Happyland

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December 11
Sunday

Prince William Forest (National) Park has been the site of many classic orienteering events, including championship events as recently as 2007. For this weekend we have rented the Camp 5 (Happyland) area (including hot showers) for plenty of activities, including overnight cabin stays (info below), and a full range (White through Blue) of courses on Sunday followed by the Winter Meeting & Potluck Party in the large (and heated!) group dining building. We'll have a fire going in the large hearth, so plan on staying around after your run for food and festivities.

Any youth or large groups attending, please contact the Event Director so that we can coordinate pre-registration for your group; the group registration and waiver form is part of the information on our Group Leaders page.

Orienteering Details: Course details for the main Sunday orienteering event (white through blue courses) is now below - this may even be a reasonable venue to "run up", in other words, challenge yourself to run one level higher/longer than usual. Detailed course setter notes are now posted below.

Saturday Training Information: This Saturday (Dec. 10) we are offering special intermediate and advanced training sessions (and our permit has now been approved). Intermediate training is geared for Yellow/Orange participants; advanced training is for those regularly doing advanced courses (Brown, Green, Red, Blue). The training sessions are FREE! but please email Ted Good and Jon Torrance if you'll be there for planning purposes, indicating your choice of training session (intermediate or advanced). There will be separate form to fill out for the advanced training which will be emailed to you.

Intermediate Training: Introduction, shadowing event (Run a course with an advanced orienteer following and taking notes). Shadow course is 3-4 km long. Optional mini sprint.
Advanced training will consist of several activities: Introduction, training activities (indoor and outdoor: nothing too strenuous), Shadowing an intermediate orienteer, Shadow feedback, Mini sprint. The mini sprint may also become a night event so bring a light just in case.

Saturday Schedule:

• 12:15-12:45 Arrive and Mingle.
• 12:45-1:45 Advanced training introduction and activities.
• 1:00-1:45 Intermediate training introduction and instruction.
• 1:45-2:00 Break, get ready for running.
• 2:00-2:15 Shadowing and course instructions (both groups)
• 2:15-3:20 Do courses and advanced activities. (course is 3-4K long)
• 3:00 Cabins open for check-in
• 3:20: Or whenever people finish: Post-course review
• 3:30-4:00 Mini Sprint (less than 2 km long).

Saturday Cabin Information: It’s back... your chance to stay overnight in the PWF Cabins + Game Night! So, bring your favorite food, games and music, and join us by a warm fire for an evening of fun and games. Just $5.00 per person. Check-in Dec 10 at 3:00pm, check-out Dec 11 by 4:00pm. To learn more about the facilities click here or ask Gary. You will need to bring food for a potluck dinner Saturday night and then breakfast for Sunday morning - don’t forget we also have a potluck Sunday, the following day, for the winter party. There is a kitchen facility with stove burners, industrial ovens, and sinks - it's a great big kitchen! All other items will need to be provided: i.e., pots, pans, serving spoons, can opener, table service etc.
Please email Gary by Dec 9 with your name, phone number, cabin preference (Cabin 1: young children, Cabin 2: early risers, Cabin 3: night owls, Cabin 4: overflow) and your Saturday night potluck contribution. We will all chip in to make this a really fun evening. So, if you can help with kitchen clean up, music, cabin inspection, bathroom inspection, trash duty, night activities, or firewood please let Gary know - thanks!

Sunday Winter Party & Potluck Lunch: We’ll start the party around 2pm. Bring your favorite dish to share and join in the fun. Spirits – yes, they’re allowed. We'll provide non-alcoholic drinks and all paper goods. A refrigerator, stove and oven are available for you to use, but you will need to bring your own pots, pans and utensils for cooking (and serving). Keeping tradition going, we’ll have 2011 highlights, volunteer recognitions, and some cool giveaway prizes!

Nearby Attraction: The National Museum of the Marine Corps is open from 9am - 5pm everyday, and admission is free to this impressive $60 million structure. On Saturday (Dec 10) a book signing by children's book author Brandon Barnett takes place in the Museum store, and from 3 - 5pm, join 'Santa and Mrs. Claus' to make your own ornaments and holiday crafts in the Leatherneck Gallery.

Directions: from I-95 exit 150B (near Triangle, VA) go west on Joplin Road ~4.5 miles, then turn right and follow the red and white orienteering signs. Registration is in the Dining Hall of Camp 5. More detailed directions available using the Google Map link below. Note: Mawavi Road will have runners on it - please be careful.