Name: First Day Orienteering at Pocahontas SP
Start: 2026-01-01T11:00:00-05:00
End: 2026-01-01T14:00:00-05:00
Location: Pocahontas State Park

***Note: We are doing pre-registration for this event. Details, including the required Google form link, are below in the "Pre-registration & Payment" section.***
Start the New Year off right by spending it in the woods! We'll be putting on our 9th annual orienteering meet in conjunction with the Pocahontas State Park "First Day" events. Come on out and join us on one of the four courses! See below for all of the registration and course details.

***

**STARTS:** Beginner course folks start any time between 11:00 am and 1:00 pm. For all other courses, start between 11:00 am and 12:00 pm (Everybody must be back to the start no later than 2:00 pm.) Feel free to arrive any time after 10:45 am.

**COST:** Maps are $5 each (pre-registered); $10 day-of (if available). **The beginner course is free for this event, but we still need you to preregister so that we know how many maps to print.**

**PARKING FEE:** No fee this day!!!

**LOCATION**: From the main park entrance on Beach Rd, follow the signs toward the Visitor Center. There will be red & white arrow orienteering signs pointing the way as you get closer. If the weather is nice, we'll be in the center of the traffic circle in front of the Visitor Center. If it's pretty cold or bad weather, we may be inside the building.

**INSTRUCTION**: 11:15am - 12:30pm

* Instruction will be available during above times for beginners or those who would like some help to get started. We can also offer some tips to those who've been out a few times and want to advance their skills a bit.
* See links at the bottom to some reference materials that you can review in advance in lieu of in-person instruction.

**OTHER:**

* Bring your own compass or borrow one of ours (on a first-come basis). Be prepared to leave car keys as a deposit when borrowing.
* Dress appropriately for the weather and for travel both on & off trail. You are strongly encouraged to bring water.
* Feel free to post comments or contact one of the organizers if you have any questions!

\*\*\* Our meets are put on by volunteers & we could use your help. Please consider offering some of your time at this or an upcoming meet. \*\*\*

**PRE-REGISTRATION & PAYMENT:**
We require everyone to register on the Google form & pay for their maps in advance. This cuts down on the amount of time needed on event day for waiver signing & payments. It also guarantees you a map. Minors *cannot* participate without a waiver signed by a parent or legal guardian.

*Register by Monday 12/29 at Noon to give us time to print maps and reserve one for you.* Only a very limited number of extra maps will be available; we cannot print them on site.

Please register and complete the waiver using the Google form link below. You will be shown payment info after registering there.
[Google Form Registration](https://forms.gle/FcBEgms14m36b4Jh9)

**Groups**: Organized groups of minors: Don't use the registration form above. Please contact us at [registration@centralvaorienteering.com](http://mailto:registration@centralvaorienteering.com).

**MEET DETAILS:**
4 courses to choose from. All are traditional orienteering courses that are completed in the numerical order indicated on the map.

* White (Beginner) - Great for first-timers & practicing your skills. FREE
* Yellow/Orange (Novice/Intermediate) - Starts out a bit more challenging than White and good for building your skills, but then the difficulty increases with some off-trail travel.
* Brown (Short Advanced) & Green (Advanced) - More route choice decisions, with much of the travel off-trail.

**Course Designers**: Andrea Anderson & Chip Dodd

\-\-\-\-\- Be sure to join our Facebook page at [https://www.facebook.com/CentralVAOrienteeringClub/](https://www.facebook.com/CentralVAOrienteeringClub/) \-\-\-\-\-

**BEGINNER INFORMATION:**
Below is some instructional information that you can check out to learn about orienteering before heading out on the course.

* What is orienteering: [https://orienteeringusa.org/explore/what-is-orienteering/](https://orienteeringusa.org/explore/what-is-orienteering/)
* See the "How to Navigate" section & the video. (Ignore the info about electronic punching.): [https://orienteeringusa.org/explore/how-to-orienteer/](https://orienteeringusa.org/explore/how-to-orienteer/)
* See the "Basic Techniques" info: [https://orienteeringusa.org/resources/training/](https://orienteeringusa.org/resources/training/)

Leadership Team

Central Virginia Orienteering Club

Travel & Outdoor

Orienteering

Adventure Racing

Outdoors

Navigation

Hiking

Adventure

Trail Running

Trekking

Walking

Outdoor Adventures

Kayaking

Running

Fitness

Outdoor Fitness

Fun Times

Tim Gilbert

Doug

Kristi Orcutt

Harlan Williams

Heidi

Karl

George 

First Day Orienteering at Pocahontas SP

Pocahontas State Park

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First Day Orienteering at Pocahontas SP

Central Virginia Orienteering Club

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