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Sunday
SORRY BUT THIS EVENT WILL HAVE TO BE RESCHEDULED DUE TO PARK ISSUES.
Pre-registration is required and will open on Monday, March 27 at 6pm and will close at Noon Saturday April 1.
Welcome to QOC’s First Event on a new map in a very new park just opened in Calvert County last spring.
Ward Farm Park is a fun new park with expansion potential and still under development. Only 163 acres are used in these courses, but there are many navigable features and trails. It does not offer as challenging a venue as our advanced orienteers are used to, however, with a little creativity, we hope to offer courses with route choices and a chance for a pretty good run.
This park is mixed use. Soccer and baseball fields with open ground around them covered with 2-3 foot grasses and flowers, some clear woods with deep re-entrants and thick vegetation at forest edges, many good trails, and a network of wide, grass-covered, rolled-flat RUNWAYS that go around the heavily-overgrown farm fields.
The ball fields are open (with reservations) for public use, so we expect them to have use before and during our event. Because we can’t predict whether they’ll be used or not, they are shown as dark green No Entry Authorized areas. The trails around them, of course are fine to use… and if the fields aren’t in use, they are fine to enter.
Check in will open about 9:45am and courses will open at 10:00am.
As always, please be off the course no later than 3 pm and remember to download at our e-punch station even if you did not finish. We want to make sure of everyone’s safety and status.
Free Beginner Instruction will be offered, but please reach out to the Event Director you have a group, so we can plan accordingly. Also, make sure to check out our Your First Event and For Beginners webpages. Beginners are also encouraged to watch relevant videos such as this one created by QOC's instructional guru David Onkst. If they don’t answer any remaining questions you have, just use our Contact Form and ask.
Group Leaders: Please see our For Group Leaders page if you are leading a youth or large group – even though you will be pre-registering online. Please contact the Event Director to make them aware of your plans and numbers.
Dogs are welcome, usual leash laws apply.
Your Map = A Free Cookie! After your run, join other orienteers and volunteers at the Chesapeake Grille & Deli in Dunkirk MD, less than 2 miles from the event (map link). Event volunteers are likely to show up after 4pm, but feel free to show up earlier. Bring your map to get a free cookie with any purchase, courtesy of Alexis, the CG&D manager.
Reminders:
- QOC will continue to use pre-registration as the ONLY method of signing up for our meets. There will be NO day-of, on-site registration. Refunds are paid only in the case of event cancellation.
- Masks are optional at all locations connected with the event. Please continue to minimize clustering at and around the check-in, e-punch, start and finish areas.
- As mentioned above, beginner instruction has resumed to provide an overview of orienteering basics for newcomers to the sport or those who just want a refresher.
- There is no water on the course. Participants are responsible for their own hydration. A very limited supply of bottled water for emergency use will be on hand with the Meet Director; but it is vital to stay well hydrated. Please come prepared!
- There are no snacks offered by QOC.
- For this event (as with most others this season) there will be eight 15-minute check-in windows followed by two 45min windows.
| Location | Ward Farm Park, Southern Parking Lot, Dunkirk, Maryland | ||||||||
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| Registration | Pre-registration is required and will open on Monday, March 27 at 6pm and will close at Noon Saturday April 1. | ||||||||
| Start Times | Start times will be by windows (to be defined for this event before registration opens). | ||||||||
| Schedule |
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| Volunteers |
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| Location Details |
Ward Farm Park, Southern Parking Lot, Dunkirk, Maryland
From I-495 (Capital Beltway) exit 11, head S on MD-4 towards Upper Marlboro. In about 17 miles, turn left onto Ward Road.
In about one mile the park entrance will be on your right.
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| Course Notes |
Map Notes:
The map was generated from LiDAR, Calvert County aerial imagery, and some site checking. Where the map has details like form lines, rootstocks, knolls and deadfall, it’s been checked. Where those are missing, Craig has not yet gotten there. All paths and rides are well mapped, although deadfall across rides means they aren’t free. Where rough open is indicated, it varies from knee high grasses and flowers to shoulder high weeds. Rough open fields may be less passable than the map would indicate. There are many large trees in the forested areas, where prominent trees are mapped, they are prominent in comparison to those around them, either by size or shape. Most forest edges are verdant green and uncomfortable to pass through, but once in the woods, the going is pretty nice. Course Notes: to be posted closer to event date. |
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| Entry Fees | Individual Entries
Note: juniors = under 21
Group Entries Participants are welcome to orienteer together as a group (up to the maximum for that event; usually 4). Each member of a group is charged their individual rate as shown above, up to a group total of $30 (maximum), and each receives a map. A group receives one epunch. Individuals or groups desiring to compete on a second course after completing their first can do so for a reduced fee of $2/map subject to approval at the event by the Event Director. Important Notes
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Location
Registration
Pre-registration is required and will open on Monday, March 27 at 6pm and will close at Noon Saturday April 1.
Start Times
Start times will be by windows (to be defined for this event before registration opens).
Schedule
-
Sunday, April 2
10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Location Details
Course Notes
The map was generated from LiDAR, Calvert County aerial imagery, and some site checking. Where the map has details like form lines, rootstocks, knolls and deadfall, it’s been checked. Where those are missing, Craig has not yet gotten there. All paths and rides are well mapped, although deadfall across rides means they aren’t free. Where rough open is indicated, it varies from knee high grasses and flowers to shoulder high weeds. Rough open fields may be less passable than the map would indicate. There are many large trees in the forested areas, where prominent trees are mapped, they are prominent in comparison to those around them, either by size or shape. Most forest edges are verdant green and uncomfortable to pass through, but once in the woods, the going is pretty nice.
Course Notes: to be posted closer to event date.
Entry Fees
Individual Entries
Note: juniors = under 21
| Club Member, adult | Club Member, junior | Non-Member, adult | Non-Member, junior |
|---|---|---|---|
| $10 | $5 | $20 | $5 |
Group Entries
Participants are welcome to orienteer together as a group (up to the maximum for that event; usually 4). Each member of a group is charged their individual rate as shown above, up to a group total of $30 (maximum), and each receives a map. A group receives one epunch. Individuals or groups desiring to compete on a second course after completing their first can do so for a reduced fee of $2/map subject to approval at the event by the Event Director.
Important Notes- If you wish to become a QOC member you should join online in advance via this webpage (which also explains the member benefits). Membership is completely optional.
- Most of our events use an 'epunch' timing chip for electronic timing. Individuals or groups without their own epunch will be loaned one for that event. Loaned epunches that are lost incur a $40 replacement fee. Epunches (also known as SI-cards or finger sticks) can be purchased from online vendors as described here.
- Former QOC members who have let their membership lapse pay non-member fees.
- Compasses are available at no charge, but if lost incur a $15 replacement fee.
- Please provide collateral (such as car keys) when borrowing a compass or epunch.
- In addition to free on-site beginner instruction if needed, beginners are encouraged to watch relevant videos such as this one created by QOC's instructional guru David Onkst
