July 12, 2025 by Bob Forgrave
Ever wonder how we’re able to put on 30+ orienteering events per year, of different types, across all seasons, for thousands of participants without any paid employees? It’s thanks to a HUGE number of volunteers—both in the one-day roles of helping to run each event function and in the larger roles behind the scenes that make entire seasons happen.
And right now… We’re short of leadership volunteers in two critical roles:
1. Equipment Coordinator. This is the person who makes sure that our equipment in our locker in Kenmore is ready for the next series. Everything from tent canopies to first aid. Does anything need fixing, replacement, or restocking.
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- Our prior Equipment Coordinators have moved on to other substantial volunteer roles, so we have an urgent gap that needs filling ASAP.
- Even if you’re not ready to make a role commitment, now while the weather is good is an excellent time for someone to announce and lead a one afternoon tent-cleaning/fixing party opportunity to get us all set for the equipment-heavy Winter League season. Otherwise, we’re not ready!
2. Series Director. All our series—Winter League, Ultimate Orienteer, Weds Evening, Choose Your Adventure, and (recently) Winter Wednesdays—already have directors leading them. So why are we looking for new series directors? Because these are all great sets of events that deserve sustainability over time, and that means succession planning.
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- That also makes now the best time to get involved in series directing, when there’s still someone else in charge to shadow to make the learning curve so much easier.
- A series director decides where to have meets and works with the rest of the amazing team members—land permissions, mapping, course design, e-punch—to pull it all together. What series would you like to see continue and grow?
Interested? Contact me at bob.forgrave@flatbike.com.
Bob Forgrave
President, Cascade Orienteering
July 7, 2025 by Ing Uhlin
The fourth event in the 2024 Wednesday Evening Series will be held at Meadowbrook Park on Wednesday July 9. This is a new map and courses by Mack Malloch.
The Wednesday Evening Series is our most relaxed and casual series of events, held in local parks around Puget Sound. We typically offer a barbeque afterward for all participants.
Events in the Wednesday Evening Series are generally less challenging (both physically and navigationally) than many of our other events, and are great for beginners and those less experienced with orienteering – while also offering a challenge to longtime participants of the sport.
Pre-registration is here and it will close Tuesday night at 9:00 PM. We will be offering day-of event registration in addition to pre-registration. There will be no start time pre-signup.
We will also have COC control description holders for $5 each.
July 1, 2025 by Michelle Kastner
JWOC 2025 competition in underway in Trentino, Italy. Cascade OC is proud to have 5 members competing this year. We are cheering from afar for Greta Leonard, Danny Buchholz, Ben Cooper, Ben Conley, and Zariah Zosel. Go Team USA! Go Cascade Juniors! You can follow along here: JWOC2025 – Junior World Orienteering Championships
June 23, 2025 by Ing Uhlin
The third event in the 2024 Wednesday Evening Series will be held at North Seattle College on Wednesday June 25! This is an interesting and intriguing venue that is sometimes complexing.
Pre-registration is here.
The Wednesday Evening Series is our most relaxed, casual set of navigation events, held in local parks once the weather (hopefully) warms up. These events are a little more low-key than those in the Winter League, and we typically offer a barbeque afterward for all participants.
Events in the Wednesday Evening Series are generally less challenging (both physically and navigationally) than many of our other events, and are therefore great for beginners and those less experienced with orienteering – while also offering a challenge to longtime participants of the sport.
We will be offering day-of event registration in addition to preregistration. There will be no start time pre-signup.
We will also have COC control description holders for $5 each.
June 15, 2025 by Debbie Newell
Disappointed that Ultimates 5 and 6 were cancelled? We are too! But there are two more Ultimate events coming up this weekend!
The final two events in the Ultimate Series comprise the Marmot O’ Cup (the third annual in case you’re counting).
- Saturday, June 21 – Moses Lake Sand Dunes, Marmot Cup Day 1. After several years’ hiatus, we return to the rolling terrain of Moses Lake for a Middle Distance event, with courses designed by Peter Golde.
- Sunday, June 22 – Fishtrap Lake, Marmot Cup Day 2. We wrap up this year’s Ultimate Series with a Long Distance event at perennial favorite Fishtrap Lake. Join us in the scablands! Courses designed by Vicki Morrella.
Awards
- Marmot O’ Cup – two-day total-time competition, with the winner in each class taking home a coveted Marmot O’ Cup coaster
- Ultimate Orienteer Series – your best FOUR scores (total number reduced from five because of the two cancelled events) determine your placing in the Ultimate Series. Awards to the top three in each class.
Registration is open now for both events. Hope to see you there!
June 12, 2025 by Ing Uhlin
We have just been informed by the DNR that they have revoked our permit for the weekend’s events in Teanaway due to the manhunt. We will cancel the events with a full refund to those registered. We are truly sorry about this turn of events but it is beyond our control.
June 4, 2025 by Ing Uhlin
We have several events coming up in the next two weeks so plan accordingly because you don’t want to miss out. The first event is Wednesday Evening at Bellevue College on June 11. Then follows the 1st Ultimate Doubleheader weekend at Teanaway June 14 and 15 at Jack Creek and Dickey Creek. Bring Dad and celebrate Father’s Day with orienteering and free camping! The 2nd Ultimate Doubleheader weekend in Eastern Washington, Moses Lake on June 21 and Fishtrap Lake on June 22. Check the event pages at https://cascadeoc.org/events/ .
P.S. We have control description holders for sale, $5 each.
May 27, 2025 by Michelle Kastner
Need a new control description holder? COC has some available at cost. Pick one up at the next Ultimate event.
May 16, 2025 by Ing Uhlin
The first event in the 2025 Wednesday Evening Series will be held at Wilburton Hill Park on May 21! The Wednesday Evening Series is our most relaxed, casual set of navigation events, held in local parks once the weather (hopefully) warms up. These events are a little more low-key than those in the Winter League, and we typically offer a barbeque afterward for all participants.
Events in the Wednesday Evening Series are generally less challenging (both physically and navigationally) than many of our other events, and are therefore great for beginners and those less experienced with orienteering – while also offering a challenge to longtime participants of the sport. There will be four courses, from 1 to 5 km.
Preregistration HERE will help us with ordering enough maps. We will also be offering day-of event registration in addition to preregistration. There will be no start time pre-signup. More info and directions on the event page.
May 13, 2025 by Ing Uhlin
Come out to Teanaway this Saturday for a navigation race hosted by Mergeo’s Northwest Nav Races in the open pine forests of the Teanaway Valley, near Cle Elum, WA! Beautiful terrain, an accurate orienteering map, free idyllic riverside camping minutes away, wildflowers, and typically beautiful weather will make this a weekend to remember, something for everyone. There are 2, 4, and 8-hour options. A beginner’s clinic will be offered before the race start. Online pre-registration closes Thursday, May 15 at 11:59pm. Day-of-event registration is available. For more info and registration, see the event page (https://navraces.com/events/teanaway/).
