Questions to
Ask/Answer
1. Can I get permission
from the landowner to hold events there?
There's no point in going any further if the answer is "No."
2. Will there be a
"usage fee" each time we use the area?
Some parks charge for parking, some take a percentage of your
gross registration fees.
3. Is the location close
to my general membership?
Most folks won't drive more than 1-2 hours to an event site.
4. Does the site have
adequate facilities?
Parking is the biggest problem, as an event may attract over 100
participants. You'll also need restrooms and if you're
considering an area for a national event, it should be in close
proximity to restaurants and hotels.
5. Is the site large
enough to support a variety of course designs?
Even if you only intend to map a school ground for your 4th
grade class, you'll want to use the map more than once. If your
mapping for a local club Orienteering event, you'll need enough
area to support upper level courses.
6. Does the area have
varied terrain?
- Beginners need a developed trail network or linear
features.
- Intermediates need catching features.
- Experts need indistinct/complex terrain.
7. Do you have the
budget for this project?
If you're project will cost money, you need to submit a proposal
to your club or organization, unless you plan on covering all of
the expenses yourself.
How
Much Area Should I Map?
For
a regular O-meet, an area about 2 kilometers square would be
enough. For an A-meet, more area would be needed. At lot depends
on the individual location. Lots of terrain and a complex
reentrant system would entertain elite orienteers in a small
area. If the land is flat with few trees, a large area would be
needed to make a challenging course.
To
teach "O" to adventure racers or boy scouts, a small
wooded area as small as one kilometer by one kilometer would be
okay. A location close to your target audience would encourage
attendance. Any small, nearby area would be a good learning
opportunity for the junior mapper.
