This past weekend, my troop and I went to an event that we have been going to for the past decade or so. Every year, the Delaware Valley Orienteering Association holds a special orienteering event designed especially for Scouts of all types. The event is (usually) held at Washington’s Crossing Historic Park, just north of Trenton.

    Starting at around 10am in the morning, folks can try their luck at one of four or five different orienteering courses. For the beginners to orienteering (that is, finding your way from point to point on a map), the white course might be the thing for you. For adults or Scouts who really know their stuff, the Orange course (or Adult Advanced) is a challenge! Times are recorded, and the top three for each course receive a medal, but the fun is really just in running the course.

    This year, the DVOA tournament was on Halloween, but that didn't stop it from having a large turnout. Event though it might seem like rain would dampen the mood, the light drizzle all day was refreshing and the mud it created in the woods wasn’t all that bad anyways. Our whole troop ran the Orange course, and even though one of our groups spent more that two hours lost in the woods, we all had a good time.

    The DVOA is fun for anyone, whether you’re going with your family or with your troop. You can get away for the weekend, find some control points scattered throughout the woods, and actually meet some very interesting people.