The Los Angeles Orienteering Club
sponsors the 14th annual

Los Angeles Area Youth Orienteering Meet
at Santa Fe Dam
Saturday, February 13, 2010
UPDATES:

February 10 - Start Times Posted - Please check to see that your information is accurate
Groups should plan to arrive an hour before their earliest start time. This will give you time to register, get instruction and get to the start on time. Check your start list carefully, the times are not listed chronologically.
If you would still like to make minor adjustments, let me know.
 
February 2 - Registration List Posted - Please check to see that your registration information is accurate.
January 19 - New Site Confirmed. We will be at Santa Fe Dam


Eligibility
Schedule
Directions
Rules
Registration
Volunteers

Come on out and join other kids in a fun event while you learn map and compass skills!   Orienteering is a cross country activity where participants use a map and compass to find their way through a set course of markers.  Instruction and courses for all experience levels will be available.

Format of Event:  Basic course instruction will be given first.  The youth will then run in pairs on standard orienteering courses.  A variety of courses will be offered for different skill levels.  There will be a picnic lunch break (groups must provide their own lunch) followed by an afternoon mass start score-O event.  Youth will compete in the same pairs on a scattered course where each control found increases their score.  Awards will be given for each course and for an overall group score. (This event will NOT earn points toward the LAOC Youth League).

Eligibility
Event is open to Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and other youth or school groups 6TH GRADE AND UP.
There are to be two youth per team. Each group may have one three-person team to allow for odd numbers.  White teams must be entered based on the age of the oldest team member. Individual ribbons will be presented to the top 25% of teams in each division for both AM and PM courses (at a minimum the top three teams will earn awards).  Group awards will be presented to the top five overall groups.  To be eligible for group awards you must have a minimum of 3 teams running in both the AM and PM.  Smaller groups may wish to combine to meet this requirement.

Course Divisions:

White 1 (beginners)  
Restricted to those 12 years old and under.
Simple trail-based course approximately 1 mile long
            
White 2 (beginners) 
Restricted to those 14 years old and under.
Similar to White 1 in difficulty. Possibly slightly longer.    

White 3 (beginners)
Open to youth of any age.
Similar to White 2 in difficulty. Possibly slightly longer.    

White A (Adult beginners):
Similar in difficulty to beginner youth courses.  Adults may run in teams or alone.  Participating adults must preregister and pay the appropriate fees. Adult course results are not counted toward overall group awards.  Individual awards may be presented in the adult category.

Yellow (intermediate):
For adult or youth orienteers. A standard Yellow course. Recommended for those with experience on white or yellow courses and ready for slightly more challenge. Youth must run in pairs.  Adults may run in teams or alone. Top Yellow runners will earn slightly higher scores toward group awards than on White.

Orange (advanced):
For adult or youth orienteers. A standard Orange course. Recommended for those with experience on orange and above courses. Involves significant off-trail navigation. Youth must run in pairs.  Adults may run in teams or alone. Top Orange runners will earn slightly higher scores toward group awards than on Yellow.

Schedule:  
8:30am - 10:30 am  Group Arrivals
Plan to arrive one hour before your first start time. Pick up your registration packet, quickly go over the information in it, and then join the next available instruction group.  Instruction will begin approximately every 15 minutes. If you are beginners or unfamiliar with electronic punching you should attend instruction to learn the procedures.
9:30am to11:30am  Morning course start times
Be at the start area at least 10 minutes before your start time
After your course Take a break and eat LUNCH (course areas are off-limits during break time)
1:00pm-1:15pm  Score-O map distribution
1:30pm   Score-O Mass Start
3:00pm   Awards and Clean-Up
approx. 3:45   Departure

The meet will go on rain or shine, please dress appropriately and bring extra dry clothes if necessary.

Directions:
Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area
15501 East Arrow Highway
Irwindale, CA 91706
There is a $10.00 per car parking fee payable upon entry to the park.

Rules:
Each team should have a compass, a watch, and a safety whistle.  Groups must provide their own lunch. Lunch break is designed to be about one hour for the late starting groups and can be significantly longer for those with early start times.

The sport of Orienteering relies heavily on the Honor system.  Youth are expected to maintain high standards of sportsmanship and fairness. Adults on courses are expected to keep their eyes open and provide any necessary supervision to youth they meet while running the course. Please be sure your group members are prepared to respect the authority of any adult or meet official they may meet on the course. 

Any tampering with meet equipment or other unsportsmanlike conduct will result in the disqualification of the offending youth’s entire group from any awards and possibly expulsion from the meet.

Teams must complete the course independently. Use of Walkie-Talkies, cell phones, or any other communication between teams is prohibited.

Please cover the following rules and safety information with your youth:

Registration:
Fees:  $7.00 registration fee for each participating youth or adult. 
Fee includes full-color maps, courses, dipstick rental, site fee, patch, and awards.  There will be no refunds, but non-attending groups may arrange to receive their map copies and patches. Electronic punching will be used. There will be a $30 charge for any electronic dipstick that is not returned at the end of the meet.
All groups must preregister and be prepaid. Walk-ins on the day of the event will be turned away. Teams will be assigned start times for the morning courses based on receipt of registration.  Earlier registrations will get preferred start times.  Confirmation will NOT be mailed this year. Please check the website for the list of registered troops and start times.

Additional $10.00 per car parking fee collected by the park at the gate.

Deadline:  Registration must be Postmarked by February 1, 2010. 
Registration is limited and the event may fill up before this date.  Register early to avoid disappointment.

Send registration form with check made payable to LAOC to:

LAOC Youth Orienteering
c/o Clare Durand
43223 Gadsden Ave. #20
Lancaster, CA  93534

Volunteers: 
Volunteer help is always appreciated. Adults who prefer not to run a course but would like to help out will receive a free patch. Contact the meet director prior to the meet date for a volunteer assignment.


Questions?
Registrar and meet director - Clare Durand
phone - (661) 945-2314