Every element of the Navy's JROTC Program was designed with the purpose of developing young leaders. Orienteering was included in SHS’s curriculum years ago with the hopes of developing their own leaders. Although Orienteering has been taught part of the NJROTC Academic Curriculum for several years, this year the Suwannee High School NJROTC seadogs decided to take the lessons learned in the classroom and apply them in the field by creating an Orienteering Team.

Orienteering began in Scandinavia as a way to increase physical fitness among people. As years and decades passed, it evolved into not only an essential tool for navigation and travel, but has become the thrilling sport within the JROTC Community.

Many of the Cadets have taken an immediate love for the event and they always strive to bring a competitive, yet sportsmen-like, attitude to every competition. The team has attended one “Orienteering Mini-Camp" and one orienteering competition thus far. They are scheduled to participate in at least three additional competitions before the year is over. Even though they are first year team, the team is doing exceptionally well; most placing within the top 50% at each of the two event.

This year's orienteering team is commanded by Cadet Keaton Chavers and the charter members are as follows:

Cody Blackburn

Brianna Carver

Richard Corrales

Laura Corrales

Alexia Cash

Destiny Davis

Timothy Gibbone

Robert Heflin

Casey Howard

Kade Humphries

Robert Kearce

Thomas Powell

The team would like to give a special thank-you to the Lake City, Florida Walmart for awarding them a $2,000 grant through the Walmart Community Grant Program, which enable the team to purchase most of their initial camping and training gear needed to start the program.