Jump to Orange & WYO

September 14
Sunday

<img src="/sites/default/files/photos/Picture1_300x363.jpg" align="right" style="margin: 5px 5px 5px 5px;" alt="Occoquan" title="Occoquan" width="300" height="363"/><h4>Jump to Orange at Lake Needwood</h4>
This event is an excellent opportunity for those of you who usually do White or Yellow courses to make the jump up to Orange with the help of an experienced QOC orienteer to coach you on the course. Coaches will offer participants as much or as little advice as they want or need. Course setter Keg Good has designed a fun course to help get you off the trails to experience a whole new level of orienteering. (New orienteers should visit the <a href="https://www.qocweb.org/events/2025/9/14/intro-to-orienteering">Intro to O</a> event page).
<p>
Normal (point-to-point) white, yellow, and orange courses are available for runners who do not want to participate in Jump to Orange, however, beginner instruction is not available. Please note that these courses are nearly identical to courses offered at our May 2025 event, and the orange course is on the short side.
<p>
No advanced courses will be offered at Lake Needwood during this event; experienced orienteers are encouraged to volunteer as instructors and should contact <a href="https://www.qocweb.org/contact/Rager/Reiko">Reiko Rager</a>.
<p>
Pre-registration is required.
<p>
<h3>What to Expect</h3>
Jump to Orange event participants will be teamed up with a coach who will provide advanced instruction before setting out on the Orange course together. The coach will accompany you throughout the course and offer as much or as little advice
as wanted or needed.
<p>
In order to be prepared to make the most of this opportunity, please check out our <a href="https://www.qocweb.org/content/moving-intermediate-courses">Moving Up to Intermediate Courses</a> webpage. It is loaded with helpful information to help you succeed on your first Orange-orienteering adventure.
<p>
Check-in and map distribution will be at Picnic Shelter C near Needwood Lake Circle at the south end of the park (See directions below). Check-in windows will begin at 12:00pm. Register online for the time that works best for you, and plan to be there 15 minutes early to check in. Everyone will have until 3pm to complete their courses; remember to download at our e-punch station even if you did not finish the course.
<p>
Participants can orienteer solo or in small groups of up to four people. Juniors must be accompanied at all times during the Jump to Orange training by at least one of their parents.
<p>
<h3>What to Bring</h3>
Dress appropriately for an afternoon orienteering in the woods; <font color="red">long pants and socks are advised</font> for those on the yellow and orange courses. Bring your compass, orienteering gear, and water. Compasses and e-punches are available to borrow.
<p>
<b>Additional Notes</b><br>
ASL instruction will be available (only for Jump to Orange trainees). If desired, check the ASL box when registering for this event.
<p>
<img src="/sites/default/files/maps/Needwood_Parking.jpg" align="right" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px;" alt="Lake Needwood Parking" title="Lake Needwood Parking" width="225" height="250"/><h3>Parking</h3>
Park in either parking area or in one of the marked spaces along Needwood Lake Circle (see image). Signs will direct you from the parking lots to Shelter C where you will check in for the event.

Location Lake Needwood, Circle Parking Area, Derwood, Maryland
Registration Advance registration is required. Registration will open at 6pm at Monday Sept. 8 and will close at 12 noon on Saturday Sept 13 (the day before the event).

To Register for Jump to Orange Training --> CLICK HERE

To Register for a WYO Course --> CLICK HERE

Wondering who's registered? Click here to see Jump to Orange registrants, and click here to see WYO registrants.

Start Times Start times will be by windows (to be defined for this event before registration opens).
Schedule
  • Sunday, September 14
    12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Volunteers
Location Details
Lake Needwood, Circle Parking Area, Derwood, Maryland
Get to Avery Rd from either Norbeck Rd (Rt 28) or Muncaster Mill Rd (Rt 115). From Avery Rd, turn onto Needwood Lake Dr, go 0.3 miles, then turn left on Beach Dr. The first right then leads to Needwood Lake Circle, and by continuing to follow QOC signs you should be led to the pavilion/shelter in use for the event, most likely towards the S end of the lake.
Course Details
Course Name Length (km) Climb (m) No. Controls
Short Training 0.4 20 4
White 1.6 60 7
Yellow 2.8 105 11
Orange 3.1 125 9
Course Notes

All maps are 1:5000, 5 meter contours.
<p>
On the Model (a course used for the Jump to Orange training), on the way to the start and from the finish, cross a road. Watch for cars.<br>
<font color="red">Long pants and socks are advised</font> for those on the yellow and orange courses.
Yellow and Orange have creek crossings. Several potential creek crossing places have been marked on the map. These locations are not mandatory.<br>
Manmade features using the black hollow circle are usually sewer caps or vertical culverts. Manmade features using the black X may be utility boxes, gates, junk, poles, wellheads, benches, signs, junk. Not all poles are mapped. Benches and junk are control locations.<br>
Dot knolls can be small.<br>
Respect the green and plan your routes carefully.<br>
A major trail in the Orange and Yellow course vicinity was widened last spring and planted with new grass.<br>
The magenta-colored mesh indicates areas that are out of bounds.<br>
Entry Fees Individual Entries

Note: juniors = under 21

Club Member, adultClub Member, juniorNon-Member, adultNon-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.

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.
  • Beginners are encouraged to watch relevant videos such as this one created by QOC's instructional guru David Onkst

Location

Lake Needwood, Circle Parking Area, Derwood, Maryland

Registration

Advance registration is required. Registration will open at 6pm at Monday Sept. 8 and will close at 12 noon on Saturday Sept 13 (the day before the event).

To Register for Jump to Orange Training --> CLICK HERE

To Register for a WYO Course --> CLICK HERE

Wondering who's registered? Click here to see Jump to Orange registrants, and click here to see WYO registrants.

Start Times

Start times will be by windows (to be defined for this event before registration opens).

Schedule

  • Sunday, September 14
    12:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Volunteers

Location Details

Lake Needwood, Circle Parking Area, Derwood, Maryland
Get to Avery Rd from either Norbeck Rd (Rt 28) or Muncaster Mill Rd (Rt 115). From Avery Rd, turn onto Needwood Lake Dr, go 0.3 miles, then turn left on Beach Dr. The first right then leads to Needwood Lake Circle, and by continuing to follow QOC signs you should be led to the pavilion/shelter in use for the event, most likely towards the S end of the lake.

Course Details

Course Name Length (km) Climb (m) No. Controls
Short Training 0.4 20 4
White 1.6 60 7
Yellow 2.8 105 11
Orange 3.1 125 9

Course Notes

All maps are 1:5000, 5 meter contours.
<p>
On the Model (a course used for the Jump to Orange training), on the way to the start and from the finish, cross a road. Watch for cars.<br>
<font color="red">Long pants and socks are advised</font> for those on the yellow and orange courses.
Yellow and Orange have creek crossings. Several potential creek crossing places have been marked on the map. These locations are not mandatory.<br>
Manmade features using the black hollow circle are usually sewer caps or vertical culverts. Manmade features using the black X may be utility boxes, gates, junk, poles, wellheads, benches, signs, junk. Not all poles are mapped. Benches and junk are control locations.<br>
Dot knolls can be small.<br>
Respect the green and plan your routes carefully.<br>
A major trail in the Orange and Yellow course vicinity was widened last spring and planted with new grass.<br>
The magenta-colored mesh indicates areas that are out of bounds.<br>

Entry Fees

Individual Entries

Note: juniors = under 21

Club Member, adultClub Member, juniorNon-Member, adultNon-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.

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.
  • Beginners are encouraged to watch relevant videos such as this one created by QOC's instructional guru David Onkst


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