The Arctic Orienteering Club has a new permanent course at Ruth Arcand Park that can be used at any time for fun group outings or training purposes.
The permanent course contains controls (checkpoints) set up in the woods on specific geographic features in the park. The control locations are marked on the orienteering maps (below). The controls are orange and white signs attached to a post (see image below). The control indicates that you have found the correct geographic feature marked on the map. Please note that these controls are different from the three-dimensional fabric controls that we use at our regular meets.
The objective is to locate all the controls on the course of your choosing, in the order listed on the map. The challenge comes from not knowing their locations ahead of time and determining the best route between them. The fun, of course, is the satisfaction of finding all the controls you set out to visit!
How To Use Our Permanent Orienteering Course
- Download a map. We offer three different ready-made courses:
- Short – Easiest
9 controls, 2.0 kilometers (1.25 miles) minimum distance, actual length will be longer depending on the route you choose. This course is recommended for everyone who has never orienteered before. - Medium
13 controls, 3.0 kilometers (1.9 miles) minimum distance, actual length will be longer depending on the route you choose. This course requires some off-trail navigation, although much of it can be completed on-trail if you desire. - Long – Most challenging
15 controls, 3.4 kilometers (2.1 miles) minimum distance, actual length will be longer depending on the route you choose. This course encourages off-trail travel. A compass is recommended.
- Short – Easiest
- Print a written description of the clues. The clues will tell you the type of geographic features you are looking for. They will also tell you the control code (the number printed on the post at the control — it is not the same as the control number on the map). This will help you confirm that you have, indeed, found the control you were looking for. Clues are printed on the map using the International Orienteering Federation (IOF) Control Description system. If you are not familiar with this symbolic description, you can print one of the following clue sheets with a written description.
Short course clue sheet with written description.
Medium course clue sheet with written description.
Long course clue sheet with written description. - Arrive at Ruth Arcand Park wearing sturdy shoes. If you plan on doing the Medium or Long course you will also want to wear long pants or gaiters to protect your legs. If you have a compass, use it to help you keep your map oriented correctly. You most likely will not need one for the Short and Medium courses.
- Familiarize yourself with the map and its symbols before you begin. Start at the “Tee” in the paved trails about 30 feet from the south-east corner (farthest from the first entrance) of the first parking lot of Ruth Arcand Park. The start location is identified on the map with a purple triangle (on top of the finish symbol – a purple double circle). Hold the map flat in front of you at waist level, and rotate it until it is “oriented” to the terrain, roads, and other features. Magnetic north is the top of the map. The blue lines that run the length of the map align with magnetic north. This means that the declination of your compass should be zero. If you don’t know what that means, you are likely okay.
- Set out to visit the controls in sequence. Be sure to keep your map oriented to the features around you and/or magnetic north as you change direction going from point to point. You may change your direction of travel between controls, but north will always be in the same place!
- At the control location, you will find an orange and white sign mounted to a wooden post. This is the control. The number on the sign will correspond to the number in the second column of your clue sheet. If you’ve found the correct control, head off in search of the next one. (NOTE: there are no “punches” at these controls so you don’t need to fill out or bring a control card for these courses.)
Tips for Successful Orienteering
- SAFETY NOTE: On the chance that you become hopelessly “disoriented,” use your compass to head NORTH. This will eventually bring you to one of the two roads at the edge of the park.
- Orienteering is a great group or family activity. But, if you go by yourself, tell someone where you are going.
- “Orient” the map every time you look at it. That is, turn the map so that the north arrow points toward magnetic north as shown by your compass.
- Have a plan in mind for which features to follow to get to the control, such as a road, trail or stream.
- Hold the map in your hand with your thumb firmly planted on your current location. Fold the map smaller to make this easier. When you next look at the map, it will be easier to “locate” yourself.
- Keep in mind that the map might not show small details or recent changes. Do not be surprised if you come across new features which are not shown on the map.
- To learn more, visit our training page.