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Sunday
Pre-registration is required and will open Monday, October 5 at 6pm, closing at 12 noon on Saturday Oct. 10, the day before the event. There will be no day-of registration.
Campus Score-O
The University of Maryland's College Park campus is one of QOC's few urban venues, and the alma mater of many club members. Rather than the usual forest trails, orienteers here navigate among campus buildings, plazas, and paths.
This year, we have moved registration and the start location to the south side of campus, the area east of Van Munching Hall (the business school building), rather than our usual spot at Kim Engineering Plaza. Course Setter Ted Good has prepared an exciting 90-minute Score-O with a twist. Please carefully read the course notes below for details as well as the map notes.
Parking and Check-in
Mowatt Lane Parking Garage offers plenty of free parking spaces on weekends. Please note not all spaces in the garage are free. Be sure to park only in spaces designated as zone U 2 . (Don’t let the signs showing the garage level and row confuse you.) You can find additional details in the Driving Directions section below.
Check-in and e-punch will be located at the front of the Van Munching Hall, just west of the garage.
Volunteer
Have a bit of time to help? Join the crew by signing up via this form or email the Event Director for other volunteering opportunities.
Map Teaser!
(see course notes below and especially the detailed map notes for more information)
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| Course Details |
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| Course Notes |
Course NotesThis event is a 90-minute Score-O on the very fast University of Maryland Campus. Instead of classical forest orienteering, competitors will race around buildings and fields on the campus. Competitors get 1 point for each unique control visited within the 90 minutes and lose a point for every minute (or fraction of a minute) over the 90 minutes. The estimated straight line distance to get all controls is 10.2K but with all the buildings to run around the travel distance is ~13.2K (8.2 miles). Dual Level AreasThere are several dual level areas and one control window uses them extensively. You don’t have to open any doors to get to the control or steps to different level areas. Control descriptions use upper/lower in those area to show which level the control is on. This is one of the features you can see on the map snippet shown above and also shown in the map notes. Map NotesDetailed map notes are available online here (feel free to print and/or download). |
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| Registration | Pre-registration is required. Registration opens at 6pm on the Monday before this event and closes at 12 noon the day before the event. Note regarding UMD students for this event (only): all UMD students (including those 21 and over) should register as "juniors" and will thereby pay the discounted (junior) entry fee. |
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| Schedule |
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| Location | U. Maryland, College Park, Mowatt Lane, College Park, Maryland | ||||||||||
| Driving Directions |
From the Beltway: Travel to exit 25B and get on Rt 1 heading south. Then travel about 2.7 miles south on Rt 1 and turn right on Knox Road. Turn right on Mowatt Lane (.3 miles). The Mowatt Lane Parking Garage entrance is 200m on the right. The garage is divided into three parking zones with different rules. We recommend parking in zone U2 (Free). Zone U2 is 650 spaces of student parking that is free for everyone on the weekends. Most of the first floor and all of the second floor of the garage is zone U2. Paid visitor parking is avaliable in the northern-most row of the first floor and the outside lot. Visitor spaces are paid parking 24/7. The upper floors of the garage are zone 19 and are permit only 24/7. In the unlikely event the garage is full, additional free parking is available in lots 1b and 1c. To get to the registration area in front of Van Munching Hall, exit the garage to the west and head northwest to Van Munching Hall. |
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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. Important Notes
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Course Details
| Course Name | Length (km) | Climb (m) | No. Controls | Scale |
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| Score | 13.2 | 43 | 1:4000 |
Course Notes
Course Notes
This event is a 90-minute Score-O on the very fast University of Maryland Campus. Instead of classical forest orienteering, competitors will race around buildings and fields on the campus. Competitors get 1 point for each unique control visited within the 90 minutes and lose a point for every minute (or fraction of a minute) over the 90 minutes. The estimated straight line distance to get all controls is 10.2K but with all the buildings to run around the travel distance is ~13.2K (8.2 miles).
Extra Score O Rule: Some controls must be done in order. There are 4 purple boxes on the map. Each box has 5 controls within it. The controls in the box have a line connecting the controls and these controls must be done in order. They can be done either forward or backward but must be done all at once. Doing the controls out of order will result in penalty. All these control numbers in the boxes end in 1 through 5 (i.e. 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115…). The 140’s numbered controls are not in a box.
Maps will be given out at registration table so you can plan your route off the clock time. Plan carefully as few people will be able to get all controls. Read the symbols carefully. There are some tricky controls but the clue description should accurately describe where the control is. Maps are printed on both sides of the paper.
No metal spikes. We are not using the forested area this event so spikes are not needed and not allowed. Regular running shoes and clothing is recommended.
There are numerous road crossings so be careful when crossing roads. It is recommended to use crosswalks when crossing the main East/West road through the middle of campus where the Purple Line is. Be careful of scooters and bicycles. Students are often reckless on the roads and sidewalks. Be careful when running around blind corners so you don't crash into folks.
UMD has some large ongoing construction areas. Construction areas are marked with the purple hash on the map. All the construction areas I saw had fences around them (not on the map). You are not allowed to enter the construction areas even if they have a gate open for construction workers. Given that construction can change daily there may be some missing from the map but you are still not allowed to enter them.
Competitors are not allowed to enter any buildings on the course (dark gray buildings on the map). Light gray buildings (canopies) are allowed to be run through. Olive green areas on the map are also out of bounds. These tend to be gardens. Don’t cross any olive green, or anything that looks like a garden.
Dual Level Areas
There are several dual level areas and one control window uses them extensively. You don’t have to open any doors to get to the control or steps to different level areas. Control descriptions use upper/lower in those area to show which level the control is on. This is one of the features you can see on the map snippet shown above and also shown in the map notes.
Map Notes
Detailed map notes are available online here (feel free to print and/or download).
Registration
Pre-registration is required. Registration opens at 6pm on the Monday before this event and closes at 12 noon the day before the event.
Note regarding UMD students for this event (only): all UMD students (including those 21 and over) should register as "juniors" and will thereby pay the discounted (junior) entry fee.
Schedule
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Sunday, October 11
10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Location
Driving Directions
From the Beltway: Travel to exit 25B and get on Rt 1 heading south. Then travel about 2.7 miles south on Rt 1 and turn right on Knox Road. Turn right on Mowatt Lane (.3 miles). The Mowatt Lane Parking Garage entrance is 200m on the right.
From Baltimore: Take I-95 South. Take Exit 27 towards 495 West and then take the left exit for Rt. 1 College Park. Take exit 25B for Rt 1 South and follow the above directions.
From Washington DC take Rt 1 north to College Park. Turn left on Guilford Road. Continue straight onto Mowatt Land. The garage entrance is 200m on the right.
From University Blvd turn south on Adelphi Road and then take an immediate left onto Campus Drive. At the traffic circle take the first exit onto Mowatt Lane. The garage is on the left about 500m.
The garage is divided into three parking zones with different rules. We recommend parking in zone U2 (Free). Zone U2 is 650 spaces of student parking that is free for everyone on the weekends. Most of the first floor and all of the second floor of the garage is zone U2. Paid visitor parking is avaliable in the northern-most row of the first floor and the outside lot. Visitor spaces are paid parking 24/7. The upper floors of the garage are zone 19 and are permit only 24/7. In the unlikely event the garage is full, additional free parking is available in lots 1b and 1c.
To get to the registration area in front of Van Munching Hall, exit the garage to the west and head northwest to Van Munching Hall.
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.
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 $60 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.
- After completing their first course, orienteers who'd like to try a second one may do so with approval from the Event Director.
- There is no planned, on-site beginner instruction, but beginners are encouraged to watch relevant videos such as this one created by QOC's instructional guru David Onkst
FAQ
- What should I expect at a QOC orienteering event?
Participants navigate through diverse terrain — wooded areas, open fields, and sometimes waterways — using a map and compass. QOC offers a full range of courses to suit every skill level, from beginner-friendly to advanced, so newcomers and experienced orienteers can compete side by side. Events test your navigation skills and endurance, and, for groups, teamwork, all at your own pace.
- What should I bring to a QOC event?
Comfortable outdoor clothing and sturdy footwear suited to the terrain and weather, a water bottle and snacks, and a compass and whistle if you have them — loaners of both are available if needed.
- Do I need experience to try orienteering with QOC?
No experience is necessary. Beginner instruction is offered on-site at every event, and newcomers can prepare in advance with QOC's Your First Event and For Beginners pages, including this instructional video from QOC's David Onkst. Any other questions can be sent through our Contact Form.
- Can I orienteer with a group?
Yes — QOC welcomes groups of orienteers at most events. See our Group Leaders page for tips on running as a group, and check each event's Entry Fees section for group size limits and pricing.
- What is QOC's registration policy?
QOC uses pre-registration only — there is no day-of, on-site registration, and refunds are issued only if an event is cancelled. Each event's own Registration section lists that event's specific sign-up window.
- Are pets allowed at QOC events?
Well-behaved pets are welcome at most venues, but must be kept on a leash and under the owner's control at all times. Check each event's own announcement for any venue-specific restrictions.
- How can I volunteer at a QOC event?
QOC runs on volunteer support, from course setting and registration to control pickup — no experience is necessary for most roles. Each event's announcement includes a way to sign up (usually a SignUpGenius link) or to contact that event's director directly to offer help.
