Newton Hill, Worcester, MA
September 15, 2013
Meet Directors: Michelle and Garrett Faucher

“What is Orienteering?”
By: Michelle Faucher

Thousands of people adventured up and down Park Avenue in Worcester for “stART on the Street” a yearly September event that hosts art and food vendors, non-profit organizations, and musical acts. Paces from the street, along the wood line, the New England Orienteering Club participated by displaying orienteering signs, orange and white controls, e-punch controls, a String-O course, and computer with a screen display to show the finishing times of participating orienteerers for the White and Yellow courses that were set that day. On several tables were: brochures, orienteering magazines, orienteering maps of various locations and dimensions which were used to help answer the repetitive question of “What is Orienteering?”

A diverse crowd, hundreds throughout the day, could be found standing at the NEOC tables enjoying the sunny, non-humid, perfect temperature day and many of them were surprised to learn about the amazing sport of Orienteering. Luckily, people like Ian Smith, Tim Booth and Joanne Sankus were there to share their passion for the sport. They shared stories and experiences of the different orienteering events, locations, and opportunities that they have participated in here in New England and overseas. These events keep them physically fit and “stimulate the mind” as orienteering is a thinking sport.

The handouts made by Barb Bryant were key in helping to tell the stories. With colorful images of members participating in Orienteering, the handouts became key talking points and a valuable give away to help people remember the website. Included was the current schedule with locations for the rest of the orienteering season in New England. Also, another helpful marketing tool for the children and adults were the bright orange NEOC safety whistles that displayed the club name and website.

During the event, Jim Crawford and Raina Crawford assisted many of these new orienteers by checking them in for the course and running the computer which displayed their technical savvy and our high-tech foot print by giving results instantaneously upon course completion. All courses were free! You should have seen all the smiles! (Note: Our first year at stART many were not ready to participate on an actual course but maybe you will see them at future events?)

Volunteers: John Tenney, Travis Tenney, and Lindsey Tenney were very helpful in volunteering their time to help break down and carry NEOC equipment to vehicles. They also assisted many new prospective orienteerers by going out on courses with them and showing them how to use the e-punch and read the maps.

As local Worcester residents and NEOC members Sam Levitin, Garrett Faucher, and I took on the challenge to bring orienteering back to Worcester. Some steps included revitalizing the Newton Hill map in July and August with assistance of both Sam and Tim. Other steps towards success included: many visits to the Newton Hill/Elm Park, emails and phone calls to the organizers of stART on the Street, and an onsite approval of where the start of the map would occur and where we would set up our tables. The logistics of the event included: set times to be able to drive up to the site on event day and very detailed instructions on how to drive in and pick up our NEOC equipment at the end of the event.

White

Yellow