We want rogaining to be your outlet for physical and mental team activity in the natural environment. We want rogaining to provide new challenges, including the opportunity to enhance your navigational skills. Our rogaining events can become your passport to global Rogaining, enjoyed in 167 countries world wide.
The finer details
Rogaining is an outdoor team sport of long distance cross-country navigation. The championship rogaine is of twenty-four hours duration, but there are many shorter variants. Teamwork, physical activity, endurance, competition, self-reliance, and an appreciation of the natural environment are features of the sport. Rogaining involves route planning and navigation between checkpoints using a variety of map types, traditionally Topographical.
Rogaining can trace its roots back to 1947 when the first of many events with some of the features of rogaines was organized by the Melbourne University Mountaineering Club. These events led to the birth of the sport of rogaining in April, 1976, in Melbourne, Australia. The sport was named, rules were adopted and the world’s first rogaining association was formed (the Victorian Rogaining Association). Growth of the association and the sport occurred rapidly over the next decade.
The word rogaining is derived from the names of three of the founders, Rod Phillips, Gail Davis (née Phillips) and Neil Phillips (RoGaiNe, hence ‘rogaining’, ‘rogainer’ etc) . The name was formally adopted by the Victorian Rogaining Association at its inaugural annual general meeting in August, 1976 and accepted by Scouts Australia and University bushwalking groups to give the new sport an identity in its own right.
ROGAINE is also a backronym for “Rugged Outdoor Group Activity Involving Navigation and Endurance“.
Rogaines are generally day and night events in which teams of two to five members travel entirely on foot, navigating by map and compass. Teams normally select their own order of visiting checkpoints, in terrain that varies from open countryside to hilly forest. The sport also embraces other cross-country navigation activities of different duration and means of transport such as canoe, bicycle or skis, and where there is emphasis on navigation, teamwork and the environment.
At many rogaines, a central base camp provides hot meals and teams may return at any time to eat, rest or enjoy the fellowship. Teams travel at their own pace, and anyone from children to grandparents can experience the personal satisfaction that comes from cross-country navigation at one’s own level of competition.
The international symbol for Rogaining and Orienteering worldwide and is used to designate a checkpoint on rogaining courses.
Benefits of Rogaining
- A relatively inexpensive, wholesome outdoor activity from 3hr upwards
- Easy access under safe conditions to hiking areas in various parts of the world
- Access to some areas not easily accessible to the general public
- Communal awareness of the need to care for the natural environment
- Physical exercise for individuals leading to a more healthy community
- Development of teamwork skills, and cross country navigation skills
- Development of self-reliance and leadership skills in outdoor settings
- Elite cross-country navigation competition.
