Vulcan Orienteering Club Events  (Alabama)

VOC Orienteering Events

VOC Meet

September 16, 2023
Oak Mountain State Park - Pelham, AL [park info]
MEET INFORMATION:
  • Go to the gravel parking area adjacent to the old spillway at the fishing lakes (mile marker 7 in the park).
COURSES: (course design by Joey Ciza)
  • YELLOW (beginner) – 3.7km, 25m climb, 11 controls
  • ORANGE (intermediate) – 3.3km, 110m climb, 11 controls
  • GREEN (advanced) – 4.3km, 180m climb, 14 controls
  • RED (advanced) – 5.4km, 210m climb, 18 controls

VOC Beginner Orienteering Class

September 30, 2023
Turkey Creek Nature Preserve - Pinson, AL [park website]
MEET INFORMATION:
    Learn to Orienteer AND Support Turkey Creek Nature Preserve!

    The Vulcan Orienteering Club will be teaching a Basic Orienteering Class at the Nature Center on Saturday, September 30, 2023 from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. It is open to anyone who is open to roaming the woods. The cost is $55 with early registration and includes a sandwich lunch and compass. Proceeds will go to Turkey Creek for trail upkeep and maintenance of the permanent orienteering course located in the Thompson Trace trail area. Since the Friends of Turkey Creek Nature Preserve is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, part of your fee will be tax-deductible.

    Class starts at 8:30 am and will include three hours of classroom training, 90 minutes of practice, and a two-hour competition. Learn what orienteering 'Is' and 'Is Not!' Learn how to use a compass and read a topographic map. Learn basic orienteering skills and practice techniques to help you make a route choice and stick to it.

    The class size limit is 15 people, so sign up soon!
    The cost is $55.00 if you register by Tuesday, September 19th,
    and $65.00 if you register after.
    Complete and mail in the registration form below with a check
    -or-
    register online and pay with PayPal at: Turkey Creek NP
    If you have any questions, please contact Anne Mathews.

VOC Meet

October 21, 2023
Oak Mountain State Park - Pelham, AL [park info]
MEET INFORMATION:
  • Turn off of John Findley Drive near mile marker 4 (BMX track is also here).
COURSES: (course design by Joey Ciza)
  • YELLOW (beginner) – 3.2km, 65m climb, 11 controls
  • ORANGE (intermediate) – 3.9km, 150m climb, 12 controls
  • GREEN (advanced) – 5.5km, 250m climb, 13 controls
  • RED (advanced) – 7.1km, 300m climb, 14 controls

VOC Meet

November 18, 2023
Wind Creek State Park - Alexander City, AL [park website]
MEET INFORMATION:
  • Meet info page on Attackpoint
  • We will have a remote starting location for the RED and GREEN courses.
    All courses will finish on the beach.
START/FINISH: Beach
  • The beach is about a half mile straight ahead from the entrance on your right.
COURSES: (course design by Joey Ciza)
  • YELLOW (beginner) – 3.0km, 65m climb, 10 controls
  • ORANGE (intermediate) – 4.1km, 100m climb, 13 controls
  • GREEN (advanced) – 5.4km, 150m climb, 13 controls
    • We will have a remote start for the GREEN course
  • RED (advanced) – 6.1km, 180m climb, 15 controls
    • We will have a remote start for the RED course

VOC Meet (17th Annual NJROTC Area 8 Championship)

December 16, 2023
Oak Mountain State Park - Pelham, AL [park info]
MEET INFORMATION:
  • Meet info page on Attackpoint
  • VOC participants will have a separate map pickup and START from the NJROTC competitors.
  • Turn off of John Findley Drive near mile marker 4 (BMX track is also here).
COURSES: (course design by Joey Ciza)
  • YELLOW (beginner) – 2.6km, 25m climb, 11 controls
  • ORANGE (intermediate) – 3.4km, 90m climb, 13 controls
  • BROWN (advanced) – 3.0km, 100m climb, 11 controls
  • GREEN (advanced) – 3.9km, 125m climb, 13 controls
  • RED (advanced) – 6.1km, 155m climb, 16 controls

VOC Meet

February 17, 2024
Oak Mountain State Park - Pelham, AL [park info]
MEET INFORMATION:
  • Go past the park office and beach parking lot on Terrace Drive to the picnic area next to the playground, which is just past the boat launch but before the large south trailhead parking lot. Park in the large gravel parking lot.
COURSES: (course design by Joey Ciza)
  • YELLOW (beginner) – 2.1km, 30m climb, 10 controls
  • ORANGE (intermediate) – 3.0km, 90m climb, 10 controls
  • GREEN (advanced) – 5.4km, 145m climb, 17 controls
  • RED (advanced) – 6.8km, 200m climb, 18 controls

VOC Meet

March 16, 2024
Oak Mountain State Park - Pelham, AL [park info]
MEET INFORMATION:
  • Turn off of John Findley Drive near mile marker 4 (BMX track is also here).
COURSES: (course design by Doug Wright)
  • YELLOW (beginner) – 3.1km, 65m climb, 13 controls
  • ORANGE (intermediate) – 4.7km, 180m climb, 19 controls
  • GREEN (advanced) – 5.1km, 230m climb, 10 controls
  • RED (advanced) – 6.9km, 310m climb, 14 controls

VOC Meet

April 13, 2024
Oak Mountain State Park - Pelham, AL [park info]
MEET INFORMATION:
  • Rules & Requirements
  • Start any time between 9am-12pm, with a maximum 3 hour time limit. Everyone must be finished by 2pm, when control pickup begins.
  • Meet info page on Attackpoint
ONLINE REGISTRATION:
  • Register Now (pending)
  • opens on Sunday, April 7th @ 12:00am (CDT)
  • closes on Friday, April 12th @ 12:00pm (CDT)
  • Go to the gravel parking area adjacent to the old spillway at the fishing lakes (mile marker 7 in the park).

VOC Meet (Annual Cookout)

May 11, 2024
Wind Creek State Park - Alexander City, AL [park website]
MEET INFORMATION:
  • Rules & Requirements
  • Start any time between 9am-12pm, with a maximum 3 hour time limit. Everyone must be finished by 2pm, when control pickup begins.
  • This is our ANNUAL COOKOUT & orienteering meet!
    Hamburgers, hotdogs, and fixings will be provided free for orienteerers. Please feel free to bring drinks, ice, chips, dessert, or any picnic food to share. We will begin to cook around 10am and continue until everyone is in. If any one would like to help with food or cook, just let us know.
    No RSVP is needed, but if you are bringing a large group, please notify us in advance so we can have enough food for everyone.
ONLINE REGISTRATION:
  • Register Now (pending)
  • opens on Sunday, May 5th @ 12:00am (CDT)
  • closes on Friday, May 10th @ 12:00pm (CDT)
START/FINISH: South Picnic Area
  • Go 0.9 miles straight ahead from the park entrance.

VOC Meet Schedule

Please print out copies of the VOC schedule and distribute them.

Online Registration

Online pre-registration and payment is currently required for all upcoming meets.

  • Pre-registration opens on the Sunday prior to an upcoming meet and closes at noon on the Friday before the meet.
  • Individuals and groups MUST register online for each course to be run.
  • No money will be taken the day of the meet. Online payment is required at the time of registration, via PayPal or credit card.
  • You must select a start time during online registration, however, on the day of the meet, you may start at any time between 9am and 12pm.
  • Group size is limited to no more that 5 people per time slot. If you are registering multiple groups for the same course, please spread out their start times.

Local Meet Details

Always check the schedule, as it could change based on the availability and schedule of the meet director. All VOC meets are on Saturdays.

Meet Locations:
The start/finish area within the parks will vary from meet to meet and will be posted on the website. Orienteering signs will also be placed in the park on the day of the meet to help direct you.
General information on the parks can be found through the links below:
Start/Finish Times:
  • start between 9am - 12pm
  • Maximum 3 hour time limit (all courses)
  • Everyone must be finished by 2pm
  • Control pickup will begin at 2pm
Cost:
  • The cost to participate in a VOC local meet, which includes your course map, is $8 per start (individual or small group). There is also a $2 fee for e-stick rental, if you don't have your own. The cost to run a second course is only an additional $2.
  • Small groups, of no more than 5 people, may orienteer together using a single e-stick. Group members may purchase additional maps for $1 each.
  • Oak Mountain State Park entrance fees
  • Wind Creek State Park entrance fees
Safety:
  • It is required to carry an emergency whistle with you on the course (at least 1 per group).
  • If you do not have a whistle, be prepared to purchase at the meet for $1 each.
Courses: (course guide)
  • Yellow - Beginner
  • Orange - Intermediate
  • Brown - Advanced (shortest)
  • Green - Advanced (short)
  • Red - Advanced (long)
  • Blue - Advanced (longest)
  • Score-O - what is a score-o?
Electronic punching on all courses
What is course climb?
Determine the "optimum route" that an orienteer would take on the course. Measure its length in meters. Note that this length will generally be 5-10% longer than the posted course length, which is the straight line distance for the course. Then count how many contour lines this route crosses going uphill. Multiply this number of contour lines by the contour interval in meters. This "climb" should normally not exceed 4% of the optimum route distance.
(% = climb/length * 100)
Groups:
If you plan on bringing a large group of people (more than 10), please let us know at least one week ahead of time so we may have enough maps available. Please specify which course(s) and how many maps.
Contact joeyvulcanorienteeringorg

Volunteer with VOC

If you would like to help out with any Vulcan Orienteering events, please contact us at: infovulcanorienteeringorg
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