Plano Score-O DIY-O

Plano Score-O “DIY event”

May 1-9, 2021
Bob Woodruff Park, Plano

Plano Score-O

The final orienteering event of the season will be a big Score-O in Bob Woodruff and Oak Point Parks in east Plano. Together the two parks have a trail network that traverses a variety of terrain from deep woods to blackland prairies. The mapped area is over 1000 acres along a four mile length of the Rowlett Creek valley. The Score-O will have points of varying difficulty scattered throughout the entire area. Find them all or just a few. Take all day, or maybe two. It’s DIY, so it’s up to you.

Do-it-Yourself Format

This event will be “orienteering without the meet” again, like we have done throughout this 2020-2021 season. The DIY format will follow state and local COVID regulations, adhere to COVID guidance from Orienteering USA, our sport’s national governing body, and hopefully, protect the health of participants and organizers. We will encourage distancing by extending the duration of the event and eliminating the need for anyone to touch equipment that is used by other runners.

The event will begin when the parks open on Saturday, May 1, and extend over 9 days through Sunday, May 9. You can choose any day and time you want to run. Think of it as a training event, or a permanent course that only lasts nine days. There will be no registration tent, no lines, no cost, no punching, no scorecards, no scoring, no DQ’s, no awards. Just orienteering fun. Bring your own water and gear. Controls will just be colorful ribbons hung in the terrain.

There are no designated courses in a Score-O. During a Score-O the objective is to find as many control points as you can within the time limit. However, at this DIY event, since we won’t have any official timing or scoring, you can go after as many points as you want, in whatever order you like and at whatever pace you choose.

Beginners can participate by running with a more experienced runner (ideally a family member or leader) while following safety precautions.

General info

Event Officials

Meet Director: Mary Lynn Genovesi ……. Meet Director notes
Course Setter: Frank Ray……..Course Setter notes

Courses:

We’ll be offering a Score-O of about 60 control points.

Classes:

N/A — No awards, so no classes.

Scoring: Honor system! Feel free to post your finishing time and perhaps a screenshot of your marked-up map in our Facebook Group after the event is over!

Scouts: An Orienteering Merit Badge clinic will be offered!

May 1^st near Bob Woodruff Park – North Pavilion parking lot, Plano, Texas, 9am-noon.

Scouts have mostly worked on their own this last year due to Covid restrictions. To help them finish strong, I’ll have a MB clinic, on the first day of the Plano DIY event. Scouts should register for the meet on the website at www.ntoa.com, and print their own map per instructions. I’ll set up outside and work with Scouts to finish their requirements. Materials will be provided to help Scouts design and field check their own course as required. Scouts should try to have at least 2 of the 3 courses done with reports before the clinic (see requirement #7). Parents or Scout leaders must provide their own 2-deep leadership and it would be good if Scouts can bring a buddy, to go with, for the field work. For more info you can contact me at ralph@courtneyrentals.com or 903-814-0232.

Merit Badge counselor Ralph Courtney

Schedule & Instructions

Controls will be in the field when the park opens on the morning of Saturday, May 1. The event ends when the park closes on Sunday, May 9 and controls will be removed on Monday, May 10.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Go to the Participation Waiver page starting on Friday, April 30 at noon. EVENT IS OVER. Fill out the online waiver and you’ll get access to print the maps for the Score-O.
Arrange for your own “runner accountability.” We recommend telling a friend or family member where you are going and when you plan to finish. Provide them with a map. Or, you may choose to meet another orienteer at the venue and run simultaneously.
Gather your gear and don’t forget to bring your own water and maps.
Run the course. Find the ribbons. Enjoy.
Check in with the person you made plans with in step 2.
Let the course setter know if there are any ribbons missing, so he can replace them.
Optional: Post your results to NTOA’s Facebook Group. (Join us!)
Optional: Rinse and repeat! You’re welcome to come back as often as you like during the period the ribbons are out.

Event fees

We’re not charging event fees for this virtual, self-serve event, but donations are always appreciated! We’re a non-profit organization.

Directions

From Dallas:

Take US 75 north to Plano.
Take Exit 29A for Park Boulevard.
From the Frontage Road, turn right (east) at the Denny’s onto E. Central Parkway, and go 0.5 mile.
At the traffic light, turn right (east) onto Park Boulevard and go 3 miles.
You’ll cross a small bridge as you pass through the park. A small lake should be visible to your left.
After the park, take the second left (north) onto San Gabriel Drive and go 0.5 mile, through the neighborhood and past the elementary school.
Turn left (west) into the Bob Woodruff Park – North parking lot.

From McKinney:

Take US 75 south to Plano.
Take Exit 32 for Spring Creek Parkway, and stay on the frontage road for about 1 mile.
At the traffic light, turn left (east) onto Spring Creek Parkway and go 2 miles (past Collin College campus).
At the traffic light, turn left (east) onto Parker Road and go 0.4 mile.
At the traffic light, turn right (south) onto San Gabriel Drive and go 1.1 mile.
Turn right (west) into the Bob Woodruff Park – North parking lot.