• 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).

The Spring Orienteering Season kicks off next weekend! And the new NEOC GEAR has arrived: See pick-up dates highlighted below.

• Here are a few highlights of the upcoming Spring Season. See the Coming Events page for details and updates.
  • March 24-26: BYOM Event at Auburndale Park (Newton, MA). Gear pick-up during the March 25 training event window (10 am - 1 pm).
  • March 25: Beginner Training Event (Newton, MA): Pre-registration Required. If you have time, volunteer to help out.
  • April 2: Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced Training Event (Baldwin Hill, Ashburnham, MA). Gear pick-up available.
  • April 15: Spring Scout-O at Hale Education
  • April 16-30: BYOM Hale Education (Westford, MA)
  • April 24: Beaver Brook North (Waltham, MA) - Updated Map
  • May 13-14: The 43rd Billygoat and Camping/Training Weekend at Pearl Hill (Ashby, MA). Beginner and intermediate courses also available on May 14. Registration info coming soon.
  • May 21: Mary Cummings Park (Burlington, MA)
  • May 28: Forest Park Sprints (Springfield, MA)
  • June 11: Houghton's Pond (Milton, MA)
• In addition, here are a few additional regional Spring activities to keep you busy!
  • 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
  • May 6-7 - Boulder Dash in NH: Up North Orienteers are hosting a 2-day National Ranking Event near Hollis, NH. Early Bird Registration ends on March 19.
  • 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.
• CHECK OUT this segment from the NBC Nightly News w/Lester Holt: 'Orienteering Keeps your Brain Healthy'.. See you in the Woods soon!
• 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).

Yesterday's NBC Nightly News had a short piece on a recent research report, "Orienteering experts report more proficient spatial processing and memory across adulthood." The video features Kathy Bannister, who often competes in NEOC NREs.

The authors are on the faculty of the Department of Kinesiology at McMaster University, Canada. One of the authors, Emma Waddington, keeps a log on Attackpoint.

• Volunteer Meet directors: We are looking for meet directors for the following 2023 event locations and dates. These events will help fill in our 2023 schedule. The NEOC events team supports meet directors or individuals who haven't directed meets in a few years when taking on this volunteer role. We also support with obtaining permits and other tasks associated with putting on an event. Come give it a try—contact the This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
  • Mary Cummings (Burlington, MA) - May 20 or 21: The map for this location is relatively new and the event would support beginner, intermediate and a short advanced course (brown).
  • Houghton's Pond (Milton, MA) - June 4: This event is run side-by-side with the Annual General Meeting and typically includes a Score-O and a beginner courses (white and yellow courses).
  • Boojum Rock (Medford, MA) - October 21: This event will be held on an updated map (currently being updated) and can support beginner/intermediate and advanced courses.
  • Noon Hill (Medfield, MA) - October 14- 27: This event will be a Bring-your-own-Map (BYOM) event, so easier than in-person events. We have had a lot of feedback that many folks like to have BYOM events as well as in-person events
• MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL: Join/Renew your NEOC membership for 2023. We have some exciting plans for 2023 and we look forward to you joining us!
• WINTER CHALLENGE: The 2023 Winter Challenge is live and people are getting out on the 5 maps. Details are included with your member card, emailed when you join/renew for 2023. Be sure to check out the comments from members on the spreadsheet before heading out!