November 22, 2019 by Michelle Kastner
Are you a Junior that loves Orienteering? Are you dedicated to improving your skills? Do you want to experience the sport at the next level? Then think about applying for the US Junior Development or Junior National Teams! Information about and applications for applying to the National Junior Program are now posted on the Orienteering USA Junior Team page here. Note that applications for the Junior National Team are due December 15, 2019. Development Team applications are accepted throughout the year.
November 10, 2019 by Michelle Kastner
Come join us for Winter League #2 at North SeaTac Park this Saturday, Nov. 16th and be treated to the second meet in a row to sport a brand new map refresh, thanks to Dave Tallent! Watch with excitement as runners come down the finish chute lined with school league teams cheering them on. Exciting courses, lots of racers, and fun awaits. Don’t miss out, register now!
October 17, 2019 by Michelle Kastner
Winter League is almost here. Get ready to enjoy 8 challenging orienteering meets designed for all ages. Get set by registering now for the public courses or the WIOL school league. Go enjoy some beautiful outdoor parks from November to February. A new Advanced Beginner course is available on the public side! Volunteers jobs are posted so sign up to help out as well. Looking forward to seeing you at the first meet on Nov. 2 at Magnuson Park in Seattle.
September 20, 2019 by Bob Forgrave
Announcements
Who we are:
If you like being outside and exploring nature, then orienteering is the sport for you. Using just a map, a compass, and keen observation, participants navigate through a course of pre-set checkpoints in a park. Along the way, participants develop better navigational skills, greater leadership confidence, and a deeper appreciation for the outdoors. Orienteering is a family-friendly activity, fun for all ages and for everyone from hikers to competitive runners.
Cascade Orienteering Club is one of the largest orienteering organizations in the country, with 30 events/year and a strong volunteer staff both for planning events and helping to run them once they start. As Cascade Orienteering Club Event Director, you will make three important contributions to successful and enjoyable orienteering events:
- Get club equipment (canopies, signs, tables and chairs) reliably to and from each venue.
- Help the volunteers get started in their various operational roles, offering role guidance as needed.
- Be the central point of contact for any logistical or safety issues that may arise.
Commitment & Payment:
Cascade events run throughout the year and are organized into four series of events, mostly on Saturdays. Each event series has a volunteer series director who plans them, but still needs an event director to perform the above three roles. Stipends are offered by series, at levels reflecting the amount of time and effort required:
- Winter League Series (Nov-Feb): 8-9 Large events, up to $2,000
- Ultimate O’ Series: (Mar-Jun): 5 medium events, up to $1,000
- Wednesday Evening Series (May-Aug): 4 small events, up to $500
- Choose Your Adventure Series (Jul-Oct): 6 medium events, up to $1,000
You can choose to direct just one series or combine them for a total of $4,500 for occasional weekend work. We only ask that you let us know in advance and be dedicated to the role for those series where you have committed to event direct. Being an event director requires some preparation the days before, a half or full day (depending upon the event size/location) during the event, and one or two small tasks the next day.
Skills needed:
- Good driving record, with insurance
- Attention to detail about what equipment is needed and its condition and proper usage
- Ability to work with people and provide positive guidance
- Ability to anticipate and make logistical decisions
- Ability to lift at least 25 lbs
- Access to a computer, a printer, and e-mail
Support offered:
- Introductory training about the event director role, including a step-by-step checklist of the actions needed and an event director book covering all the volunteer roles.
- Access to a series director for coordination, publicity, planning, guidance, and backup as needed
- Automatic, electronic sign-up of volunteers in most or all of the logistical roles, including event set-up and tear-down.
- Enforced safety protocols in large events for social distancing and masking to protect against COVID.
Contact:
For upcoming event dates, see our event calendar (with events listed as COC in the far right column). To apply for this part-time position, please contact Cascade Orienteering Club member Bob Forgrave (bob.forgrave@flatbike.com).
September 11, 2019 by Ing Uhlin
Come out for a fall weekend in Teanaway (or just one day). Peteris and Ott have designed exciting courses on their updated maps. The Saturday event will be a Middle Distance north of the Jack Creek (east of Teanaway Rd N Fork). The Sunday event will be a Long Distance in an area south of Jungle Creek (west of 29 Pines Campground). This is a beautiful area with open forests. For more information, see the event page.
August 17, 2019 by Eric Jones
Announcements, Club events
Missing the thrill of sprint races at this year’s World Orienteering Championships? Fear not, Cascade Orienteering Club is here to help! The fifth edition of the Seattle Adventure Running Tournament is just around the corner on September 14 and 15!
Like previous years, this SART consists of a short time trial followed by five urban/park sprint orienteering races where you’ll race in small head-to-head heats rather than individual starts. Because the weekend is essentially a giant sorting exercise, Sunday morning’s races bring the thrill of tight competitive racing to every speed and skill level! In 2019 you’ll zip through Gasworks Park, Woodland Park, Seattle Pacific University, and Magnuson Park.
New this year, we’re going to use SportIdent Air+ for timing. Learn to flow through controls like you never have before, just like the pros do! There will be a quick demo setup near GasWorks available before the time trial so everyone is familiar with the system.
Registration is open now through September 2nd, or until the bracket fills up at 80 participants. Secure your spot today!
July 5, 2019 by Michelle Kastner
Cascade Juniors are doing a great job representing COC and USA Jr Orienteering in Denmark. Siri C, Caroline S, Jessica C, Kai M, Joshua C and Annika M are benefitting from lots of training and great coaching from Head Junior National Team coach Erin Schirm and Head Junior Development Team coach Greg Ahlswede while enjoying the Outdoor Capitol of Denmark-Silkeborg. Days are filled with practice races, map review, core workouts, meal prep and lots of card games. JWOC competition and JWOC Tour starts tomorrow. #GoUSA #ItStartsAtHome
June 6, 2019 by Debbie Newell
Don’t miss the final two events in this year’s Ultimate Orienteer Series! Spend the weekend navigating in some of the finest orienteering terrain in the state. Spokane may seem like a long way to go, but it’s well worth the trip. Get together with friends and carpool!
Saturday, June 15 – Riverside State Park, Spokane. The open pine forests of Riverside are a pleasant change from the thick forests on the west side of the state. This event is organized by our friends in the Eastern Washington O’ Club.
Sunday, June 16 – Fishtrap Lake, Fishtrap. Experience the unique scablands of the Fishtrap Lake area. With relatively few trails, and intricate terrain and rock features, this area is a navigator’s dream.
Tent camping is available Saturday night in the group site at Riverside’s Bowl and Pitcher for just $10 per tent/vehicle. Space is limited, so if you’re interested in this option, contact John Beck (beck@gonzaga.edu).
May 6, 2019 by Debbie Newell
Spend the weekend orienteering in the open pine forests of the lovely Teanaway Valley near Cle Elum. Experience the full weekend or pick one day: it’s your choice.
- Saturday, May 11 – Ultimate Series #6, Long Distance event, Lick Creek: we’ll have 5 courses available, from Beginner to Long Advanced.
- Sunday, May 12 – Ultimate Series #7, Goat event, Teanaway Forks: we’ll have a Beginner course as well as 3 mass-start courses (Zygoat, Kid, and Goat). A goat race is a unique form of orienteering in which you may skip 1 or 2 controls and NOT be disqualified. You’re also allowed (even encouraged) to follow your fellow orienteers.
There’s free camping nearby (or hotels in Cle Elum), and a Saturday night get-together in Cle Elum.
April 16, 2019 by Michelle Kastner
We are back from a fun and exciting weekend of races in Virginia where over 40 Cascade members competed at the 2019 Junior Nationals and the JWOC Team Trials.
Congratulations to Tahoma HS, Kamiak HS and Bethel HS JV Teams and individuals Kyle Hopkins, Peter Campbell, Zoe Sibthorp, Audrey Javadoff, Ben Brady, Siri Christopherson and Kai Mihata for coming home with medals/trophies. Adult COC members with medals included Tori Campbell and Rick Bresemen.
Cascade is also thrilled to have Siri Christopherson and Caroline Sandbo named to the 2019 JWOC team and Kai Mihata and Jessica Colleran both named as first alternates to the team. All around a wonderful weekend at Quantico.
