Permanent Courses (POCs) are provided by orienteering clubs, as a way for people to try out orienteering before joining a club and also as a training resource for orienteering clubs themselves. Permanent courses are established in many parts of the country, usually in parks but also in less technical forests. They can be used at any time by anybody. The number of permanent courses in the Poole-Bournemouth area is growing steadily with time. They provide a progression of experience. The park-based ones are less technical and suit those new to orienteering, and they can help progress to the forest-based courses which are more challenging.