POC: Dave Linthicum
Flyer and Registration Form: PDF
Registration Deadline:  2010-10-15

The 34th Annual Maryland Scout Orienteering Day is proud to join in Baltimore Area Council's fall celebration of Scouting's 100th anniversary.  Last year we had about 750 orienteers and 325 campers participate in this one-day event.  

Your Troop or Venture unit is invited to BAC’s annual day of instruction and fun in orienteering (“O’”).  Girl Scouts age 10 thru 17 and BSA or GSUSA leaders and parents are encouraged to take part; not Cubs or Webelos. Venture (<18) can compete as a unit or as part of their associated troop.  Camping is available Friday-Sunday right at the event site, but you must register to camp in advance using the registration form.  

Our self-guided instructional map hikes and the "lost-proof" Route O’ start the day. This “more map, less compass” event has proven to be so much more fun over the years than compass courses, and more valuable in developing self-reliance and O’ skills.. You might not win in your first year, but you should learn plenty! We don’t “sign off” O’ merit badges, but some of the toughest requirements (3 courses, fox ex.) will be met as will others with some follow-up, plus the O’ part of the First Class O’ requirement.

For info on this event, watch ** www.baltimorebsa.org under “Activities”.  After registering, a few days before the event you will receive directions, schedule, and what-to-bring info.

Schedule

8:00-9:30 AM - Troops not camping arrive
9:00 AM - Map hike followed by “head to head cross-country O’”
1:30 PM - Troops receive maps for the grand finale, the ever-popular Score O’
4:20-4:45 PM - Awards (Top 55 pairs of scouts plus patches and color maps for all paying participants*.

Structure

Scouts will orienteer in "younger" or "older" pairs. Anyone who is any of the following is "older":  1) 1st Class; 2) 14 as of the event; 3) 13 as of the event and has passed 1st Class requirement #2 (O’ part); 4) earned the O’ merit badge. All others are in the "younger" category.

Bring lots of scouts; troops with more than 14 scouts drop their lowest score in the troop competition, 18 or more their two lowest, etc. No charge for name changes  in registration and additions over the total below can be added at the event for $5.00; For no-shows, there are no patches but partial refunds later.

To be eligible for a troop award in our main category you must have at least ten scouts. But with less, you’re still in the “smaller troop list,” and all scouts get to participate fully in everything and are eligible for all 110 awards given out Saturday.

Additional Information and Activities

Orienteering

For information on O’, try the links at www.us.orienteering.org or for national Scout O’ events, www.scoutorienteering.com. 

Activities

If you stay for Sunday, the park offers 14 miles of trails (and by advance reservation ((301)627-6074) canoe-kayak rentals and nature programs). An excellent five mile round trip hike or bike to Merkle Wildlife Sanctuary’s Visitor Center includes a fire tower overlook and a long footbridge over wetlands with muskrats, beavers, wild turkey, ospreys, and eagles.