Spring Park-O Thursday Series (SPOTS): We had a great turnout at North Point Park last Thursday. Join us this week at Franklin Park (Boston). Rumor has it that some of the control descriptions are animals (?). Register for the full series or for just one of the events. Pre-registration is required by Tuesday before the event.
April 25: North Point Park - Cambridge
May 2: Franklin Park - Boston
May 9: -- Rest week --
May 16: Mary Cummings Park* - Burlington
May 23: Fresh Pond - Cambridge
May 30: Edmunds Park - Newton
June 6: Hammond Pond - Newton
June 13: Pine Banks - Malden
May 5 (Baldwin Hill, Ashburnham, MA): A huge thanks to all the people who have volunteered to help. The event is on! There will be six courses: something for everyone. The area has challenging terrain for advanced orienteers, and a fun area with plenty of paths and stone walls for white and yellow.
Training Options for Baldwin: Baldwin Hill is a great area for folks moving up to orange to practice intermediate skills. A special feature at this event will be a handout, or cheat sheet, describing different orienteering skills and techniques to practice on each leg of the orange course. Intermediate instruction will be available at registration, in addition to the usual beginner instruction.
There are still a few volunteer slots waiting to be filled. You can sign up here to help out.
NEOC Board - Call for Nominations 2024: Have you ever wanted to join the great group of folks helping to put on events for the local orienteering community? Now is your chance. NEOC has a nine member board that meets approximately 4 to 5 times per year. Board positions are for two years (starts in June). If you are interested, please contact the This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (Wendy J. and Jim P.). We are happy to tell you more about the board and look forward to hearing about your interests.
Other Local O' Happenings!
44th Billygoat Run: The annual running of this long-distance event (11.2 K) will be in Gunstock, NH and will be organized by UNO. As usual there will also be a kid-goat (~ 5K) and beginner and intermediate courses.
URGENT HELP NEEDED (for May 5th Baldwin Hill Event): The meet director for Baldwin Hill (Ashburnham, MA) has a fractured wrist (orienteering at West Point - ugh! ). There are quite a few jobs an event director cannot do in this condition. If you are able to step up/in to help with the Baldwin Hill, please email Kristin Hall (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). Streamer hanging, control setting, equipment moving, and control pickup are the key concerns; and these jobs can be done by different people. It is definitely possible to simplify courses, if that makes it more manageable for anyone who might be able to volunteer. We'll make the decision whether to cancel or proceed on Wednesday, April 24.
Spring Park-O Thursday Series (SPOTS): Mark your calendars for seven evening orienteering events in the Greater Boston Area. Register for the full series or for just one of the events. Pre-registration is required by Tuesday before the event. The first event is this Thursday, April 25!
April 25: North Point Park - Cambridge
May 2: Franklin Park - Boston
May 9: -- Rest week --
May 16: Mary Cummings Park* - Burlington
May 23: Fresh Pond - Cambridge
May 30: Edmunds Park - Newton
June 6: Hammond Pond - Newton
June 13: Pine Banks - Malden
April 28 (Whipple Hill, Winchester, MA): Two high school club members are organizing this local event. There will be beginner, intermediate and advanced courses. The event will start at Wright-Locke Farm, a farm with both vegetables and livestock. Be sure to check out the goats and chickens on your way to registration! Sign-up to volunteer here. Become a 2024 member now and skip the payment line at the event. Note: NEOC will only be using SI-timing at its in-person events in 2024. Please see event registration for SI-device rental or purchase information.
NEOC Board - Call for Nominations 2024: Have you ever wanted to join the great group of folks helping to put on events for the local orienteering community? Now is your chance. NEOC has a nine-member board that meets approximately 4 to 5 times per year. Board positions are for two years (starts in June). If you are interested, please contact the 2024 Nominations Committee (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). We are happy to tell you more about the board and look forward to hearing about your interests.
Hale Education, Westwood, MA (April 13 - 28): It is your last week to get out and try the BYOM event at Hale this spring (runs through April 28). Check out who has made it into the woods thus far!
Other Local O' Happenings...
44th Billygoat Run: The annual running of this long-distance event (11.2 K) will be in Gunstock, NH and will be organized by UNO. As usual there will also be a kid-goat (~ 5K) and beginner and intermediate courses. Register on or before April 24 to avoid late fee (and risk not getting a well-deserved Billygoat 2024 shirt at the event!)
April 17 (Advanced Course Setting Training): Are you interested in learning how to improve your course setting skills? Join Canadian team member, Eric Kemp, talk though the planning process. Time: 8 p.m. EDT (GMT-4). For more information and to RSVP go here.
April 28 (Whipple Hill, Winchester, MA): Two high school club members are organizing this local event. There will be beginner, intermediate and advanced courses. The event will start at Wright-Locke Farm, a farm with both vegetables and livestock. Be sure to check out the goats and chickens on your way to registration! Sign-up to volunteer. Become a 2024 member now and skip the payment line at the event. Note: NEOC will only be using SI-timing at its in-person events in 2024. Please see event registration for SI-device rental or purchase information.
Spring Park-O Thursday Series (SPOTS): Mark your calendars for seven evening orienteering events in the Greater Boston Area. Register for the full series or for just one event. Pre-registration is required and club members get a reduced rate for the series. Starts are from 6:00 - 7:00 pm.
April 25: North Point Park - Cambridge - Coming soon!
May 2: Franklin Park - Boston
May 9: -- Rest week --
May 16: Mary Cummings Park* - Burlington
May 23: Fresh Pond - Cambridge
May 30: Edmunds Park - Newton
June 6: Hammond Pond - Newton
June 13: Pine Banks - Malden
Hale Education, Westwood, MA (April 13 - 28): A BYOM event is open April 13—28. It is a great time to get out and enjoy this park and a whole set of courses. Check outwho has made it into the woods thus far!
MetroWest YMCA Outdoor Center (Hopkington, MA) (March 30 - April 7):Participate in a bring-your-own-map event where you can either use QR code timing or self-time. Come check out this new map in a tucked-away wooded park. Here are the current results! Courses are set for beginners and intermediate/advanced orienteers.
White (1.7 km) – beginner: all controls on trails
Yellow (2.6 km) – advanced beginner: all controls visible from trails
Sprint1 (2.4 km) – intermediate: some controls on trail, some off trail
Sprint2 (2.4 km) – intermediate with different controls from Sprint1
Spring Park-O Thursday Series (SPOTS): Mark your calendars for seven evening orienteering events in the Greater Boston Area. Register for the full series or for just one of the events. Pre-registration is required and club members get a reduced rate for the series. Starts are from 6:00 - 7:00 pm.
April 25: North Point Park - Cambridge
May 2: Franklin Park - Boston
May 9: -- Rest week --
May 16: Mary Cummings Park - Burlington
May 23: Fresh Pond - Cambridge
May 30: Edmunds Park - Newton
June 6: Hammond Pond - Newton
June 13: Pine Banks - Malden
Membership: Join/Renew your 2024 NEOC membership. From the Spring Park-O Series (reduced rates) the Winter Challenge, BYOM events, and in-person events scheduled through the spring and fall, Membership gives you access to orienteering events through all of 2024!
The 2024 Winter Challenge is now closed! Be sure to add your name and comments to the spreadsheet! It helps motivate the course setters and we will list the names of folks who made it to 4 of the 5 in an upcoming write-up!
March 30—Introduction to Orienteering (Hopkington, MA): Participation in the 'Introduction to Orienteering' is free for MetroWest YMCA members and New England Orienteering Club members. Each participant must pre-register for a time slot. Of course, non-members are welcome to register as well! Courses at this location are available to NEOC members and to the public as a Bring-your-own-Map event (no-pre printed maps). You can use QR code timing or self-time. The courses will be available March 30 through April 7. Come check out this new map on one of the courses below!
White (1.7 km) – beginner: all controls on trails
Yellow (2.6 km) – advanced beginner: all controls visible from trails
Sprint1 (2.4 km) – intermediate: some controls on trail, some off-trail
Sprint2 (2.4 km) – intermediate with different controls from Sprint1
The 2024 Winter Challenge is open to current NEOC members through April 1. Details are included in the confirmation email sent when you join/renew for 2024. Be sure to check out the comments from members on the spreadsheet before heading out! Courses have been designed at five locations around Massachusetts.
Beech Hill (Westminster, MA
Lynn Woods (Lynn, MA)
High Rock (Foxborough, MA)
Prospect Hill (Waltham, MA)
Willard Brook (Townsend, MA)
Spring Park-O Thursday Series (SPOTS): Mark your calendars! CSU and NEOC are organizing a series of 7 Thursday evening spring park orienteering events in the Greater Boston Area. Pre-registration will be live soon. Register for the series or for just one of the events. Series runs April 25 - June 13. 6:00 pm. Registration and park locations coming soon!