September 25-27, 2026

Registration Schedule

• May 3 – June 28 | Early registration period
• June 29 – August 30 | Regular registration
• August 31 – September 18 | Last-minute registration

Same-day registration will be available for the Friday Corn Maze, and for Saturday and Sunday on White, Yellow, and Orange courses only. Availability is limited and subject to the number of maps on hand.

Fees and Registration

Corn Maze – Friday the 25th

Corn maze pricing is per individual. Teams of 2-3 may participate – pricing will apply for each individual member of the team.

NRE Courses – Saturday 26th/Sunday 27th

For the Saturday / Sunday events, recreational participants may form teams of 2-5 on the white and yellow courses only at a fixed rate of $30/team.

Adults accompanying a junior participant (under 21) for safety purposes will not be charged an entry fee at the Saturday / Sunday event.

Adults (21+)

Junior (Under 21)

Junior rates apply to orienteers under the age of 21 as of December 31, 2025.

OUSA Member Discount

Members of Orienteering USA, COF, or IOF federations will receive a discount off the published rates of $4 per race for adults and $2 for juniors for the Saturday/Sunday events.

Recreational Courses

Cancellation Policy: refunds for cancellations will be issued without penalty until Sept 1. Refunds during the late registration period (thru Sept 18) will be subject to a $10 cancellation fee. Refunds after Sept 18 will be issued at 50%. No refunds for same day cancellations or no-shows without Event Director approval.

A model / training course with around 25 controls will be open a week prior. This course is located about 30 minutes north of West Woods (Saturday), and 10 minutes north of Big Creek Park (Sunday)

Location: Girdled Road Reservation, South Entrance
12926 Radcliffe Road, Concord Twp, OH 44077

Course Open: 12:00pm Saturday Sept 19 – 3:00pm Sunday Sept 27

Parking: Free at the South Entrance.

Maps: a digital file will be published here for self-printing shortly before the model course opens. A limited supply of printed maps will also be available at the check-in desks during the event weekend.

Special Notes: Several main trails in this park are used for horseback riding. Please give right-of-way to horses.

A small mini model / forest warm-up area will also be available a short walk from the start area for both Saturday & Sunday.

Course & Class Details

Each participant will have 2 runs through the maze, rankings will be based on combined time. This is a non-sanctioned event.

Preview Map

Corn Maze: Click here for map of the 2025 corn maze. An aerial image or map of the 2026 maze will be posted here after it becomes available to the general public.

Maps for the West Woods & Big Creek Park:

• 1:15,000 and 5m Contours for M/F 21+
• 1:7,500 and 5m Contours for Brown course participants
• 1:10,000 and 5m Contours for all other courses

Course & Class Details

Courses on both days will be 2-day classic (point-to-point) format in forest terrain.

* Designated as “recreational” – detail below

Map Notes

The West Woods (Saturday) and Big Creek Park (Sunday) are both managed by the Geauga Parks District, one of several premier metroparks systems in Northeast Ohio. These parks are very well maintained with excellent facilities and trails.

Both parks feature nice areas of open woods mixed with patchy vegetation. Open white woods will generally be fast and runnable but some open forest areas will contain scattered tree limbs or scruffy vegetation. There will be areas of thickets and thorny vegetation, but as far as Ohio parks go it is relatively modest and avoidable.

Rock features are relatively sparse, although West Woods has some cliffs of varying sizes, some which are very picturesque.

Maps were created and revised within the last 3 years by the same mapper. Big Creek is a newly mapped venue and this event will be its first use for orienteering. The West Woods map, used for 2 previous local events, is undergoing some updates. The West Woods updates are focused on improving mapping consistency with the newer Big Creek map and on bettering the technical mapping of earth features.

Additional map and course setter notes will be provided shortly before the event date.

Preview Maps

The West Woods: Link to 2024 map. The West Woods map will be updated for 2026.

Big Creek Park: All new map! See map notes below for a general description.

All age groups and experience levels are welcome to participate in this event – no prior orienteering experience is necessary! 

Recreational entries are eligible for White, Yellow, and Orange courses only. These courses are available to individuals or groups up to 5. Pre-registration is recommended to guarantee an available map, but same-day walk-ups are available for white, yellow, and orange courses only.

Compasses and SI timing devices are available to borrow at check-in. Beginner instruction will be available from volunteers during the check-in period at the event. See “New to Orienteering” section below for more information on what to expect.

There will be no designated start times for recreational course participants. Simply go to the check-in area and volunteers will assist with instructions.

White: Suitable for first time orienteers of all ages – no experience necessary. All controls are directly on a park trail or in an open area with clearly defined features. Perfect for families with kids looking for a fun outing in the woods! Estimated distance of 2-3 km and up to 6-12 controls.

Yellow: Also suitable for beginners of all ages, but a few controls will be a short distance off trail. Technical skills are not required but participants may encounter some brush or uneven terrain in spots. Estimated distance of 2.5-3.5 km and 8-12 controls.

Orange: Intermediate level. Most controls will be off trail and an understanding of orienteering maps and use of a compass will be needed to complete the course. Controls will be in more difficult to reach locations but navigation to them is less difficult than advanced level courses. Estimated distance of 3-4 km and 8-12 controls.

Juniors in all age classes are welcome at this event! Both Saturday and Sunday will have fun courses for youth, with distinct trails and open woods ideal for on and off-trail orienteering.

Starting Procedures

For white and yellow courses, special procedures will be in place:

• At West Woods on Saturday, the start will be in a separate location – a short, easy walk from the Nature Center. (All courses will start from the same place on Sunday.)
• White and Yellow class participants (competitive and recreational) may have up to 5 minutes to preview their maps and courses before starting.
• White and Yellow class participants may have a parent or coach shadow their run for safety.

Juniors participating in intermediate and advanced courses will follow the normal procedures for those courses.

Embargo

The whole of West Woods Park (Geauga County) and Big Creek Park (Geauga County) are now embargoed. These parks are closed to orienteering competitions and training until the event takes place. Individuals or groups visiting the closed venues shall not be eligible for competition, awards, or rankings, but they may nevertheless participate in the event. Camping sites within these parks should not be used by event participants or team officials.

Start Procedures and Punching

Corn Maze

• Start times. Preregistered participants will be assigned start windows in 15-minute increments. Walk-up registrations will be assigned the first available start window during check-in. All participants must be in the start queue within their assigned start window.
• Two Runs! Each participant will complete two courses (A and B) through the maze. Each course begins from the designated starting area but will use a different section of the maze. After finishing the first run, participants must remain in the starting area until their second run begins. Separate maps will be provided for each course, and all maps will be collected immediately after each run.
• Start order and interval. Starts will be every 15 to 30 seconds. The volunteer start team may adjust the start order of participants with the goal of maximizing spacing on the same color course. All participants will need to clear and check their SI card prior to starting.
• Timing. SIAC Controls will be set for mixed punching with beacon mode turned on. The start control must be manually punched. Due to the proximity of controls, extra punches -accidental or otherwise – will be ignored without penalty provided valid punches at the intended controls are recorded in the correct order.

Masters Nationals Days 1 & 2

• Start times. All competitive participants will be assigned a start time before the event. Participants assigned a start time should appear at the call-up area at least 5 minutes before the assigned start time.
• Start process. For all participants with a preassigned start time:
  • An event volunteer will call participants to the first station 3 minutes before the scheduled start time. The start team will guide participants through the process of obtaining a loose clue sheet and obtaining a map at 1 minute intervals.
  • At the assigned start time you will punch Start and go! The Start control will not be in beacon mode meaning all participants must manually punch.
• Missed or revised start times. Please arrive at the call-up area on time. While the start team will try to accommodate adjustments, they cannot be guaranteed.
• Recreational courses: For recreational participants on a white, yellow, or orange course, report to the designated start area after checking in at the event. The start team volunteers will guide you through the process at the next available timeslot. White and Yellow class participants may have up to 5 minutes to preview their maps and courses before starting.

Waiver of Liability and Assumption of Risks

PLEASE REVIEW THE WAIVER OF LIABILITY AND ASSUMPTION OF RISK BEFORE REGISTERING. BY REGISTERING, YOU ARE AGREEING TO THE TERMS OF THIS WAIVER AND ARE ABSOLVING NEOOC AND ORIENTEERING USA , ET AL OF LIABILITY RESULTING FROM YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THE ASSOCIATED ORIENTEERING ACTIVITY.

Safety

• For the forest events, please carry a whistle. Three (3) short blasts from a whistle indicates an emergency.
• Cell phone coverage is generally good throughout both parks. Participants may carry a cell phone for emergencies or route recording only. Cell phones may not be used as a communication or navigational aid while on a course.
• Nearest 24/7 hospital with emergency services is <10 miles from both venues:
  • UH Geauga Medical Center
    13207 Ravenna Road, Chardon, OH 44024
• Both parks include trails that are often used for mountain bike riding or horseback riding. For safety, park and event staff plan to restrict or discourage bike and horseback travel, however please remember to share the trails with non-event park visitors if encountered.
• Ticks may be present in the parks and some might carry diseases. Please use precautions.
• Both NRE venues have steep earth banks and some cliffs. Any earth bank or cliff that presents an elevated danger to competitors will be marked by the “impassible cliff” symbol – with or without tags. Such features should not be crossed. Additional details will be provided in the map notes before the event.

Hydration

Self-serve water jugs with paper cups will be available at selected controls or locations both Saturday and Sunday.

In accordance with OUSA competition rules, self-serve water jugs with paper cups will be available at the start, finish, and at selected controls or marked locations both Saturday and Sunday. Each course will have hydration at least every 2.5km.

Contingency courses

Big Creek will likely involve at least one stream crossing for Blue, Red, and Green courses.  In the event the stream crossing becomes unsafe due to high water levels, pre-planned contingency courses will be substituted so that we may still hold the event. This will be announced as early as possible on Attackpoint, Clubnet, and on the event’s web page.

Awards

Age class rankings for the NRE and Masters National Championship will be based on Sat/Sun combined time.

The top 3 eligible finishers in M/F 35+ to M/F 90+ classes will receive an Orienteering USA Masters National Championship award. To be eligible for a Masters National Championship award, the participant must both be a member of Orienteering USA and a citizen or lawful resident in the United States. Additional eligibility details can be found in OUSA rules of competition (Championship Eligibility).

The top winner on each course (Rec, Brown, Green, Red, Blue) for the corn maze will also receive an award!

T-Shirts

T-Shirts will be available for pre-purchase during registration for $25

Child Care

Child care will be provided by NEOOC volunteers for event participants if advance notice is provided. To make arrangements, please send an email to registrar@neooc.com

Clothing Drop

A clothing and gear drop will be available at the start for both Saturday and Sunday. All items left in the designated drop zone will be transported to the finish area by event volunteers.

Area Map

Allow a 1 hour drive from the Cleveland Airport to any of the 3 event venues. The Saturday / Sunday venues are approximately 30 minutes apart.

Lodging

Close available lodging to the event sites:

Punderson Manor & Cabins
11755 Kinsman Rd, Newbury, OH 44065
https://www.pundersonmanor.com/

NEOOC has reserved a block of 13 cabins for Friday & Saturday at discounted rates of $299/night (Hillside Cottages) and $329/night (Parkside and ADA Accessible Cottages). Cabins accommodate up to either 5 or 6. Book early as these will go fast!

With the exception of possibly a small number of rooms, the manor itself is sold out due to a wedding event the same weekend

Punderson State Park Campground
11755 Kinsman Rd, Newbury, OH 44065
Punderson Campground

A 25-person group site for tent camping has been reserved for Friday & Saturday night of the event weekend. Expect the cost to be around $5-10/night per person. Additional details to be provided soon.

The Lodge at Bass Lake
426 South Street, Chardon, OH 44024
https://lodgebasslake.com/

There is an abundance of hotels to choose from along the I-271 and I-90 corridors (Beachwood, Mayfield, Mentor) – most are within a 30 minute drive of the Saturday/Sunday events and 45 minutes of the Cleveland Hopkins Airport.

Dining Options

Brown Barn Tavern
10700 Mayfield Road, Chardon, OH 44024
https://www.brownbarntavern.com/

The Lodge at Bass Lake
426 South Street, Chardon, OH 44024
https://lodgebasslake.com/

Winking Lizard Tavern
Locations in Mayfield and Beachwood
https://www.winkinglizard.com/

Oak and Embers Tavern
8003 Mayfield Rd, Chesterland, OH 44026-2438
https://chesterland.oakandembers.com/

Mangia Mangia
11081 Kinsman Rd, Newbury, Ohio 44065
https://www.mangiamangiagood.com/

Many more dining options can be found in Chardon, Beachwood, Mayfield.

Activities

Ashtabula Covered Bridges
Self-guided driving tour of 19 covered bridges in Ashtabula county
https://visitashtabulacounty.com/covered-bridges/

Holden Arboretum
A 3,500-acre living museum of plants, woodlands, and gardens that offers scenic trails, ecological conservation, and immersive outdoor experiences
9550 Sperry Road, Kirtland, OH
https://holdenfg.org/

Observatory Park
Observatory Park in Geauga County is a dark-sky preserve where visitors can explore nature trails, astronomy exhibits, and exceptional stargazing opportunities.
10610 Clay Street, Montville Township, OH 44064
https://geaugaparkdistrict.org/park/observatory-park/

Corner Train Museum
The largest family owned 3-Rail layout in the United States. It has over 4,500 thousand buildings, over 7,000 feet of track, hundreds of freight cars, 250+ different types of engines.
16720 Pioneer Road, Middlefield, OH 44062
http://www.cornerfieldmodelrailroadmuseumandhobby.com/home.html

More Orienteering!
The model course at Girdled Road is open during normal park hours through Sunday Sept 27. A mix of self-serve controls on and off trails will be set. Use it for extra training or just for fun. See model course section above for more details.

Girdled Road Reservation, South Entrance
12926 Radcliffe Road, Concord Twp, OH 44077

Many more activities can be found in the Greater Cleveland Area.

New to Orienteering?

Look for Orienteering 101 events on the Upcoming Events page of the Northeast Ohio Orienteering website. These events are a great way to learn and practice on a small sample course.

Visit About Orienteering on the Northeast Ohio Orienteering website for general information, a sample map, and an instructional video.

Anytime Permanent Orienteering courses are available at Jordan Creek Park (Lake County Metroparks), Richfield Heritage Preserve (Richfield Ohio), and Camp Tuscazoar (Tuscazoar Challenge). Download a map, grab a family member or friend, and go give
Orienteering a try!

Volunteering

The Northeast Ohio Orienteering Club (NEOOC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the sport of Orienteering. It is run entirely by volunteers. Typical volunteer roles in need include course setting, control collection, marketing, and event welcome and registration. If you are interested in helping with this event, or any events in the future, please connect with the event director or send an email to volunteer@neooc.com. Thank you in advance!