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Browns Valley Open Space Preserve

Date: (Sun.) Feb. 25, 2024
Location: Vacaville, CA
Event Director: - 510.681.6181
Course Setter: Richard Thorsted
Type: B; Our second visit to this new map of a "smaller Morgan Territory", with bigger rocks and fewer trees, will offer the standard 7 courses, from Beginner to Advanced; beginners are welcome and can learn about orienteering at free Beginner Clinics

Related Event Information

Event Results Course Setter’s Notes Attackpoint Event Page (http://www.attackpoint.org/eventdetail.jsp/event_57328) Last Year’s Event

Please note that fees and time limits apply. Events are typically not canceled due to bad weather.


A new map of this interesting area was created last year, and "inaugurated" in October. There are some photos of the terrain here (https://photos.app.goo.gl/AwT3thZBytU4UtTW6).

Richard Thorsted will be doing the course setting again for this event.

You can find information about Browns Valley Open Space Preserve here (https://www.visitvacaville.com/directory/browns-valley-open-space/).

Schedule

The standard BAOC event schedule will be followed:

  9:00 AM – 11:59 AM: Registration open
  9:30 AM – 10:30 AM: Beginner clinic instruction (free)
 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM: Starts are open
                  2:00 PM: Course closes, checkpoint control pick-up begins
Note: At on-site registration, all juniors must be accompanied by parents or legal guardians, or bring with them a waiver signed by their parent or legal guardian (the registration form is available here [12KB PDF]).

Note that you can register and start on the course anytime during the open times above. Thus, for example, you do not need to be "punctual" at 9:00 (you can if you want, but please don’t show up earlier and expect to be served).

Beginner clinics are 15–20 minute, repeating sessions that introduce the sport of orienteering, and provide enough instruction to be able to complete a Beginner (White or Yellow) course at this event.

Note: Beginners are given their White- or Yellow-course maps at registration. You should get your map before joining a beginner clinic.

Note that you must return to the Finish by 2:00 PM, and then go to the download table, even if you have not finished your course. Please do not leave without checking in! We need to have everyone accounted for so we won’t need to initiate a search for missing people (and so checkpoint pick-up can start on time so those volunteers can get home).

Costs and Registration

The following fees apply at this event:

  $3 for each junior on Beginner (White) and Advanced Beginner (Yellow) courses
  $8 for each adult on Beginner and Advanced Beginner courses
  $5 for each junior on Intermediate (Orange) and Advanced (Brown–Blue) courses  
$15 for each adult member on Intermediate and Advanced courses
$20 for each adult non-member on Intermediate and Advanced courses
  $1 for a compass rental (optional)  
  $5 for an electronic fingerstick rental (optional, but each team will need one to complete the course)
$15 for the lowest-cost individual one-year BAOC membership (optional)  
Notes:
  • Individual entrants can register at the event or online before the event (see below).
  • Groups going on a course together must register at the event. (The online registration system can't deal with groups. 🙁)
  • At the event, we can accept payment by cash, check, or credit/debit card (but no electronic payments — e.g., PayPal, Venmo).
  • Juniors are age 8 through 20 (under age 8 is free).
  • There is no charge for a second course (but you must end up paying for the more expensive course​—​i.e., Intermediate or Advanced after Beginner).
  • Members of other orienteering clubs can pay the "member" fee. (We hope your club would do the same for our members. 🙂)

More information about event pricing is available in the club FAQ. All the prices are also shown on the standard entry form (PDF/12KB), which you can print and fill out in advance to save some time at the event. (You will need one entry form for each group of people going on a course together.)

Optional Online Registration

Online registration has closed, but you can still register at the event.

Notes:
  • Online registration is not required​—​you can register at the event.
  • You can see who is registered here (https://eventreg.orienteeringusa.org/eventregister/a40/reglist/home/vacaville2024) (but keep in mind that others will register at the event).

What To Bring

There will be drinking water at the assembly area (at the school), but limited water on the courses.

Comfortable outdoors attire and walking shoes are fine for the Beginner (White & Yellow) courses.

For Intermediate (Orange) and Advanced (Brown through Blue) courses, leg cover or gaiters are recommended, as well as shoes with some extra grip on the sole.

A compass is not absolutely necessary, but can be very helpful (especially on the Advanced courses). We have compasses available for a $1 rental fee.

We time the courses with the SPORTident system, so each entry/team needs to have a SPORTident fingerstick. If you don’t have your own, you can rent one at registration for $5 (note that there’s a significant charge for a lost rental). (Use of the "E-punch" system is easy. You can learn how at the event, or read about it here.)

Event Center

The assembly area will be in the Jacqueline Pelton Pavilion at this nearby school (location map (https://maps.app.goo.gl/RtbbYGksXru17ZFs8), driving directions):

Browns Valley Elementary School
333 Wrentham Drive
Vacaville, CA 95688

There’s a sheltered picnic area on campus with plenty of tables. There are restrooms and water fountains nearby.

As you’ll see below, there will be longish walks from the school to and from the Open Space park (i.e., to the Start, and back from the Finish). We’re focusing on the school because it’s the closest facility with restrooms.

Courses

Here are the course details:

Note: There were last-minute changes to the courses. The details below might not be accurate. 

    Course    Length    Climb  Controls  Navigation
    White     1.2 km     75 m      9     Beginner      
    Yellow    1.9 km    130 m     12     Advanced Beginner
    Orange    2.8 km    140 m     13     Intermediate  
    Brown     3.1 km    145 m     12     Advanced      
    Green     4.1 km    180 m     16     Advanced
    Red       5.2 km    290 m     22     Advanced
    Blue      6.0 km    375 m     26     Advanced

Notes:
  • Map Cases: Our supply is running low, so please bring a map case if you have one, and bring extras if you have them!
  • Maps for the Beginner courses (White and Yellow) are given out at registration, and can be looked at before starting the course.
  • Maps for the Intermediate course (Orange) and Advanced courses (Brown through Blue) are provided at the Start, and must not be looked at before starting the course.
  • Beginners should be aware that the distances shown are the cumulative straight-line distances between controls. The climb numbers represent the amount of ascending that would be done on the "optimum route" (in the Course Setter's opinion), without regard for any descending. Because you won't travel in straight lines, and might not follow the optimum routes, your actual distance and climb will be somewhat more than what is shown above, and will depend on your route choices (and any errors you make).

Be sure to read the Course Setter’s Notes for more information.

There is a 1/4-mile walk from the school to the Start. The return walk from the Finish is about 1/2 mile.

Request for Volunteers

Can you help?

You can:

Thanks!
Rex, Event Director
510-681-6181,

Driving Directions

The approximate coordinates of the school parking lot are 38.3833,-121.9832.

From the Bay Area or the Sacramento area, make your way to I-80 through Vacaville. Take exit 55 for Nut Tree Parkway/Allison Drive/Monte Vista Ave.

If you’re coming from the Bay Area, turn left onto Allison Dr. After 0.7 mile, turn left onto Browns Valley Pkwy. After 0.8 mile, turn left onto Wrentham Dr. After 0.5 mile, the school will be on your right.

If you’re coming from the Sacramento area, turn left onto E Monte Vista Ave, and then turn right onto Browns Valley Pkwy. After 1.2 mile, turn left onto Wrentham Dr. After 0.5 mile, the school will be on your right. (Google Maps shows other routes if you want to get off I-80 earlier.)