Vulcan Orienteering Club Events  (Alabama)

VOC Orienteering Events

VOC Meet

September 21, 2024
Oak Mountain State Park - Pelham, AL [park info]
MEET INFORMATION:
  • Meet info page on Attackpoint
  • Effective immediately, Oak Mountain State Park is off limits for all NJROTC cadets, NJROTC instructors, coaches, sponsors, guardians and anyone involved with NJROTC Orienteering.
  • 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) – 2.6km, 75m climb, 10 controls
  • ORANGE (intermediate) – 3.2km, 110m climb, 9 controls
  • GREEN (advanced) – 4.7km, 200m climb, 14 controls
  • RED (advanced) – 5.7km, 230m climb, 14 controls

Beginning Orienteering Workshop

October 5, 2024
Turkey Creek Nature Preserve - Pinson, AL [park website]
MEET INFORMATION:
    • Registration closes at midnight on Sunday, September 29, 2024
    Learn to Orienteer AND Support Turkey Creek Nature Preserve!
    Orienteering is the sport of navigation, using a highly detailed map. Whether someone is an experienced hiker, competitive runner, or a family or group out for an activity in a park, this sport helps improve navigation skills each time.

    Orienteering can gradually build map-reading skills from exploring a local city park full of obvious structures to navigating remote terrain with few, if any, man-made features.
    • Learn what orienteering 'Is' and 'Is Not'.
    • Learn how to use a compass.
    • Do you know how to read a terrain map? You will after this class.
    • Learn and practice techniques to help you make a route choice and stick to it.
    Anne Mathews, in partnership with The Vulcan Orienteering Club, is offering a Beginning Orienteering Workshop at Turkey Creek Nature Preserve. It is open to anyone interested in roaming the woods.
    Cost: $60 - this includes a sandwich lunch and a compass
    All proceeds go towards trail maintenance and water testing at Turkey Creek Nature Preserve.
    Class starts at 8:30 am and will include three hours of classroom training, 90 minutes of practice, and a two-hour competition.
    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.
COURSES: (course design by Anne Mathews, James Pilman)
  • YELLOW (beginner) – 1.6km, 75m climb, 10 controls

VOC Meet

October 19, 2024
Oak Mountain State Park - Pelham, AL [park info]
MEET INFORMATION:
  • Meet info page on Attackpoint
  • Effective immediately, Oak Mountain State Park is off limits for all NJROTC cadets, NJROTC instructors, coaches, sponsors, guardians and anyone involved with NJROTC Orienteering.
  • Turn off of John Findley Drive near mile marker 4 (BMX track is also here).
COURSES: (course design by Alina Tuganova)
  • YELLOW (beginner) – 2.5km, 40m climb, 12 controls
  • ORANGE (intermediate) – 4.1km, 180m climb, 16 controls
  • GREEN (advanced) – 5.1km, 210m climb, 15 controls
  • RED (advanced) – 6.1km, 280m climb, 18 controls

VOC Meet

November 16, 2024
Oak Mountain State Park - Pelham, AL [park info]
MEET INFORMATION:
  • Meet info page on Attackpoint
  • Effective immediately, Oak Mountain State Park is off limits for all NJROTC cadets, NJROTC instructors, coaches, sponsors, guardians and anyone involved with NJROTC Orienteering.
  • 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) – 2.7km, 75m climb, 11 controls
  • ORANGE (intermediate) – 3.6km, 110m climb, 11 controls
  • GREEN (advanced) – 4.7km, 230m climb, 15 controls
  • RED (advanced) – 6.1km, 250m climb, 17 controls

VOC Meet (NJROTC Area 16 Championships)

December 14, 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.
  • Meet info page on Attackpoint
  • Effective immediately, Oak Mountain State Park is off limits for all NJROTC cadets, NJROTC instructors, coaches, sponsors, guardians and anyone involved with NJROTC Orienteering.
ONLINE REGISTRATION:
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) – 2.4km, 10m climb, 10 controls
  • ORANGE (intermediate) – 3.9km, 80m climb, 17 controls
  • GREEN (advanced) – 4.3km, 140m climb, 17 controls
  • RED (advanced) – 6.6km, 250m climb, 20 controls
MAP NOTES:
  • Map scale is 1:10,000 with 5 meter contours on 8.5"x11" paper

VOC Meet

February 15, 2025
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.
  • Effective immediately, Oak Mountain State Park is off limits for all NJROTC cadets, NJROTC instructors, coaches, sponsors, guardians and anyone involved with NJROTC Orienteering.
ONLINE REGISTRATION:
  • Register Now (pending)
  • opens on Sunday, February 9th @ 12:00am (CST)
  • closes on Friday, February 14th @ 12:00pm (CST)
  • online registration is required to participate
  • Turn off of John Findley Drive near mile marker 4 (BMX track is also here).

NJROTC National Orienteering Championships

March 14-16, 2025
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.
  • Effective immediately, Oak Mountain State Park is off limits for all NJROTC cadets, NJROTC instructors, coaches, sponsors, guardians and anyone involved with NJROTC Orienteering.
START/FINISH: TBA

VOC Meet

March 15, 2025
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.
ONLINE REGISTRATION:
  • Register Now (pending)
  • opens on Sunday, March 9th @ 12:00am (CST)
  • closes on Friday, March 14th @ 12:00pm (CDT)
  • online registration is required to participate
START/FINISH: TBA

VOC Meet

April 19, 2025
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.
ONLINE REGISTRATION:
  • Register Now (pending)
  • opens on Sunday, April 13th @ 12:00am (CDT)
  • closes on Friday, April 18th @ 12:00pm (CDT)
  • online registration is required to participate
  • Go to the gravel parking area adjacent to the old spillway at the fishing lakes (mile marker 7 in the park).

VOC Meet

May 10, 2025
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.
ONLINE REGISTRATION:
  • Register Now (pending)
  • opens on Sunday, May 4th @ 12:00am (CDT)
  • closes on Friday, May 9th @ 12:00pm (CDT)
  • online registration is required to participate
START/FINISH: South Picnic Area
  • Go 0.9 miles straight ahead from the park entrance. Drive past the beach, and we will be at Pavilion #1, out on the point (near the silo).

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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