Park-O
Our Park-O events are an easy way for juniors and adults to try orienteering. Based in parks around Cambridge, each Park-O takes place on a Saturday afternoon 1pm-3pm once a month during the school year.
What happens at Park-O? Click here to find out
Events in 2022 - 2023
Below are the planned dates for the current school year – pop them in your diary now! For more details and just in case things change, please check this website or our Facebook page closer to the time.
| 17.09.2022 | Milton Country Park |
| 22.10.2022 | Trumpington Meadows & Byron's Pool |
| 12.11.2022 | Priory Park (St Neots) |
| 7.01.2023 | Wandlebury Country Park |
| 4.02.2023 | Coldhams Common |
| 18.03.2023 | Hinchingbrooke Country Park |
| 29.04.2023 | Lammas Land |
| 10.06.2023 | Cherry Hinton Hall |
More about Park-O
It’s a lot of fun! Orienteering is enjoyed by people of all ages and abilities. You can stroll with a pushchair, jog with children or run. You decide, just enjoy the adventure!
Our Park-O orienteering courses vary between about 1 and 3km as the crow flies between each ‘control’ point that you’re looking for. It usually takes between 15 and 90 minutes, depending on which course you’re trying, whether you walk or run and how lost you get… If you enjoy it as much as we do and have time, you could try another straight away!
To ensure there is a map available for you (and make things easier for our hardworking registration team), you should pre-register your entry, but entry on the day is also available subject to the availability of spare maps. Starts are open from 1pm-3pm although courses close at 3.30pm so please book an early start slot if you want to try a longer course.
Juniors can run for their school. We record the school in the results, using a short code. Click here to see a list of codes.
We have large banners at our registration point so you can’t miss us. We look forward to seeing you!
Want to bring a group?
Please let us know in advance if you’d like to bring a group (such as a school or guide/scout group) so that we can make sure we have enough maps for everyone on the day. Send a group entry form to: entries@waoc.org.uk
Already tried and loved a Park-O?
We’d love to see you again at another – they’re different every time! We also run other events which you might like to give a go.
See above for a list of Park-O events in 2022-2023 - pop them in your diary now! For more details and just in case things change, please check this website or our Facebook page closer to the time.
Our Park-O series in 2019-20 was supported by Sport England & the National Lottery.
All competitors take part at their own risk.
Registration and start times
Park-O events are on a Saturday, and run between 1pm and 3pm. Unless otherwise specified for an event, the entry details and available courses are as shown below.
Entry Details
| Children/Students | £3 |
| Adults (21ys+) | £5 |
| Family Groups | £5 |
| Second runs (when available) | £1 |
Course information
We always offer the following 3 courses at each Park-O event:
- Short ~ 1km Very easy (Comparable to a "White" course at a regular O event)
- Medium ~ 2km Easy (Comparable to a "Yellow" course at a regular O event)
- Long ~ 3km Medium
Sometimes we may add an Extra Long course, which would be similar technically to the Long course, but maybe 5km distance.
If you want to know more about how we grade courses as "Easy", "Medium" etc., look for the "Colour Coded Course Standards" section in our beginners' guide.