The Event
Delaware Valley Orienteering Association (DVOA) will host its ~30th annual training and camping weekend on September 15-17, 2023 in Hickory Run State Park. Hickory Run is a beautiful, conveniently located park in the Poconos near the intersection of I-80 and I-476 (Northeast Extension of the PA Turnpike).
Saturday (September 16th) will be devoted to training and orienteering exercises. Training will begin at 10 AM and will be offered on three levels: beginner, intermediate and advanced.
Beginner training is for people who have never gone out on an orienteering course or have gone out a few times on a white or yellow course. Exercises will include map reading, understanding map symbols and map orientation.
Intermediate training is for people who feel very comfortable on a yellow course and want to move up to the orange level. In addition, intermediate training is for people who are now going out on an orange course and want to refine their skills. Exercises include understanding handrails, thumbing to maintain map contact, route simplification and improving off-trail confidence.
Advanced training is for people who are currently going out on a green or red course and want to improve their skills. Exercises include selecting attack points, route simplification and contours.
Training will be followed by a night orienteering event. Night-O will be offered on three levels: beginner, intermediate and advanced. The beginner course is all on trails and is intended for people who have never done orienteering at night. The intermediate course is intended for people who have done night orienteering before and are ready to get off-trail for part of the course. The advanced course is intended for people who have completed several night orienteering courses and are very comfortable off-trail at night. For night orienteering you will need a flashlight. Start times will be pre-assigned for you. Please note special start-time needs when you register.
On Sunday (September 17) DVOA will host an orienteering event. You can come just for this regular event if you’d like. Five courses will be offered: White (introductory difficulty and 2 to 3 km), Yellow (advanced introductory difficulty and 2.5 to 3 km), Orange (intermediate difficulty and 2.5 to 4 km), Brown (advanced difficulty and 3 to 5 km). Green (advanced difficulty and 3.5 to 5.5 km) and Red (advanced difficulty and 5 to 7 km).
Registration & Fees
Fees are at lowish, at cost – see registration page for exact fees as you start filling out a possible entry, separately for each of the following:
- Saturday Training, Saturday Night O’ & Sundy Regular Event
- The training fee includes all training materials you need except a compass. This is a per-person fee. You must pre-register and pre-pay for training.
- The night-O map fee is a per start cost, not a per-person cost. Typically, it is not practical for more than 2-4 people to use the same start & map. You must pre-register and pre-pay for Night-O.
- If you are going out on the Sunday event as part of the training, or just doing the Sunday, you must pre-register and pre-pay.
- Note pre-registration deadline may be earlier than the usual Thursday-before.
- Accomodations & Meal Packages
- Children under 7 eat free but are charged for cabin space.
- Lead volunteers (of trainings, event, course setting, meals) don’t pay for cabins or meals but do pay for their maps.
Accomodation & Food
Sleeping facilities consist of unheated cabins with no electricity and wooden bunks. There are no mattresses, so bring a mattress if desired. The group camp area has flush toilets located throughout the camp, a dining hall and a central shower facility with hot showers. The shower facility has electricity for lighting, but the toilet facilities throughout the camp have no electricity. The fees show above are for both nights.
If you stay in the cabins, you are asked to sweep out your cabin, close and latch all windows and pick up any trash you find around your cabin before you leave. Due to the bear population at Hickory Run, food in the sleeping cabins is prohibited.
You can also tent camp but must contact the park to reserve space in the public campground. Tent camping is not permitted in the group camp area we are using. The phone number for Pennsylvania State Part reservations is: 888-727-2757. You can also reserve online.
The meal plan consists of 3 meals on Saturday and 2 on Sunday. You must pre-register for food. There is no charge for children under 7. Meals are nutritious and plentiful. You can bring your own food if you desire, but kitchen facilities will not be provided. Food in the sleeping cabins is prohibited due to bears in the park.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I bring my pet to the event?
No, pets are not allowed in a group camp area.
Can I tent camp?
Tent camping is not allowed in the Daddy Allen group camp area. You must use the tent camping area. Contact the Park Office at 3613 State Route 534 White Haven, PA 18661
570-443-0400.
I am not a member of DVOA. What is the advantage of joining?
The primary advantages are reduced event fees, rankings and notification of upcoming events. A youth or small community organization (such as a scout troop or church group) can join as a family and all members of the organization are considered members. You can contact the club office for more information at 610-792-0502 or email Mary Frank or sign up online. Reduced fees at this event alone for a large group may cover the cost of membership.
Can I tent camp and take the meal plan?
Yes.
Do you keep groups together?
To the extent possible, groups are kept together. There are 2, 4 and a few 8-10 person cabins. Large groups are often given multiple cabins.
Will I share a cabin with anyone else?
Small groups and families (people who submit one registration or indicate who they want to be in a cabin with) are given a single cabin and do not share space with anyone else. A single person (registration) generally shares a cabin with someone of the same gender.
What can I do to help at the event?
Helpers are often needed in the kitchen. Helpers are always needed for cleanup after the event. Cleanup starts about 2:00 and mostly consists of dining hall cleaning. Even if you can only offer 15 minutes, it helps.
When does registration close?
Registration will in the first week of September, but the event may be full before that time. Avoid disappointment and register early.
You mentioned bears a couple of times, is there cause for alarm?
If you keep food out of your sleeping cabin, you should not have a problem. Food in a sleeping cabin is prohibited by the park for good reason. There have been cases of bears entering cabins because there was food in the cabin. The people, who were eating at the time, were surprised when the bear came through the window. Avoid the problem and don’t eat or keep food in your cabin.
Even More Questions?
Ask more on this eBoard post.