Sept. 8- 10: Up North Orienteers' Pawtuckaway Camping Weekend (Nottingham, NH) is just around the corner. This event is not to be missed! It offers standard orienteering courses, a vampire-O, canoe-O and more. Join for a single day or for the entire camping weekend. Pre-registration via Event Reg closes on Tuesday, September 5 at 11 p.m.
Great Brook Farm (Sept. 17) in Carlisle is one of the great locations to orienteer in MA. The rocky section brings back memories of mis-punches, the meadows provide easy running, and the transition into wood and wetlands reminds us we are in the heart of New England. The courses are set, and there's always a good turnout here. So, if able, please sign up as a volunteer for registration and download, or let us know on the day if you can help collect controls. We appreciate you: NEOC Event Volunteer Sheet (2023). This event is also the first of five events that make up the Fall 2023 Series.
New England Champs 2023 - Oct. 7 and Oct. 8 at Wells State Park in Sturbridge. There will be both competitive and recreational classes each day. Come and experience the top-level map and courses, meet orienteers from around the U.S. and Canada, and spend some quality time with fellow NEOC members. Starts are 10:00-12:00 on Saturday, 9:00-11:00 on Sunday. Recreational = just like a regular club event, but with a brand-new map. You can come one day or both, and you can register on the day (free for club members). White, Yellow, and Orange courses are offered. These courses are the same as the competitive White, Yellow, and Orange. Competitive = a wider range of courses, divided into age and gender categories. Competitors receive national ranking points. Start times are pre-assigned (with 1-2 minute intervals). Awards for the top three finishers in each competitive category based on two-day total time. These courses require pre-registration, and there is a registration fee. Register now to get regular event entry fees (prices increase after Sept. 17).
NEWS FLASH! NRE VOLUNTEERS RECEIVE A REGISTRATION DISCOUNT! National Ranking Events require lots of volunteers to run smoothly. Sign up to help SATURDAY and/or SUNDAY, and the event director will send you a coupon code for $20 off for each day you volunteer. For volunteers who have already registered and paid before this announcement, we can refund your discount. Previous experience is not required for most volunteer slots - there are job descriptions listed on the signup sheet.
There are still spots available in the Group Camping at Wells. $10 per person (for the weekend, not per night). Email the event director if you would like to reserve a spot.
Fall Series 2023: The Fall Point Series is back again for 2023 - Mark your calendars! This series provides a bit of light-hearted competition for the fall season. Scores are tallied by course (white, yellow, orange, brown, green, and red). Participants need to run the same color course for at least 3 of the 5 events listed below. No special registration required. Mark your calendars now!
Sept. 17: DCR Great Brook Farm (Carlisle, MA)
Oct. 7: Wells State Park (Sturbridge, MA)
Oct. 8: Wells State Park (Sturbridge, MA)
Oct. 22: DCR Boojum Rock (Stoneham, MA)
Nov. 12: DCR Mt. Wachusett (Princeton, MA)
Join/Renew your NEOC membership (½ year rates apply).. Didn’t get to orienteer in the spring but plan to join events in the fall? Sign up for half-year membership. Membership gives you free entry to NEOC local events and allows you to skip the queue at registration.
Wanderings - Medford start (Aug. 27 - Sept. 4): This annual BYOM event is off to a great start. You can bike or hike/run! Or both! The foot-O only section will be in Lawrence Woods (Medford, MA).
Sept. 8- 10: Up North Orienteers' Pawtuckaway Camping Weekend (Nottingham, NH) is just around the corner. This event is not to be missed! It offers standard orienteering courses, a vampire-O, canoe-O and more. Join for a single day or for the entire camping weekend. Pre-registration via Event Reg closes on Tuesday, September 5 at 11 p.m.
Great Brook Farm (Sept. 17, 2023) in Carlisle is one of the great locations to orienteer in MA. The rocky section brings back memories of mis-punches, the meadows provide easy running, and the transition into wood and wetlands reminds us we are in the heart of New England. The courses are set, and there's always a good turnout here. So, if able, please sign up as a volunteer for registration and download, or let us know on the day if you can help collect controls. We appreciate you: NEOC Event Volunteer Sheet (2023). This event is also the first of five events that make up the Fall 2023 Series.
Fall Series 2023: The Fall Point Series is back again for 2023 - Mark your calendars! This series provides a bit of light-hearted competition for the fall season. Scores are tallied by course (white, yellow, orange, brown, green, and red). Participants need to run the same color course for at least 3 of the 5 events listed below. No special registration required. Mark your calendars now!
Sept. 17: DCR Great Brook Farm (Carlisle, MA)
Oct. 7: Wells State Park (Sturbridge, MA)
Oct. 8: Wells State Park (Sturbridge, MA)
Oct. 22: DCR Boojum Rock (Stoneham, MA)
Nov. 12: DCR Mt Wachusett (Princeton, MA)
New England Champs 2023 - Oct. 7-8: More to Come on the club's National Ranking Event! In the meantime, register now to get regular event entry fees (prices increase after Sept 17)!
Join/Renew your NEOC membership (½ year rates apply): Didn’t get to orienteer in the spring but plan to join events in the fall? Sign up for half-year membership. Membership gives you free entry to NEOC local events and allows you to skip the queue at registration.
Summer Training: There is likely to be at least one more fun and informal evening session this Thursday 8/24 at 6 pm. Contact Nils P. and check out the details here.
Aug. 27 - Horn Pond (Woburn): Ease into the 2023 fall orienteering season with a first ever Score-O at Horn Pond. Plus, the usual beginner courses are also available, so invite all your friends and neighbors to try orienteering. Two Score-O courses, one with a 45 minute limit, and one with a 75 minute limit. The object of a Score-O is to find as many controls as possible, in any order, without going over the time limit. (Points lost for overtime.) Volunteer on-line to help out, by clicking here, or email the event director: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. No prior experience necessary for the registration table, instruction included.
Wanderings - Medford start (Aug. 27 - Sept. 4): Join this annual BYOM event where you can bike or run! Or both! The foot-O only section will be in Lawrence Woods.
Fall Series 2023: The Fall Point Series is back again for 2023 - Mark your calendars! This series provides a bit of light-hearted competition for the fall season. Scores are tallied by course (white, yellow, orange, brown, green, and red). Participants need to run the same color course for at least 3 of the 5 events listed below. No special registration required. Mark your calendars now!
Sept. 17: DCR Great Brook Farm (Carlisle, MA)
Oct. 7: Wells State Park (Sturbridge, MA)
Oct. 8: Wells State Park (Sturbridge, MA)
Oct. 22: DCR Boojum Rock (Stoneham, MA)
Nov. 12: DCR Mt Wachusett (Princeton, MA)
New England Champs 2023 - Oct 7 and Oct. 8! More to Come on the club's National Ranking Event! In the meantime, register here to get regular event entry fees (prices increase after Sept. 17)!
Check out the following upcoming events that draw folks from all over the area:
Sept. 3: The WCOC Corn Maze-O in Sunderland, MA is listed as the US Corn Maze-O Champs so clearly something to try!
Sept. 8- 10: Up North Orienteers’ Pawtuckaway Camping Weekend(Nottingham, NH). This event is not to be missed! It offers standard orienteering courses, a vampire-O, canoe-O and more. Join for a single day or for the entire camping weekend.
Join/Renew your NEOC membership (half-year rates apply). Didn’t get to orienteer in the spring but plan to join events in the fall, sign up for half-year membership. Membership gives you free entry to NEOC local events and allows you to skip the queue at registration.
SUMMER TRAINING: Do you want to join some summer training in the Boston area on Thursday evenings? Check out the details (with contact info for organizer Nils P.). Training will be low-key (meaning: no controls but streamers; streamers will be placed by the first starter or in tandem; ...). Each session will have a specific focus (contours, route choice, control picking, compass work, ...). We will try to offer a long and short option wherever it makes sense. (If there's interest in a kid's course, please reach out to the course setter of the specific date and we'll work something out.) Information of the upcoming training will be shared one week in advance via e-mail or WhatsApp. Weekly sign-up is mandatory so we can be sure to comply with landowner rules and have enough maps printed!
What: Technical orienteering training
When: Thursday evenings, 6pm
Where: in the parks and forests in the Boston area
Who: Orienteers with a basic or advanced skill set (it's technical training, not a race!)
FALL NRE - VOLUNTEERS NEEDED This coming October 7-8, NEOC hosts the New England Championships at Wells State Park in Sturbridge, Massachusetts. It is a two-day "classic distance" NRE, with both days at the same venue. It's a great opportunity for us to connect with the wider orienteering community, run on some high-quality maps in challenging terrain, and to come together as a club. Why not make a weekend of it and camp at the park? You can book your own site through Reserve America, or if you would like to stay in the group camping site (space for 15 people), email Kristin Hall. Putting on an event of this size requires a lot of volunteers. "Many hands make light work!" is definitely the case here! We'll need lots of folks to help out during the two days of the event (more on that in the next Update), but we also need a few people to take on various jobs in preparation. Most of these roles don't require previous experience with National Ranking Events—just folks with good organizational skills, or event planning experience, or artistic talent! If you are interested and able to take on any of the following roles, please email event director, Kristin Hall.
Refreshments lead (purchase and manage post-race refreshments)
Parking lead (work with the meet director to create a parking plan, and implement)
Graphic Design (for simple awards and perhaps publicity)
Awards (coordinate with the event director to purchase small mementos and local food awards)
"Comfort" lead (research porta-potty options and book, work with event director to arrange receiving)
Group Camping "Hospitality" (stay at the group camping, arrive early, check in fellow group-campers)
BYOM Event at DCR Nickerson State Park (Brewster - Cape Cod): July 1 - July 9: It is a great time of year to take a trip to the Cape and you might as well enjoy some orienteering (and a swim) at Nickerson State Park when you go. We are still waiting on the permit so check the website for updated information.
GEAR: The NEOC gear shop is open again! Take advantage of our 2023 order to update your gear or get the things you missed out on from the 2022 order. But don't wait too long, the gear shop closes on July 15 at 10:00 AM so we can place our order and have items available for the Fall. Online ordering is available at this link or from the homepage of the NEOC website and includes an order guide with additional information. Prices include all taxes and fees for in person pick up and gear will be available at our Fall events. Shipping is available for an additional charge.
SUMMER TRAINING: Do you want to join some summer training in the Boston area on Thursday evenings? Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and check out the details in this Google form. Training will be low-key (meaning: no controls but streamers; streamers will be placed by the first starter or in tandem; ...). Each session will have a specific focus (contours, route choice, control picking, compass work, ...). We will try to offer a long and short option wherever it makes sense (If there's interest in a kid's course, please reach out to the course setter of the specific date and we'll work something out.) Information of the upcoming training will be shared one week in advance via e-mail or WhatsApp (see the Google form mentioned). Weekly sign-up is mandatory so we can be sure to comply with landowner rules and have enough maps printed! What: Technical orienteering training When: Thursday evenings, 6pm Where: in the parks and forests in the Boston area Who: Orienteers with a basic or advanced skill set (it's technical training, not a race!)