Plans for 2021

NEOC is committed to offering a variety of events this year. Since orienteering is inherently a COVID-friendly activity (if you don’t mingle long at registration or hang out at a checkpoint in the woods), we will be offering a range of opportunities for our members and the broader community.

In-person Events: These events will look similar to what you have seen in the past with a two hour start window for participants, on-site volunteers, and use of SI timing devices and QR codes. In 2021 it is likely that pre-registration will be required for all of these events. Since permits are still hard to obtain, spring in-person events will be limited with current plans to have additional events in the fall.

Bring-your-own Map Events: These events are open to NEOC members and the general public, and will typically extend for a week or more. Checkpoints will be marked with QR codes (instead of control flags) and participants will be able to time their course by using QR codes or self-timing.

Member Training Activities: These activities will be offered intermittently to members throughout the year. Details of these activities will be emailed to current 2021 members.

National Event: Pending permit approval by the Massachusetts DCR, NEOC is planning to host a National Event at Willard Brook State Forest in early October. More to come on this activity! It will be great to bring orienteers from surrounding clubs to NEOC-land for some high-level orienteering on a new map, and also open up the opportunity for earning national ranking points for our own members.

Thursday Evening Spring Park-O Sprint series: NEOC will partner with the orienteers at CSU (Cambridge Sports Union) to offer in-person, low-key, short-course events in local urban parks (April 22 – May 27). Pre-registration is required. Register for the series or for each individual event. NEOC membership does not cover fees for this event.

Scout Orienteering: Spring Scout-O will be April 17 at Hale Reservation, and Fall Scout-O is tentatively scheduled (pending permit approval) for October 30-31 at Nobscot Scout Reservation. Adult Leader Training will be offered the week prior to each event, with the goal that Girl Scout and Scout BSA leaders feel comfortable introducing orienteering to their youth and bringing them to a Scout-O event. Scouts are welcome at most NEOC events, although groups are requested to email the Event Director ahead of time.

If you have feedback on the events you like, places to map, or anything orienteering-related, please let us know.