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In light of the current public health crisis surrounding COVID-19, the New England Orienteering Club is canceling its public events as we've known them, for the immediate future. This is to comply with federal, state, and local authorities' public health directives, and to protect both our participants and our volunteers.
But wait. Aren't local trails and public land open? Orienteering is the perfect sport to maintain "social distancing" as you navigate by yourself through unfamiliar terrain. It seems like the perfect way to meet recreational and emotional needs.
We all love orienteering. And our very mission is to promote orienteering and provide individuals, groups, and families with an organized outdoor activity that is mentally and physically challenging on a variety of levels.
Stay tuned to the Schedule and the "NEOC Update" email as we work with land managers and club volunteers to organize Bring-Your-Own-Map (BYOM) events. Participants will be able to navigate around a course on their own time to minimize interactions.
As a reminder, club members have access to all our club maps in PDF form for personal use. (Check if you're membership is current.) See the NEOC Map Use Policy.
Send your request to the Mapping Committee Chair.
Ruth wins F80+ at 2016 Troll Cup
Photo: David Yee
Longtime NEOC member/volunteer and repeat National Champion, Ruth Johnson died Sunday, March 8, at age 87.
Her neighbor in Falmouth, Maine, Tony Federer (himself a NEOC veteran) reports that "She joined NEOC in the 1970s. From 1977 through 2013 she won an astounding 23 U.S. National Classic Championships, always in the oldest class at the time, starting with F43+ and ending with F80+!"
Ruth appears in NEOC results going back to the first "online" posting: Menotomy Rocks, March 26, 2000. If you have copies of the pre-web NEOC Times, you will no doubt find her in prior meet results.
A thread of remembrances is on Attackpoint.
From Judy Karpinski and Jeff Saeger —
We have such wonderful memories of orienteering with Ruth in the woods. As others have said, she was quiet, but thoughtful and always willing to help out. Her spirit and love for orienteering was obvious and we will miss her.
An inspiring profile of Sharon Crawford in today's New York Times.
Although it focuses on her skiing, "orienteering" is mentioned (four times).
Area orienteers who have been around for a while certainly know Sharon. Until she retired and moved to Colorado, she was very active with NEOC, not only as a competitor. Also, she is the sister of our our longtime Treasurer, Jim Crawford.
Map quiz from the recent NEOC Winter Party, courtesy of Jeff Saeger.
Choose the map for each of the 12 "snippets" below.
Note that not all of the maps are displayed with North at the top.
Click the button at bottom of the page to reveal the answers.
Join NEOC now and be ready for orienteering in 2020. (All 2019 memberships expire on December 31, 2019.)
You must show your 2020 Member Card at registration to get the benefits!
Your member card will be e-mailed to you right after payment (as a .pdf file), and you can easily get another copy sent any time.