The Delaware Valley Orienteering Association (DVOA) is a non-profit organization founded in 1967 and is the oldest civilian orienteering club in the United States. In 1991, DVOA became the largest of the over 70 clubs affiliated with the United States Orienteering Federation (USOF). DVOA currently has approximately 700 members. DVOA’s primary goals are to promote orienteering through educational programs and provide a variety of quality orienteering experiences for people in eastern Pennsylvania, Northern Delaware, Northern Maryland and central and Southern New Jersey. DVOA holds approximately 45 orienteering events a year at various local, state, national parks, and environmental centers in the area. These events are open to the public and DVOA always provides instruction for beginners. In addition, DVOA Educational Services volunteers teach over 40 introductory programs a year for various organizations including Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, school groups from the elementary level through adult continuing education programs, and corporations. For further information contact DVOA:
DVOA
14 Lake Drive
Spring City, PA 19475-2721
Hotline: 610-792-0502
Events
Registration for DVOA events is from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm, unless otherwise noted. The last start time is 1:00 pm. The courses close and controls are picked up at 3:30 pm during EST, and 4:00 pm during EDT.
Cost is $12.00/map for non-members (a group can use one map) and $7.00/map for DVOA members, Juniors (Under 21), and for members of other USOF or IOF clubs. When electronic punching is being used at an event, all competitors on a course using electronic punching are required to use an “e-punch”. These can be borrowed at the event (included in registration fee). A compass can also be borrowed to use during the event.
There is usually a variety of courses for participants of all skill levels, ranging in difficulty from a “White” course for a complete novice to a “Red” or “Blue” course for an advanced orienteer. Courses are pre-printed on the map. Occasionally there will be a String-O course for children, and sometimes special orienteering courses such as Trail-O, Score-O, and Canoe-O may be offered.
Club Leadership