• April 16 - 30: Hale Education BYOM (Westwood, MA): Come enjoy the spring season in Westwood, MA. A full set of courses for folks to experience as their time allows.
• April 20: Boston Common: This is the first event in the CSU/NEOC Greater Boston Area Spring Park-O Thursday Series (SPOTS). Registration is required. Series runs April 20—June 8. Starts at 6:00 pm!
• April 23 - DCR Beaver Brook North (Waltham, MA): Come join us in-person on this updated map. Sign up to help out here.
• May 13 & 14 - Training, Camping and Billygoat (Ashby, MA):
  • May 14: Sign up for the traditional Billygoat (or Kid-goat) event on Sunday. There will also be recreational courses for white, yellow and orange. No pre-registration required for these courses. Rec courses are free to NEOC members.
  • May 13: Sign up for the Saturday training (youth through advanced) on Saturday and camping available on both weekend nights.
• Additional Local O- Happenings!
  • April 18 DCR Boojum Rock (Medford, MA): Navigation Games is seeking volunteers for taking middle school kids to Boojum Rock onTuesday April 18. We are seeking volunteers to help, 9:30-11:00 and 12:30-2:00. Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to sign up. It's a great opportunity to introduce some kids to orienteering in the forest, and make a real difference in their lives.
  • April 22: UNO College Woods (Durham, NH): Join our friendly 'up north' neighbors at this annual event.

Another from Mike Cooper's video series: the Long Green B course at the US Nationals, March 24, 2023.

Send your feedback on these videos to Mike.

It was great to see so many folks at the training in Baldwin Hill this past weekend! Check out the various upcoming training activities and events.

• Western MA O-Training: There will be training sessions at various venues around the Northampton/Amherst area on weekday evenings in April and May. The schedule isn't set yet, but the first will be Wednesday, April 5 at Cemetery Hill in Northampton, starts from 5:30-6:30. There will be a fun 3k sprint/middle course, with an option for a second sprint. For more information and to get on the email list, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.<This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.;. </This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>;
• Spring Park-O Thursday Series (SPOTS): CSU and NEOC are co-organizing a series of 7 to 8 Thursday evening spring park orienteering events in the Greater Boston Area. Registration is required. Series runs April 20-June 8, 6:00 pm. Schedule listed here:
  • April 20: Boston Common - Boston
  • April 27: Nahanton Park - Newton
    May 4: Horn Pond - Woburn
  • May 11: Herter Park - Boston
  • May 18: Jamaica Pond - Boston
  • May 25: Menotomy Rocks - Arlington - Permit pending
  • June 1: Historic Beaver Brook - Belmont/Waltham
  • June 8: Pine Banks - Malden
• Newton Recreation Spring Development Series: Register for these beginning training events in Newton Parks. Learn the basics of navigation and then try out your skills at the 2023 events. Two series dates remain: April 8 and 22 in Newton Parks. You can sign up for the full series or just for an individual event.
• The 2023 Winter Challenge is over and we will post Masters of the Challenge in the next few weeks. In the meantime, we are looking for a few volunteers to help pick up streamers in the woods. If you have not yet listed your name on the spreadsheet, now is your chance. We are also looking for a few volunteers to pick-up streamers in the woods. Contact Bridget Hall at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with questions or to volunteer.

• April 2: Please join us at Baldwin Hill (Ashburnham, MA) for a training event. Sign up by 4/1 at 5 pm to reserve a map. The following courses will be available:
  • Beginner: 2.4 km - Controls will be on or close to trails.
  • Advanced Short: 4.7 km - Normal course.
  • Advanced Long: 6.2 km - Normal course.
  • Advanced White-Out: 5.9 km or shorter version - The area around some control circles are 'whited out' which will help you practice choosing a good attack point and visualizing the control circle. A shorter version will also be available for those wanting to practice technical skills on a shorter course.
  This event is free for members. Non-members should bring $5 (cash only) and sign a waiver form on-site.
• Join/Renew your NEOC membership for 2023. Membership gives you free entry to NEOC standard events and allows you to skip the queue at registration. It also gives you access to the 5 courses included in the 2023 Winter Challenge (runs through April 1) and training activities like the April 2 event.
• New Gear Pick-up: New Gear pick-up will be at the Baldwin Hill event this weekend or e-mail Channon Ames (and say thank you for doing such a terrific job managing orders) to arrange a pick up location - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
• Newton Recreation Spring Development Series: Register for this exciting beginning training 3-event series in Newton Parks. Learn the basics of navigation and then try out your skills at the 2023 events. The series dates are April 1, 8 and 22 in Newton Parks. You can sign up for the full series or just for an individual event.
• Spring Park-O Thursday Series (SPOTS): CSU and NEOC are organizing a series of 8 Thursday evening spring park orienteering events in the Greater Boston Area. Pre-registration will be live soon. Register for the series or for just one of the events. Series runs April 20-June 8, 6:00 pm. Tentative Schedule listed here:
  • April 20: Boston Common - Boston
  • April 27: Nahanton Park - Newton
  • May 4: Horn Pond - Woburn
  • May 11: Herter Park - Boston
  • May 18: Jamaica Pond - Boston
  • May 25: Menotomy Rocks - Arlington
  • June 1: Historic Beaver Brook - Belmont/Waltham
  • June 8: Pine Banks - Malden

• Spring 2023 here we go! See the Coming Events page for details and updates. In the next few weeks, we have:
  • March 24-26: BYOM Event at Auburndale Park (Newton, MA).
    New Gear pick-up during the March 25 training event window (10 AM-1 PM). If you want to collect your gear at the Newton event, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by 6 AM, March 25.
  • March 25: Beginner Training Event (Newton, MA): Pre-registration Required. Bring a friend, child or sign up yourself. A few slots still available.
  • April 2: Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced Training Event (Baldwin Hill, Ashburnham, MA). This event is for everyone, not just folks training for elite orienteering. It is a chance to try a training course and focus on a particular skill. New Gear pick-up available during the start window.
• Join/Renew your NEOC membership for 2023. Membership gives you free entry to NEOC standard events and allows you to skip the queue at registration. It also gives you access to the 5 courses included in the 2023 Winter Challenge (runs through April 1).