Purple Pen is course setting software for orienteering. It is free software that makes it easy to design courses and activities for all orienteering activities from the school yard to the forest.
Orienteering Ireland’s accredited Planner’s Course is for both new and existing planners. The online workshop is delivered online over 4 week.
Course outcomes:
-Understand the role and responsibilities of the planner.
– Apply the principles of course planning.
– Be able to plan courses at Technical Difficulty 1-5 for events up to and including league events / competition category 3.
– Act as an assistant planner at a regional championship event.
Participants should have basic knowledge of Purple Pen planning software.
Orienteering Ireland runs an annual Introduction to Mapping course using OCAD software.
This course is primarily aimed at those new to mapping, but all are welcome. Over a progressive series of four weekly online workshops participants will learn to:
1. Complete an urban sprint orienteering map that complies with international standards.
2. Complete an orienteering map of a park / school grounds.
3. Georeference and make small updates to any orienteering map.
Orienteering Planner’s Course: 22nd October – 12th November 2025
Orienteering Mapping Course: commencing Monday 9th February 2026
