Discussion: Fundraising NRE

I am a member of the St. Louis Orienteering Club. Most of the club members are adventure racers who are use to running on USGS quality maps. No one that I know of in the club currently has a national ranking or attends National events.

The club just mapped a new state park (846 acres), but is not interested in holding a national ranking event. To the club it is too much work to hold a formal event!!!

I am interested in whether the US Team or OUSA or an event organizer would be interested in holding an event at this park to raise some funds?

We have lots of maps but no one who wants to organize NRE.

In the past, Team USA has partnered with local clubs to organize NREs, so this is definitely a model that has been used before. I would recommend contacting Team USA's Executive Steering Committee to see if there is interest. I believe Erin Schirm (erinschirm at gmail) is currently the chair.

That is a wonderful idea, and very generous. I hope you get some takers!

How the mighty have fallen! I believe at one time, SLOC was the largest O club in the US! They still have a wealth of excellent maps and terrain, principally ridge-and-valley. But covered with white, runnable woods! Very fast, but physical too; an excellent venue for an NRE.

As a past WRE meet director up in Chicago, I can assure our St Louis brothers that the extra work required to put on a ranking event is not that much more than a local meet. What's the name of the new map?

The map is Don Robinson State Park just south of Eureka, MO. The park is the estate of the late Don Robinson. The park has 5 box canyons (some are off limits due to sensitive vegetation), lots of uncrossable cliffs and rock features.

I'd be happy to set courses for an event like that. Especially if the terrain is interesting.

The main problem of course is that currently no national team members live near there. I wouldn't be able to make any trips because my schedule is already too full. Jordan Laughlin is down in Texas, but it seems like he's pretty busy too.

But it's worth considering, certainly can't hurt to discuss the possibilities.

Interesting? Well here's a few pictures.....

Those are helpful, but an image of the map helps me get a better idea of what courses could be designed there.

Designing courses is not an issue. I have already designed advanced courses up to 9 km. The main issue for course design is white and yellow.

If you would like to see an image of the park I suggest you go to the parks website. https://mostateparks.com/park/don-robinson-state-p.... This is my first map 15+ years. This map was produced using a Garman GPS to locate the point and linear features. The map has over 2000 features on it.

When it comes to putting on a NRE it is all the little things that have to be done which we do not do for a local event, (pre-registration, start, finish, e-punch, awards, etc.).

Clark the box canyons are great photo opts but the naturalist does not want any controls put in an area in which everyone will have to climb the same narrow path which has a thin layer of soil that can be easily damaged. He has reviewed my courses so I know what he wants, Plus Nels is a life member of OUSA.

Holmberg?

Yes

Good to hear his name!

This is an interesting development. Ozark plateau terrain is very interesting, one of the best in this country. It is sad that orienteering almost died in the area over the last decade. I blame globalists.
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