Tatum Park
Sunday November 22, 2020
Location
Tatum Park
Holland Activity Center Parking lot
Middletown Township, NJ 07748
Park Information
Tatum Park has 366 acres of rolling hills, open fields and bird-filled woods, as well as two activity centers, a playground and miles of scenic trails, for visitors to enjoy.
Courses (tentative)
distance/climb/controls
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White (Beginner) 2.0k 55m 11
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Yellow (Intermediate) 2.9k 70m 11
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Orange (Advanced) 4.2k 100m 10
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Brown (Short Expert) 3.6k 108m 10
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Green (Expert) 4.9k 156m 13
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Red (Long Expert) 6.6k 210m 16
Registration:
Online pre-registration and pre-payment will be REQUIRED for every participant, including individual group members, using Orienteering USA's Event Register system.
Please register for the Tatum event here:
If you are an OUSA member, and would like to import information from your account, go here instead:
Tatum Registration link for OUSA members
NOTE: Registration will close on Friday Nov. 20 at 8pm. Registrants cancelling before the close of registration will receive full refunds; after that, refunds will be handled on a case-by-case basis by the Event Director and/or Registrar;
refunds for no-shows? FUHGETTABOUTIT!
Scout or JROTC groups: Please contact the Event Director before registering.
Event Director: Bob Rycharski
Questions: rrycharski345 at sign optonline.net
Course Setter: Bob Burg, Assistant Bob Rycharski
Registrar: Guy Olsen (HVOregistrar@gmail.com)
Helpers needed!
The Event Director would appreciate any volunteers. You will still be able to run your course. Please contact Bob via email.
Further details about the event
Event Day Logistics
Special Covid 19 Policies:
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Participants must wear face coverings at all times, except while on their course.
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In order to promote social distancing, every registrant must choose a 15-minute arrival window during registration; available times are between 10am and 1pm, with each window limited to 10-12 total persons; the earlier times tend to fill up first.
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Water will not be provided on the courses or at the event center (start, finish, ...); please bring your own.
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Map distribution and e-punch rentals will be conducted with minimal contact.
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Please avoid touching the e-punch control units with your hands; just insert the card tip, wait for the beep/flash, and then go.
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Beginner instruction sessions will be available, at 10:30am, 11:00 am and 11:30am; each session is limited to 8-10 persons, and you must choose one during pre-registration; like arrival windows, earlier sessions tend to fill up first.
Restrooms: Currently regular restrooms (M/F) are open, as well as two porta potties available.
Electronic punching:
All individuals and groups must use an electronic punch (“E-punch”) card on their course.
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E-punch Rental: FREE, but we still require a cash deposit or collateral (typically car key, driver license, credit card). One deposit can cover multiple rentals
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Compass Rental: FREE, plus deposit
Detailed Cost Schedule
Fees for groups will be calculated when the 1st group member / group leader registers.
Member rates (HVO and reciprocal clubs)
Individual Adult: $7
Individual Junior (age 20 and under): $5
Group of 2 (regardless of ages): $10
each additional person (regardless of ages): $2
Non-Member rates
Individual Adult/Junior: $15/$10
Group of 2 (regardless of ages): $20
each additional person (regardless of ages): $2
About the map
The Tatum map has a 1:10,000 scale, and 3-meter contour intervals. The map has been field checked and revised in 2020.
About the terrain
The park has extensive dirt roads and a very good foot trail system traveling the rolling hills. There is a system of Old farm fields, now fallow but mainly mowed (rough open mostly). The forest is an oak and maple forest with the addition of the occasional Holly stands (and with much secondary undergrowth). Extensive slow run and slow walk areas have been mapped (gaiters recommended). There is a large primary swamp where the brave and the wild deer live (I say orienteers should stay out). That said, there will be a great deal of terrain to cover with root stocks, re-entrants and old ruins to find, among other obscure park oddities. This Tatum forest will test your meddle, all Welcome to try to explore and hike this nice forest park. Further Course setter notes will be available later.
How to get there
Garden State Parkway to Exit 114. Southbound, turn left onto Red Hill Road.; northbound, turn right onto Red Hill Road. Follow Red Hill Road thru light and name changes to Van Schoick Road. Follow Van Schoick Rd. to Holland Rd., turn right. Follow to Park on right.
Google Maps – Use “Tatum Park, Holland Activity Center” as destination, or click on the map or link above, in the left column…
What is ORIENTEERING?
Orienteering is a fun sport which is something like a race with a treasure map. During a run or hike in our beautiful park, participants find checkpoints with the help of a map and a compass. Since you use map-reading and compass skills, it is a race that requires using your head to find your way…cunning running! Find all the checkpoints in numerical order the quickest for the win! Or just enjoy the time in this gem of a park.
The beginner course is ~1mile and may take about an hour to finish.
Beginner instruction available (but you must register in advance)