Overview
Join the Northeast Ohio Orienteering Club for three days of orienteering in September 2026. The weekend will feature a 2-day sanctioned National Ranking Event (NRE) — serving as the 2026 OUSA Masters National Championships — along with a fun Corn Maze Orienteering Challenge.
Update History
TBD – Event Details Published
Schedule & Locations
Friday Sept 25, 2026 – Corn Maze Challenge
Corn Maze Orienteering Challenge — Navigate through one of Ohio’s largest corn mazes! This 16-acre maze of twists and turns will feature custom orienteering courses designed for both recreational and competitive participants.
- Check-In: 2:00 – 5:30pm
- Starts: 2:30 – 5:30pm
- Courses Close: 6:00pm
Location: Derthick’s Farm and Corn Maze, 5182 State Route 82 Mantua, Ohio 44255
Parking: There is ample free parking in a large open field, easily accessible from the main entrance
Special Note: Packets for preregistered Sat/Sun participants will be available at the corn-maze check-in. The orienteering courses will close for competition at 6pm, but the maze and farm activities will remain open to the general public.
Saturday Sept 25, 2026 – NRE & OUSA Masters National Championships – Day 1
Join us at The West Woods, located in Geauga County, for the first of a 2-day National Ranking Event and OUSA Masters National Championships. The event will be open to all ages and experience levels, with a full range of advanced and recreational courses available.
- Check-In: 9:00 – 12:30pm
- Starts: 10:00am – 1:00pm
- Course Close: 4:00pm
Location: The West Woods, 9465 Kinsman Road (Rt. 87), Novelty, OH 44072
Parking: Free parking but space within The West Woods park is limited. Carpooling is recommended. An overflow lot with free shuttle bus service running every 10 minutes will be available at nearby ASM Headquarters and Geodesic Dome, ½ mile east. Parking volunteers will be stationed at the park entrance to help direct participants to the best available parking.
Sunday Sept 26, 2026 – NRE & OUSA Masters National Championships – Day 2
Day 2 will be held at Big Creek Park, also located in Geauga County. Big Creek Park is a new orienteering venue and will feature a new map. Like Saturday’s event, day 2 will also be open to all ages and experience levels with both recreational and advanced courses available.
- Check-In: 8:30 – 11:30pm
- Starts: 9:00am – 12:00pm
- Awards: 2:00pm (estimated)
- Course Closure: 3:00pm
All competitive participants will be assigned a start time before the event. Course participants running non-competitively on a White or Yellow course may start any time during the start window.
Location: Big Creek Park, 9160 Robinson Road, Chardon, OH 44024
Special Note: There are 2 parks in the Greater Cleveland area called Big Creek. The orienteering venue also has multiple entrances. 9160 Robinson Road is the correct location!
Parking: Free parking is readily available in one of several paved lots. Later arrivals may have a 10-minute walk on easy forest paths to the assembly and start area.
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.
Event Personnel
- Event Director: Jonathan Boyer
- Registrar: Fred Mailey
- Course Setters: Jonathan Boyer, Todd Pownell, Randall Mitchell, Bob Boltz
- Course Vetters: Shinichi Shimizu, Chiori Shimizu
- Special thanks to over 40 NEOOC and COO volunteers to make this event possible!
Registration Schedule
- April 1 – May 31 Early registration period
- June 1 – August 30 Regular registration
- September 1 – September 18 Last-minute registration
Same-day walk-up registrations will be available only for the Friday Corn Maze and for Sat/Sun recreational (non-competitive) participants on White, Yellow, and Orange courses. Same-day walk-ups will be subject to availability of maps.
Fees and Registration
| Corn Maze | NRE Courses | ||||||||
| All Ages | Adults (21+) | Junior (20 & under) or OUSA Team Member | White, Yellow, Orange – All Classes, Per Race |
||||||
| Registration Period | Dates | 2 runs | per race | 2-day | Combo | per race | 2-day | Combo | |
| Early | 4/1 – 5/31 | $15 | $50 | $90 | $105 | $25 | $40 | $55 | $10 |
| Regular | 6/1 – 8/30 | $20 | $60 | $110 | $130 | $30 | $50 | $70 | $10 |
| Last Minute * | 9/1 – 9/18 | $20 | $80 | $150 | $170 | $45 | $80 | $100 | $10 |
| Same Day ** | 9/25 – 9/27 | $20 | $15 | ||||||
** Only the corn maze and white, yellow, and orange courses are available for same-day registration. Subject to map availability. Registration is on-site.
Links
- <link to OUSA EventReg Registration>
- <link to OUSA EventReg Who is Registered>
Map Info
- Map scale to be determined
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.
| Course | Age Classes | Winning Time | Course Length | Climb | Controls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rec | F10 – F16+ M10 – 16+ Rec-M/F | TBD | TBD | none | 8-12 x2 |
| Brown | F55 – F90+, M65 – M90+ | TBD | TBD | none | 10-15 x2 |
| Green | F18 – 20, F35 – F50+, M50 – M60+ | TBD | TBD | none | 10-15 x2 |
| Red | F21+ M18 – 20 M35 – M45+ | TBD | TBD | none | 10-15 x2 |
| Blue | M21+ | TBD | TBD | none | 10-15 x2 |
Preview Map
Corn Maze: Click here for map of the 2025 corn maze. An aerial image or map of the 2026 maze may be posted here after it becomes available to the general public.
Map Information
The West Woods & Big Creek Park:
- 1:15,000 and 5m Contours for M/F 21+
- 1:10,000 and 5m Contours for all other classes except those on Brown courses
- 1:7,500 and 5m Contours for Brown course participants
Course & Class Details
Courses on both days will be 2-day classic (point-to-point) format in forest terrain.
| Course | Age Classes | Winning Time | Course Length | Climb | Controls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White | F10+, F12+, M10+, M12+, M/F White, Rec-White* | 20-30 min | 2.0 – 2.5 km | TBD | 6-12 |
| Yellow | F14+, M14+, F-Yellow, M-Yellow, Rec-Yellow* | 25-40 min | 2.5 – 3.5 km | TBD | 8-12 |
| Orange | F16+, M16+, F-Orange, M-Orange, Rec-Orange* | 35-50 min | 3.0 – 4.0 km | TBD | 8-12 |
| Brown X | F18+, F55+, F60+, F65+, F90+, M80+, M85+, M90+ | 40-50 min | 3.5 – 4.5 km | TBD | 8-15 |
| Brown Y | F70+, F75+, F80+, F85+, M65+, M70+, M75+, F-Brown, M-Brown | 40-50 min | 3.0 – 4.0 km | TBD | 8-15 |
| Green X | M18, M50+, M55+, M60+, M-Green | 45-55 min | 5.5 – 6.5 km | TBD | 10-15 |
| Green Y | F20, F35+, F40+, F45+, F50+, F-Green | 45-55 min | 4.5 – 5.5 km | TBD | 10-15 |
| Red | F21+, M20, M35+, M40+, M45+, M-Red | 60-75 min | 7.0 – 8.5 km | TBD | 12-20 |
| Blue | M21+ | 70-80 min | 10.0 – 12.0 km | TBD | 15-25 |
* Designated as “recreational” – detail below
Preview Maps
The West Woods: Click here for the most recent event map (2024). The West Woods map will be updated for 2026.
Big Creek Park: All new map! See map notes below for a general description.
Recreational Courses
All age groups and experience levels are welcome to participate in this event – no prior orienteering experience is necessary!
Beginner recreational courses are White / Yellow, and Orange is intermediate. These courses are available to individuals or groups up to 5. Preregistration 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.
Model Course
A model course with around 25 controls will be open a week prior.
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.