To: All Scouts, Scout Leaders, Committee Members, Scouters
Are you and your troop ready to enjoy a day in the woods? Are you ready to sign-off the map and compass requirements for First Class, Second Class, or the Orienteering Merit Badge? Why not try ORIENTEERING, a cross country map and compass adventure designed to test the map reading ability and compass skills of any troop regardless of size or experience.
On Saturday September 23rd, 2006 the Delaware Valley Orienteering Association (DVOA) is hosting the Second Annual Delaware Scout Orienteering Championships being held at Brandywine Creek State Park in Wilmington DE -BOY SCOUTS and GIRL SCOUTS are welcome. Pre-event instruction will be available so that all Scouts, regardless of prior experience will be able to take part in the actual competition. There will be courses at four distinct levels of difficulty so that every Scout should encounter a challenge suited to his or her capabilities.
The event map conforms to International Orienteering Federation (IOF) standards. These 5-color maps will be returned to the teams after scoring.
Pre-registration is required for the event. Additional information on registration is attached. Scout leaders are responsible for obtaining their own council/tour permits and insurance where appropriate.
For additional information contact the director:
Mary Frank
(610) 792-0502
e-mail: Frankdvoa@aol.com
Orienteering information (including other Scout Orienteering events) is available on the following web sites:
To register for the event send the mail-in registration form and payment to:
Mary Frank
14 Lake Drive
Spring City, PA 19475
PLEASE BE SURE TO REGISTER YOUR SCOUTS ON THE PROPER COURSE. IT IS EMBARRASSING AND CONFUSING AT AWARD TIME TO FIND SCOUTS WHO HAVE COMPETED ON A COURSE DESIGNED FOR YOUNGER AND LESS EXPERIENCED COMPETITION.
Course Levels: Scouts will compete with other scouts of the same rank. Four courses will be offered. If in doubt as to what course is appropriate for a participant, please contact the meet director.
Course 1. Cub Scout Dens, Webelo Dens, Brownies, Juniors, new scouts, Tenderfoot Scouts: Cubs/Webelos and girls will run in groups of 2-5 with an adult advisor who should follow the group, not lead it. The Scouts should use the maps in the woods.
Course 2. Second Class, and/or First Class Boys; Girl Scout Cadettes. Adult may trail but not communicate with the Scouts except in case of emergency or injury. Scouts compete in pairs.
Course 3. Star, Life, and/or Eagle Boy Scouts, Girl Scout Seniors. Scouts compete in pairs.
Course 4--USOF Orange. Advanced, experienced orienteerers of any rank: Scout or Scouter, run alone on a typical USOF orange level course. Girl Scouts may run in pairs to comply with GSUSA rules. Meet Staff may move a participant to a lower difficulty course if they do not have enough experience to run Course 4.
Regular Adult Course: All leaders are invited to compete on a course similar to, but separate from, course 3. They may run in groups or alone. Experienced Leaders may compete on the Orange course. Registered participants Leaders receive a map and patch.
Score event: Units older than Cubs/Webelos & Brownies/Juniors may compete in a Troop score event in the afternoon. The teams must remain the same as in the morning event.
Registration Information: All participants must be preregistered and prepaid. To avoid late fees, registrations must be postmarked by September 12th, 2006. Event . The cost of the event is $5.00/scout or participating leader. Late registrations are at the discretion of the Meet Director and must pay an additional $4.00/person late fee. The registration form is the Mail-in Registration Form. The Troop Information Form is filled out when you are sure of the exact make-up of all your teams and turned in at final registration on meet day (do not mail in early). Choose the teams carefully because they must remain together all day. Mixed category teams are possible, but will compete on the course of the higher ranking scout. Each troop may have one three-person team to allow for odd numbers. The earliest entries get the earliest start times, thus more of a rest between morning and afternoon events.
Start Times: Instruction will begin at 10:00 to 11:00AM for participants. The start times of each individual team will be determined by receipt date of the Troop registration (earliest registrations get earliest start times). Morning start times will begin at 9:30 AM and go until about 11:30 AM. The afternoon Score Event is from 1:15 to 2:15 PM. Awards at 2:30 PM.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
START TIMES: Start times You may call the Event Director for advance notice of your troop's starting times beginning on the 20th.
PRIZES: Awards will be made to the best teams on each traditional-style course. A Troop Trophy will also be awarded via mail for the afternoon Score-O Event.
REGISTRATION: We ask for only the number of teams prior to the event. Register using the Mail-in Registration Form. The short lines should be checked indicating the number of teams on each course with a number indicating the number of scouts on that team if it is other than two. The exact make-up of the teams can be chosen on meet day. We return a copy of your Mail-in Registration form on meet day which showing your troop's assigned start times. Don't forget to tell us if you are a BSA Scout, Cub Scout, or a GSUSA unit.
MULTIPLE UNIT REGISTRATIONS: DO NOT register together types of units such as a Webelo den and a Boy Scout troop, or Girl Scout Troops of Cadettes and Juniors etc. Please use two separate forms to avoid confusion.
You must use separate forms if different leaders are picking up the packets at the event!
PAYMENT: Please make checks payable to "Delaware Valley Orienteering Association" or "DVOA".
BEHAVIOR: The Delaware Valley Orienteering Association is responsible for providing good courses, accurate maps, and clear instructions. The Scout leaders are responsible for proper supervision and discipline of the Scouts. The Scouts must not remove any of the control points or control card punches. Removal of meet equipment is unfair to other troops, and will result in the disqualification of the offending Troop.
WE GO RAIN OR SHINE! The maps are in plastic bags; Scouts should dress for the weather.
PARKING AREA: There are signs directing you to the parking area. They are orange and white arrows, similar to an orienteering flag. The direction markers start at the main entrance to the park.
REFUNDS: Because the courses are preprinted on your maps, we can not refund any registrations, however in the past we have been able to mail maps and patches to troops who register and are then unable to attend.
EQUIPMENT: Each team should have a watch, red pen, compass, and a whistle.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR LEADERS
Scout Leaders/Committee Members:
Welcome. We apologize for the delay in this form. We are trying to find a good date to accommodate this event.
We ask large units to consider providing an adult volunteer helper. That person does not need to know anything about orienteering… just be able to read & follow directions and be on time! Our goal is to have a core orienteering staff to head up registration, start, finish and calculations and use adult Scouters to manage lines, hand out maps, etc.
We ask that no electronic communications be used on the course. We want this to be fun as well as a fair event. Complaints at other venues about Scouts using radios have brought this to my attention. Please be aware that we may collect maps at the finish, with participants able to reclaim their maps once all participants are off the course.
If a Scout is seen using hiker radio or cell phone to coach a team through a course, the meet director will disqualify all teams from that unit from awards consideration.
Please designate an area for the scouts to find you after they have participated. We remind all leaders to adhere to BSA and GSUSA safety practices and obtain the proper trip permits before attending the event. Proper supervision is the responsibility of the unit leader; DVOA volunteers are happy to run the event, but cannot supervise Scouts.
Note: You do not have to register adult leaders that do not wish to go out on a course (or get a patch).
Thank You.