Syracuse.com - Two-day orienteering event set for Nov. 2-3 at Highland Forest

[HuntingNY-News]

Competitors compete against each other on trails and through the woods, using detailed maps and compasses. They must stop and register at "control stations" along the way.

The use of a compass with a map is a key skill needed in orienteering.Stephen D. Cannerelli [email protected] 

Need help getting oriented to the outdoors?

Check out the 20th Annual Scout-O competition set for Nov. 2-3 at Highland Forest Park in Fabius. It's being hosted by the Central New York Orienteering Club.

Orienteering is a combination of cross-country running/quick walking and trying to find the quickest and easiest ways to reach the finish line.

Competitors compete on trails and through the woods, using detailed maps and compasses. They must stop and register at "control stations" along the way.

Barbara Sleight, co-director of the Scout-O event, said the weekend will consist of two parts. On Saturday, the emphasis will be on youth and it will be "an instructional/learning day". She said many Boy Scout troops from throughout the state are scheduled to attend, along with Girl Scouts, church and other community groups.

Sleight said instructions will be given at park's community pavilion area from 9 to 11 a.m., and participants will have the rest of the day to cover a 3-kilometer course.

"The most important thing is we'll go over instructions on how to use a map and a compass together," she said. 'Then they'll have to go out and use what they've learned."

Sunday is an open competition, with team leaders getting instructions starting at 9 a.m. at the community pavilion area and the gun to start the race will go off at 9:30. There will be two categories of teams: small (3 to 5 members) and large (6-8 members).

Sunday's competition will last 90 minutes and take participants throughout the park as they check in at control stations. Because of the size of the competition area, teams will have to break up and decide how they'll attack the course.

"We're recommending that participants go out in groups of two or more for safety reasons," she said. "We don't want anyone getting lost."

Plaques will be given to winners in the all-male, all-female and co-ed categories.

The cost to participate is $10 per person for one day, $14 for both. Special 20th Anniversary Commemorative Scout-O patches will be given to all participants.

For more information, see the Central New York Orienteering Club website at cnyo.us.orienteering.org.

View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog