Harriman State Park Orienteering Trip

When and Where

When: January 04, 2025
Timeline: 8:00 am — 5:00 pm

Location: Harriman State Park

Hope everyone's holidays have been restful and rewarding time with family and friends! 

We’re excited to announce the upcoming Orienteering Trip as part of the 2025 HVO WCOC Winter Series #1! This time, we’re heading back to Harriman State Park, where many of us enjoyed an incredible backpacking adventure in May 2024. 

This one-day trip offers a fantastic opportunity to practice orienteering and navigation skills in a challenging yet rewarding environment. It is designed for you to fulfill some Second and First Class rank requirements, as well as specific Cooking and Camping MB requirements - see below.

This trip builds upon the successful orienteering adventure we had at Ward Pound Ridge Reservation earlier, which included engaging courses and the opportunity to practice essential outdoor skills. If you missed that trip, this is a perfect chance to catch up!

Gear up for another adventure at Harriman State Park, and let’s make this one-day outing just as memorable as our previous trips. See you on the trail!

Location & Logistics

The trip will take place at the Surebridge area of Harriman State Park. Parking is available at the Kanawauke Picnic Area parking lot (exact location is on the map below). Note that Route 106 west of the parking lot is closed to traffic. The event includes a remote start, located 0.5 miles from the parking area on roads and trails, with the finish line at the trailhead gate by the road.

Activities and Plan

While orienteering is a timed sport, the focus of this trip is on learning and practicing navigation skills.

Expect to encounter hills, rocky terrain. Visibility on the course is generally good, ensuring a clear learning experience. We will be cooking and eating on the trail.

Meeting Location and Time:

• OLA - Parking Lot
• 8:00 AM departure, come before so we are not late

We are doing the Brown Course map 2.9km, 10 points (see below). To satisfy Second Class Requirement «3b» we will prolong the hike to be a 5 miles hike.

ISOM & IOF Control Description Symbols

Orienteering maps are a special kind of map designed to provide highly detailed information about the terrain, helping participants navigate through challenging landscapes with precision. In orienteering, two key standards are used to help participants navigate effectively and locate control points on the course.  These maps are governed by the International Specification for Orienteering Maps (ISOM), which ensures consistency and clarity across orienteering events worldwide.

ISOM: International Specification for Orienteering Maps

ISOM defines the symbols and markings used on orienteering maps. These standards ensure maps are universal and understandable to participants from any country, regardless of their experience level. Symbols represent natural features, terrain, man-made structures, and key elements of the environment, such as rocks, trails, water bodies, and buildings. The goal is to provide as much detail as possible to make the map clear and useful.

Unlike regular maps, orienteering maps use standardized symbols and colors to represent features like vegetation, elevation, water, trails, and man-made objects. These symbols help orienteers quickly understand their surroundings, plan routes, and find controls. For example:

• Green areas indicate denser vegetation, with varying shades showing how easy or difficult it is to pass through.
• Brown lines represent contour lines, showing the shape and elevation of the land.
• Blue symbols mark water features such as streams, ponds, and marshes.
• Black symbols show man-made features like trails, fences, and buildings.

IOF Control Description Symbols

In addition to the map, orienteers receive control descriptions formatted using the IOF Control Description Symbols, developed by the International Orienteering Federation (IOF). These symbols replace written descriptions to indicate:

• The type of feature (e.g., "rock," "tree," "water").
• The exact location (e.g., "north side," "on top," "at the base").
• Additional characteristics of the feature, such as size or height.

Using these standards ensures participants can quickly understand the course layout and locate control points efficiently.

Apply the knowledge

Above, you can see a map of our planned route with some of these symbols in action. Familiarize yourself with the map legends provided below to interpret the route correctly and prepare for the course. This knowledge will help you make quick decisions and improve your orienteering performance.

What to Bring

This being a backpacking trip, you must carry everything you bring on, so pack light and be mindful of space in your backpack.

• ⧠ Ten Essentials as always (except a tent)
• ⧠ Compass (required)
• ⧠ Backpack
• ⧠ Hydration - Refillable water
• ⧠ Food 
• ⧠ Comfortable shoes for hiking
• ⧠ First aid kit
• ⧠ Class B - orange for maximum visibility
• ⧠ Executed Troop permission from ScoutBook

Resources

You can download the maps and detailed instructions directly from this official link.

Advancement Goals

The main goal of the trip is to complete an orienting course which is a requirement for the first-class rank, however, this trip is also a great way to complete most of the other navigation requirements for the other ranks.

On this trip, as well as any other, you can complete a lot of different requirements for all the ranks so if you need any don't delay your doing them and complete them ASAP.

Second Class

(!) A lot of items will be covered. Please read ahead and be ready. Most important:

3a. Demonstrate how a compass works and how to orient a map. Use a map to point out and tell the meaning of five map symbols.

3b. Using a compass and map together, take a five-mile hike approved by your adult leader and your parent or guardian.

3c. Describe some hazards or injuries that you might encounter on your hike and what you can do to help prevent them.

3d. Demonstrate how to find directions during the day and at night without using a compass or an electronic device.

4. Identify or show evidence of at least ten kinds of wild animals (such as birds, mammals, reptiles, fish, mollusks) found in your local area or camping location. You may show evidence by tracks, signs, or photographs you have taken.

First Class

(!) A lot of items will be covered. Please read ahead and be ready. Most important:

4a. Using a map and compass, complete an orienteering course that covers at least one mile and requires measuring the height and/or width of designated items (tree, tower, canyon, ditch, etc.)

4b. Demonstrate how to use a handheld GPS unit, GPS app on a smartphone or other electronic navigation system Demonstrate how to use a handheld GPS unit, GPS app on a smartphone, or other electronic navigation system while on a campout or hike. Use GPS to find your current location, a destination of your choice, and the route you will take to get there. Follow that route to arrive at your destination.. Use a GPS to find your current location, a destination of your choice, and the route you will take to get there. Follow that route to arrive at your destination.

5a. Identify or show evidence of at least 10 kinds of native plants found in your local area or campsite location. You may show evidence by identifying fallen leaves or fallen fruit that you find in the field, or as part of a collection you have made, or by photographs you have taken.

Cooking Merit Badge

Please read ahead and be ready. The hardest to get:

Requirement 6d. Trail and backpacking meals. 

While on a trail hike or backpacking trip, prepare and serve two meals and a snack from the menu planned for this requirement. At least one of those meals must be cooked over a fire, or an approved trail stove (with proper supervision).

Backpacking Merit Badge

(!) A lot of items will be covered. Please read ahead and be ready. Most important:

Requirement 6: 

Do the following:
(a) Demonstrate that you can read topographic maps.
(b) While on a trek, use a map and compass to establish your position on the ground at three different locations, OR use a GPS receiver to establish your position on a topographic map and the ground at three different locations.
(c) Explain how to stay found, and what to do if you get lost.

Requirement 7: 

Tell how to prepare properly for and deal with inclement weather.

Orienteering Merit Badge

(!) A lot of items will be covered. Please read ahead and be ready. Most important:

Requirement 3:

Do the following:
(a) Explain how a compass works. Describe the features of an orienteering compass.
(b) In the field, show how to take a compass bearing and follow it.
 

Requirement 4:

Do the following:
(a) Explain how a topographic map shows terrain features. Point out and name five terrain features on a map and in the field.
(b) Point out and name 10 symbols on a topographic map.
(c) Explain the meaning of declination. Tell why you must consider declination. Tell why you must consider declination when using a map and compass together.
(d) Show a topographic map with magnetic north-south lines.
(e) Show how to measure distances on a map using an orienteering compass.
(f) Show how to orient a map using a compass.
 

Requirement 7:

Do the following:
(a) Take part in three orienteering events. One of these must be a cross-country course.*
(b) After each event, write a report with (1) a copy of the master map and control description sheet, (2) a copy of the route you took on the course, (3) a discussion of how you could improve your time between control points, and (4) a list of your major weaknesses on this course. Describe what you could do to improve.