Come enjoy what should be a wonderful spring day for a children's and beginner's orienteering event at Shoreline Park in Mountain View on Saturday, April 22, 2000 (the day before Easter). We will have a couple of easy egg-hunt courses for young children, beginner courses for older children and adults, and a score-O course for more experienced orienteers. All this will be done on a newly expanded map of Shoreline Park.
For young children (3 to 9 years), we are having Easter egg hunts on a couple of very easy courses. The children use their maps to find Easter eggs at controls and return the eggs to claim a treat at the Finish area. These courses are free and the children get to repeat the courses as many times as they like, but we put a priority on treats for those who finish for the first time. Parents can go with their children so long as the children do the navigation (parental help is permitted), or parents can watch from the start/finish area.
For older children and adults, we have beginner and advanced-beginner courses that cover greater distances and require a bit more navigation. Don't worry, if you've never done this before, we give beginner's clinics on demand, so you never have to go on a course without knowing how to orienteer. The beginner course (White course) follows trails or cleared areas with easy features to follow. The advanced beginner course (Yellow course) will make use of trails and other features that you can easily follow over longer distances, off trails when possible.
Don't worry about getting lost - our beginner's clinics show you how to stay on course and how to return to where you started if you lose track of where you are. Besides, there are major features, like large bodies of water, that prevent you from going too far when disoriented. If you are worried about getting lost, this is one of the best events to start with.
For experienced orienteers, we will have a score-O event in which participants find as many controls as they can in 60 minutes. It's a great way to take in some great views from various vantage points. This course is navigationally easy, so you'll spend more time looking at the great views than at your map. Unlike Coyote Hills, this course is mostly flat.
Schedule: Registration is from 9:30 A.M. to 12:45 P.M. Individual starts are from 10:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. Beginner's clinics are offered on demand as soon as an instructor is available.
Cost: The Egg-O courses are free for children up to 9 years of age. Older people pay $3 (child) or $6 (adult) for their first course. Additional courses are $1 (child) or $2 (adult). Groups pay $1 for each extra child and $2 for each extra adult. Compasses are $1 to rent. Beginner's clinics are free, as always.
Beginner's clinics: At this event, we will have four levels of beginner's clinics, one for each course you can do. Each of these clinics is 15 to 20 minutes long and each explains what you'll need to know for that course if you've never done one like it before. Sign your name on the course board so instructors know when somebody wants a clinic.
Weather: Usually the weather is wonderfully sunny and moderately cool or breezy, but conditions can vary. Last year we were hit with a freak wind storm with 60-mph winds that had participants huddling behind bushes for cover. I promise not to allow for heavy winds, but I might be overruled by a higher authority at the last minute. To be fully prepared for anything, bring a jacket and sunscreen. We do not cancel this event unless the park shuts down (hasn't happened yet).
We look forward to seeing you there! Don't forget to bring your compass if you have one.