Happyland

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December 11
Sunday

PWF Bridge Prince William Forest (National) Park has been the site of many classic orienteering events, including championship events as recently as 2007. For this weekend we have rented the Camp 5 (Happyland) area (including hot showers) for plenty of activities, including overnight cabin stays (info below), and a full range (White through Blue) of courses on Sunday followed by the Winter Meeting & Potluck Party in the large (and heated!) group dining building. We'll have a fire going in the large hearth, so plan on staying around after your run for food and festivities.

Any youth or large groups attending, please contact the Event Director so that we can coordinate pre-registration for your group; the group registration and waiver form is part of the information on our Group Leaders page.

Orienteering Details: Course details for the main Sunday orienteering event (white through blue courses) is now below - this may even be a reasonable venue to "run up", in other words, challenge yourself to run one level higher/longer than usual. Detailed course setter notes are now posted below.

Saturday Training Information: This Saturday (Dec. 10) we are offering special intermediate and advanced training sessions (and our permit has now been approved). Intermediate training is geared for Yellow/Orange participants; advanced training is for those regularly doing advanced courses (Brown, Green, Red, Blue). The training sessions are FREE! but please email Ted Good and Jon Torrance if you'll be there for planning purposes, indicating your choice of training session (intermediate or advanced). There will be separate form to fill out for the advanced training which will be emailed to you.

Intermediate Training: Introduction, shadowing event (Run a course with an advanced orienteer following and taking notes). Shadow course is 3-4 km long. Optional mini sprint.
Advanced training will consist of several activities: Introduction, training activities (indoor and outdoor: nothing too strenuous), Shadowing an intermediate orienteer, Shadow feedback, Mini sprint. The mini sprint may also become a night event so bring a light just in case.

Saturday Schedule:

  • 12:15-12:45 Arrive and Mingle.
  • 12:45-1:45 Advanced training introduction and activities.
  • 1:00-1:45 Intermediate training introduction and instruction.
  • 1:45-2:00 Break, get ready for running.
  • 2:00-2:15 Shadowing and course instructions (both groups)
  • 2:15-3:20 Do courses and advanced activities. (course is 3-4K long)
  • 3:00 Cabins open for check-in
  • 3:20: Or whenever people finish: Post-course review
  • 3:30-4:00 Mini Sprint (less than 2 km long).

Saturday Cabin Information: It’s back... your chance to stay overnight in the PWF Cabins + Game Night! So, bring your favorite food, games and music, and join us by a warm fire for an evening of fun and games. Just $5.00 per person. Check-in Dec 10 at 3:00pm, check-out Dec 11 by 4:00pm. To learn more about the facilities click here or ask Gary. You will need to bring food for a potluck dinner Saturday night and then breakfast for Sunday morning - don’t forget we also have a potluck Sunday, the following day, for the winter party. There is a kitchen facility with stove burners, industrial ovens, and sinks - it's a great big kitchen! All other items will need to be provided: i.e., pots, pans, serving spoons, can opener, table service etc.
Please email Gary by Dec 9 with your name, phone number, cabin preference (Cabin 1: young children, Cabin 2: early risers, Cabin 3: night owls, Cabin 4: overflow) and your Saturday night potluck contribution. We will all chip in to make this a really fun evening. So, if you can help with kitchen clean up, music, cabin inspection, bathroom inspection, trash duty, night activities, or firewood please let Gary know - thanks!

PWF Dining HallSunday Winter Party & Potluck Lunch: We’ll start the party around 2pm. Bring your favorite dish to share and join in the fun. Spirits – yes, they’re allowed. We'll provide non-alcoholic drinks and all paper goods. A refrigerator, stove and oven are available for you to use, but you will need to bring your own pots, pans and utensils for cooking (and serving). Keeping tradition going, we’ll have 2011 highlights, volunteer recognitions, and some cool giveaway prizes!

Nearby Attraction: The National Museum of the Marine Corps is open from 9am - 5pm everyday, and admission is free to this impressive $60 million structure. On Saturday (Dec 10) a book signing by children's book author Brandon Barnett takes place in the Museum store, and from 3 - 5pm, join 'Santa and Mrs. Claus' to make your own ornaments and holiday crafts in the Leatherneck Gallery.

Directions: from I-95 exit 150B (near Triangle, VA) go west on Joplin Road ~4.5 miles, then turn right and follow the red and white orienteering signs. Registration is in the Dining Hall of Camp 5. More detailed directions available using the Google Map link below. Note: Mawavi Road will have runners on it - please be careful.

Location

Prince William Forest Park, Camp 5 - Happyland, Triangle, VA (Classic Orienteering)

RegistrationNo advance registration required. Just show up and have fun!
Start TimesWhy not start on the early side to make it back for the Winter Party?
ScheduleSunday, December 11
10:45 am - 1:15 pmClassic Orienteering: Registration
11:00 am - 1:30 pmClassic Orienteering: Start anytime in this window
3:00 pmClassic Orienteering: Courses close - everyone to be out of the woods
Volunteers
Event Director:Linda Ferguson
Course Setter:Chuck Ferguson
Location Details

Classic Orienteering, Classic Orienteering, Classic Orienteering
Prince William Forest Park
Camp 5 - Happyland
Triangle, VA
Google Map

From I-95 exit 150B (near Triangle, VA) go west on Joplin Road ~4.5 miles, then turn right and follow the red and white orienteering signs on Mawavi Road. Registration is (usually) in the Dining Hall of Camp 5. More detailed directions available using the Google map link. Note: Mawavi Road is likely to have runners on it - please be careful as you drive in. Please park in lots or where directed by volunteers (otherwise you're likely to get a costly ticket).
Google Maps Link
Apple/iPhone Link
Course DetailsClassic Orienteering
Course NameLength (km)Climb (m)No. Controls
White 2.25013
Yellow 2.79514
Orange 3.814014
Brown 3.710011
Green 4.314013
Red 6.522015
Blue 8.424519
Course NotesClassic Orienteering

FOR ALL COURSES
WATER: There are water stops on all courses and extra points on the road, as marked on the map.
VISIBILITY & NAVIGATION: Generally good. Some light green areas have grown up since the map was made and may be thick with holly and other evergreen plants. The newly grown green may obscure some map details. There are new, unmapped, rootstocks.
WATER CROSSINGS: After this week’s rain, you will probably have wet feet. Bring a change of socks and shoes.
WILDLIFE: A bear was spotted in the area last week. Keep clear. Do not approach. It does not have cubs and should run away when the woods become noisy with runners. It tends to hang around the dumpsters.
TERRAIN: Mostly gently rolling, with erosion ditches, and some downed timber. Leaves may obscure footing .
TRASH & LITTER: Water cups and all trash must be placed in trash bags by water points. Leave nothing in the woods. Be a good orienteer, pick up any litter you see and bring it in with you.
PARKING: WARNING: There is absolutely no parking along the roadside. Park only in designated areas. Vehicles parked along the road or in any no parking area will be ticketed and towed.
SAFETY: Carry and use your whistle if there is an emergency. Three blasts means you need help. Find and stay on a road for pick up. If you do not find a road in a short amount of time, quit moving and stay in one place. Give three blasts on the whistle every few minutes.
COURSES
Beginner Courses: WHITE & YELLOW courses may have more than the normal number of points for a little extra practice. There will be points where the orienteer will have to make decisions. If the course has a route marked with flagging tape or flour, it should be used. Yellow runners have a chance to cut corners, off the paths.
Intermediate Course: ORANGE is a challenging course that will allow the runner to exercise some precision orienteering skills.
Advanced Courses:
BROWN & GREEN: These courses are length appropriate, with technically challenging upper level points. Opportunity to contour and keep climb minimal.
RED & BLUE: Due to recent heavy rains, a designated route across a bridge may be enforced. This decision will be made on Sunday morning and posted at the start. Do not cross waterways mapped with black outline - this means they are NOT crossable at the best of times. Watch roads for traffic.

Entry FeesIndividual Entries

Non-Member: $10/adult, $6/junior (under 21 years old)

Member: $6/adult, $4/junior (under 21 years old)

Team or Group Entries

Participants are welcome to compete together as a single team entry. Teams containing one or more nonmembers are charged the nonmember individual rate. Teams containing one or more adults are charged the adult individual rate. For teams to receive member or junior rates, all members of the team must be members or juniors, respectively. Each extra team map beyond the first is an additional $4. Individuals or teams desiring to compete on a second course can do so for a reduced fee of $4/map.

Important Notes
  • At the event, we can only accept payment in cash or check; online, you may use a credit card or PayPal account.
  • Most of our events use electronic timing. We will provide you with an electronic timing chip (aka e-stick, finger dibber, or SI-card) for free if you don't own one. Loaned e-sticks that are lost incur a $40 replacement fee.
  • Compasses are available at no charge, but if lost incur a $15 replacement fee.
  • Please provide collateral (driver's license or car keys) when borrowing a compass or e-punch.
  • For additional safety, whistles are available for sale at $1/each.
  • Free beginner instruction is always available - just ask at the registration table.