Here are the upcoming events for the St. Louis Orienteering Club. For events that are open for registration, please go to our Registration Page. Please register in advance in order to reserve a map and epunch stick.
2024 Membership Registration is now OPEN. Please note the fee restructuring for membership and meets. There will be a small fee for every event for every person participating, but the membership fees have dropped. Additionally, you are encouraged to register at least 48 hours in advance. Specific details can be found on the membership page.
- 2024-10-12 Jefferson Barracks
- 2024-11-09 Halloween-O at Cliff Cave
- 2024-11-30 Turkey-O at Don Robinson
- 2024-12-14 Indian Camp Creek
- 2025-01-25 Babler Cold Nose-O
- 2025-02-22 Tame the Dragon
- 2025-03-08 Scout Orienteering Festival
- 2025-04-?? Meramec Night-O
- 2024-10-12 Jefferson Barracks
Date: Saturday, October 12, 2024
Time: Courses open 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. You can start at any time.
Location: Jefferson Barracks County Park. We’ll be at the Buffalo Soldier shelter which is located in the middle of the park off Grant and CCC roads. Use navigation software to follow directions to the shelter or look for orienteering signs along Grant road inside the park.
Meet Director: Mark Geldmeier
Courses: There will be three “point-to-point” courses (you must go to the CP’s in order).
- Beginner — WHITE course (about 2.0 km), best for beginners and those that want to stay out of the woods.
- Intermediate – YELLOW course (about 3.0 km), a few checkpoints will be more difficult.
- Advanced — GREEN course (about 5.0 km), a mix of easy checkpoints in the runnable areas, and checkpoints requiring more detailed navigation, with route choices through woods and dense vegetation areas.
About: Jefferson Barracks has a bit of everything. Open grassy fields, wooded depressions, a small but challenging open woods section, a paved trail, prairie, and some sections of thick green. Plus museums, monuments, and lots of military history. Hazards include poison ivy, mosquitos, an archery range, frisbee golf, cork ball, and lots of frighteningly tame deer. The archery range is strictly out of bounds – but everything else is possible. The map was completely redone in 2021. Come on out and enjoy the Fall colors!
Questions: Contact Mark Geldmeier (mgeldmeier@earthlink.net)
- 2024-11-09 Halloween-O at Cliff Cave
Okay, so we had an issue with the park permit and had to re-schedule for 9 days after Halloween…but, we’re not changing the name. After all, the spooky holiday tradition must continue! With dozens of depressions, sinkholes, and caves, even the experienced navigator is sure to get turned around in circles. However, with plenty of catching features it’s also a great park for beginners.
The format this year is a score-O for the beginners and intermediate, plus a “dog-bone” score-O for the advanced. A score-O means you have a fixed amount of time. For this event, it’s 2 hours. And you can get any CP’s in any order. You don’t have to get them all, but you have to be back before the time limit. The dog-bone variety is when two CP’s are connected with a line on the map. If you get one, you must go directly to the other before getting anything else.
Date: Saturday, November 9th.
Location: Cliff Cave County Park. Upper Parking lot.
Time: Registration opens at 10:00 am. First Start: 11:00 am. Last Start: Noon. Course closes at 2:00 pm.
Meet Director: Jeff & Carrie Sona
Courses:
- Beginner – 2-hour score-O
- Intermediate – 2-hour score-O
- Advanced – 2-hour score-O with dog-bone format
- 2024-11-30 Turkey-O at Don Robinson
- 2024-12-14 Indian Camp Creek
Date: Saturday, December 14
Location: Indian Camp Creek Park (Saint Charles County)
Time: Courses open TBD.
Meet Director: Scott & Melissa Kelley
Courses: TBD
- 2025-01-25 Babler Cold Nose-O
What would January be without Yvonne putting on an awesome event at Babler State Park? This year’s edition will feature several point-to-point course to chose from. More details to follow.
Date/Time: Saturday, January 25th
Location: Babler State Park
Meet Director: Yvonne Deyo
Courses: TBD
- 2025-02-22 Tame the Dragon
The premier rogaine event of the midwest returns. Gaze upon any map of mid-Missouri. The curvy, undulating shape of the Lake of the Ozarks, is unmistakable. With numerous inlets and coves there is over 1,100 miles of shoreline. It’s easy to see why this event was named after a similarly shaped mythical creature. Do you have what it takes to Tame the Dragon?
This is a rogaine-style orienteering event held within the 17,660 acre Lake of the Ozarks State Park. You’ll have 8 hours to find as many CP locations as can. You can go in any order and get as many or as few as you like. Your registration includes maps, post-race food, and… (we’re working on something cool).
There will be water on the course, but please plan to carry your own. And bring plenty of snacks to keep you going. Late winter weather in Missouri can include just about anything. Check the forecast a few days before and pack accordingly.
The precise starting location, the race rules, details, and last minute updates will be sent during the week leading up to the event. There is no preferred race hotel, but there are numerous lodging and dining options in Osage Beach, Missouri.
Teams are encouraged for fun and safety. Solo racers must have prior endurance and navigation experience.
*** Please register by early February to guarantee a map. Registrations after that will be capped based on the number of maps printed. ***
Date/Time: February 22, 2025. Map distribution 7:00 am. Mass start at 8:00 am. Must be finished by 4:00 pm.
Location: Lake of the Ozarks State Park
Courses: 8 hour Rogaine format. Find CPs in any order.
Meet Director: Gary Thompson
- 2025-03-08 Scout Orienteering Festival
A regular tradition for Scout groups in the area, and a chance for everyone to enjoy the Beaumont Scout Reservation.
ATTENTION: *** Check back for more details and special registration information. ***
Date/Time: March 8, 2025, Starts from 8am-10:30am. Course pickup begins at 12 noon.
Location: Beaumont Scout Reservation.
Meet Director: Josh Borgmeyer: jb.balancedbody@gmail.com if you have questions
- 2025-04-?? Meramec Night-O
A night time orienteering event is being planned for the third or fourth weekend of April. There will be camping options and possibly a sprint event in the morning. Details coming soon.
Date/Time: April ??, 2025, Starting time TBD.
Location: Meramec State Park
Meet Director: Eric Buckley