McDonald Park Five-O Anniversary

This will be a Barebones style event, meaning the approach will be casual in order to minimize the amount of volunteer capacity required, while still providing an enjoyable event for orienteers.

The Schedule:

10:00 Registration Opens

10:15 Beginner Clinic (if required)

10:45 Safety Brief

11:00 am (Staggered Start);

13:00 pm Foot O Time Limit

Start will be nearby the registration table.

The Venue:

McDonald Sports Park is situated on 130 acres of land dedicated to wooded and lakeside trails, a baseball feild, beach volley ball court, & more!

McDonald Sports Park | Waverley NS

Hey Look! In Addition to our race, McDonald Sports Park is celebrating it's 50th anniversary with a big Five-O Activity Challenge! On the 26^th, if you walk, run, bike, paddle, or swim for a total of 50 minutes in the park or in Lake Thomas and register by sending your name and what activity you’ll be doing to info@mcdonaldsportspark.com you can receive a certificate of accomplishment on the Big Day.

Or go even bigger and run the O-event, then finish of your day with 50k on foot, bike, or in the water!

Courses:

Point to Point

To complete any of the courses participants must visit a series of control points in the order shown on the map provided. Maps will be provided at the start which will be staggered to space competitors and limit following.

Distances given below are an estimate only and will vary due to the nature of the event.

Beginner participants will typically follow marked and easy to follow trails to controls on trail for the easiest navigation and shortest distance to cover. Basic map following required. The beginner map will be limited in size to encourage success. 2km.

A beginner’s clinic may be offered. Let us know in advance at the email below if you are interested, and we can provide some form of instruction, if not a formal clinic. Please check-in at 10am if you require instruction.

Intermediate participants, will exercise route choice along trails while also using map features and basic compass skills to find controls located that are possibly off trails with typically clear features to ease navigation. 3km.

Advanced participants will tackle the entire map and should expect to be on trail and off, following longer route choices through more difficult terrain; good navigation skills required. 6km.

VOLUNTEERS would be appreciated for a few tasks associated with the event (e.g. Beginner clinic, registration, control pickup). Please see here to sign up.

Registration:

Prior to participating in an event, all participants must have completed the one time Orienteering NS registration form and the Orienteering Canada waiver as part of registration process.

REGISTRATION LINK will open on this site by end of day 22 Jul (Tues)

Once membership and waiver are completed, register for courses by completing the process at the registration site.

Please ensure you register via this link by midnight THURSDAY, Jul 24, 2025 to ensure a map is printed for you. On-site check-in will take place on site from 10:00 to 10:45 am.

Last minute registration: This can be done on site, but we typically only have a few extra maps; because we didn’t know you were coming. Also, pre-registration allows the on-site details to move more quickly.

Need Orienteering Kit before the event? Visit the O-Store!

Extracurricular attractions:

Old Creel Canoe & Kayak

HOME | turtleback (theturtleback.ca)

…and don’t forget to visit the The Vegetorium just down the Waverley Road for post-race treats like ice cream, strawberries and cookies!

Questions: (some may be answered below)

To Paul at nsorienteering@gmail.com

Entry Fees:

The following are the fees for this event* (pre-registered), add $5 for day-of registrations:

$10 per adult (21+) participating as an individual

$5 per youth (7-20) participating as an individual

$7 per group/team member if participating as part of a team

Children under 7 participate free

*If you are registering four or more family/household members at the same time (including at least one adult), please use the discount code FAMILY_2025 at checkout to receive a discount.

How to Pay:

In advance (preferred):

• By credit card as part of the registration process
• Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) to the following email: nsorienteering@gmail.com
  • If you choose this method, complete the online registration process. At checkout, please enter the following coupon code: PAY_EFT_2025 so that you appear on our registration list.

In person:

• In cash; a payment container will be available. Please bring correct change.
  • If you choose this method, complete the online registration process. At checkout, please enter the following coupon code: PAY_CASH_2025 so that you appear on our registration list.

Note: all of the above is restated in the registration process.

Snacks: A small post race treat will be available, but participants should bring their own water if needed.

Parking:

Parking will be in the park at the location shown below.

Washrooms:

There are public washroom facilities on site.

Weather:

We run rain, snow or shine. Local thunder will typically be accommodated by a short delay. That said any weather involving a Hurricane or Tropical Storm coming straight over will result in a reschedule.

Directions:

Event is in McDonald Sports Park, Waverley NS. Registration and Start Finish will be at or near the the location shown in the map below.

Location