Due to the Corona virus outbreak, Scout orienteering is CANCELLED.
CROC is working to reschedule this event.
We will post updates via email, our website and Facebook as soon as we have more information.
Quick info:
Date: Sat. April 18 (always the Saturday after Easter)
Location: Champoeg State Park
Courses: Four different point to point courses for all skill levels
Beginners welcome, free clinics to teach you the basics
RSVP: Let us know you’re coming, and get a discount
Cost: $10 per team if you RVSP, $20 per team event day registration
Meet Director: John Godino
Times
Day of event check in and registration: 10:30 am - 12:45 pm.
Instruction clinics: 11:00 am - 1:00 pm as needed
Course opens: 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
Courses close: 3:00 pm
All teams must check out through the course finish gate before leaving the park, even if the team does not finish the course or returns after the course closes.
Event overview
Scout orienteering is always held on the Saturday following Easter.
It alternates every year between Champoeg and McIver State Parks.
This event is open to everyone: scout / youth groups AND the general public / adults.
Scout leaders do not need to know anything about orienteering. CROC teaches free beginner clinics to show your scouts everything they need to know.
Scouts and other youth groups of all ages and skills are invited to participate! Come and enjoy a day of fun and friendly orienteering practice and competition. This event gives scouts a chance to improve their outdoor skills and practice navigation on the beautiful trails of this park.
An orienteering course consists of a series of flags ("controls") set up in around the park. A detailed map shows the flag locations. In pairs or small groups, scouts use the map to navigate to each control in order and return to the finish area. Free instruction clinics are provided as needed. Scouts will be grouped according to rank and will navigate courses matched to their age and skill level.
Note that overnight camping is offered at this park.
Preparation
Have your scouts read our "New to O" webpage, and watch the short kid-made Youtube video on the basics of orienteering, also on this page. Doing so will give kids and leaders an idea what to expect the day of the event and make your day go more smoothly.
Courses
Scout-O has four levels of orienteering courses, with the intention that Scouts will compete with other Scouts of the same rank. Please read the following course descriptions carefully and be sure your Scouts are registered for appropriate courses.
Note: The beginner course is noncompetitive and for learning the basics only.
- Beginner (about 8 controls, about 2 km, all on trails/roads)
The Beginner course is a non-competitive course designed to introduce younger scouts to orienteering. Prior orienteering experience is not required. Scouts participate in small teams of two to four. Each group must be accompanied by an adult, who should follow his/her group, not lead it.
- Beginner/Intermediate (about 10 controls, about 3.5 km, mostly on trail, some route choices)
The Beginner/Intermediate course is intended for pairs of slightly older Scouts. Prior orienteering experience is not required. It is recommended that an adult trail the pair, but NOT communicate with the Scouts except in the case of an emergency.
- Intermediate (about 12 controls, about 4 km, mostly off trail)
The Intermediate course is intended for pairs of older Scouts. Prior orienteering experience is recommended. No adults are allowed to accompany teams on this course.
- Advanced (about 15 controls, about 6 km, mostly off trail)
The Advanced course is for individual entrants only - no pairs. It is limited to Scouts (including Explorers and Adult Scouters) with a fair amount of previous orienteering experience.
How long will it take?
That really depends on the kids. Some race through their courses in less than 1 hour, others take their time and stay out 2 to 2-1/2 hours. This is true of all the courses.
What about compasses? A compass is not needed on most courses, just decent map reading skills. CROC do not teach compass skills at the beginner clinics. If you want more compass instruction, see our wIlderness navigation tutorial videos on Youtube.
What merit badge requirements can be completed through this event?
Scouts should be able to pass off requirement 1a for 2nd Class (explain map and compass - the course is not long enough to pass off 1b, but you could probably make it so if you go back and forth along the course enough times), and requirement 2 for 1st Class (including the height measurement, although it is not really part of a standard orienteering course).
Scouts can also pass off requirements 2, 3a, 4, 6 and 7a for the merit badge. If the scouts intend to pass off these requirements, it will work best if they come ready to show/explain/identify; there are so many groups coming through there isn't enough time to properly explain everything and then test each scout. It will also help give them a better experience if they have already reviewed the merit badge workbook before coming. The workbook is online here.
Example map from previous event
Costs
Cost = $10 per team if you RSVP before 1:00 pm on Friday April 17. $20 per team after that.
A team is between 2 and usually no more than 4 kids. (If you have more than four people on the team, typically one person is doing most of the leading and decision making and the others are along for the ride, which does not really teach navigation skills.)
Note that payment is made and the registration/waiver form filled out the day of the event.
These fees do not include any extra daily use fee charged by the park. You must pay these separately. Oregon State Parks charges $5 for day use. 12 and 24 month passes are available.
Results
Results will be posted on the Events & Results page a few days after the event.
Map and Directions
45.2484, -122.8942
Latitude longitude coordinates (in decimal degree format) of the event. Copy/paste these into a smart phone mapping app or Google maps to get a map and driving directions.
From Portland:
From Interstate 5, take the Donald exit (Exit 278).
Follow the signs to Champoeg Park: Drive west on Ehlen Road. Go about 3.6 miles.
Turn right on Case Road. Go about 1.4 miles.
Turn left on Champoeg Road. Go about 0.9 miles.
Turn right into the park at the entrance. Follow the orienteering signs to the event start area.
NOTE: There is a self-registration station at the park entrance where you can pay the per-vehicle daily use fee. ($5