of challenge for most first-timers.
Class #2 uses a tiny (4-5 km long) classic course in which students learn to use a compass to continue navigating toward foxes while they are off the air. A reverse rose compass is always attached to their receivers! Students might also carry a map to help them realize how few hands they have and how important a map holder is – and they can practice some basic orienteering.
Class #3 has a small (4-7 km) classic course, and students might be assigned just three foxes to find. They are still learning to handle cycling foxes, and three foxes are usually challenging enough. This class focuses on learning to use their receiver, map, and compass to draw a single accurate bearing toward each fox. Adults comfortable doing so can go alone on the course.
Those who continue beyond Class #3 learn more advanced skills like taking crossing bearings, determining optimum order, and other skills. We no longer consider them beginners after Class #3, and they (those who are not minors) are encouraged to go out alone on regulation courses.
An alternative approach would be to restrict radio-O to only those who have attained a certain level of orienteering experience. I don’t favor that approach because it discourages newbies by introducing a hurdle they must clear before trying radio-O. Since radio navigation can be safely accomplished without a map or compass (if the terrain is not hazardous and there’s a reliable homing beacon), orienteering newbies should be encouraged to give it a try. They and expert orienteers will be equally challenged in Class #1.
If one has a class full of good orienteers, then teaching Class #1 in the same manner (receiver only; no map and no compass) still makes sense. Orienteers generally don’t seem more radio-savvy than the average beginner, so they should start by concentrating on the radio. Then, Class #2 might feature a small (or even a regulation) classic or foxoring course. If the students are fit enough and have the time, the first two classes could be held on the same day – though I don’t think that is ideal. After Class #1, a student has a pretty good idea of what radio orienteering is all about and has an inkling of whether the sport is for them – so most of the attrition occurs after Class #1. It is better to dedicate one day to Class #1 so those who don’t wish to continue beyond it can opt out of additional training without inconvenience or pressure.