FallsQuest takes orienteering to the streets with challenges for families and for adults
Those who want to challenge themselves against others, or families looking for a fun outing with their children, are invited to FallsQuest 2023.
Sunday's event, first run about 10 years ago, involves finding locations in Cuyahoga Falls using a map provided by the Northeastern Ohio Orienteering Club, which is partnering with the Department of Parks and Recreation to stage the event.
Bob Boltz, the club's course designer, said locations include places like parks, towers, fountains, gardens, paths, river, stores, schools and churches.
Not all streets on the map are named, so participants must pay attention to where they have been and where they are going. They then prove they found each location by writing down the answer to a simple trivia question based on what is at each numbered point. They earn points as they go.
"When they get to like circle one, they look on the back of the map and find the question, one might say, is 'What's the date on the cornerstone for this church?'" Boltz explained.
There is a family course confined to the downtown area between the Cuyahoga River and Third Street, and a larger-area course for participants who will be either on foot or on a bicycle. Those on bicycles must be at least 16 years old.
Both events start at the Cuyahoga Falls Downtown Pavilion at 2085 Front St. Preregistration is required online at https://neooc.com/upcoming-events.
The family course, which should take about two hours, includes 24 locations. The larger course contains 68 locations of increasing points value depending on where they are located.
The registration deadline for the family event is 11 p.m. June 22. The course should take around two hours to complete, but there is no requirement to visit all 24 locations. Although the event is free, donations are welcome, as the club pays $2 per individual or family group for insurance. The event starts at 11 a.m., but individuals or groups may begin any time after they receive instructions and maps.
The competitive, "adult" course generally extends from Silver Lake to Northampton Road and has a three-hour time limit for bicyclists and a four-hour time limit for those on foot.
The registration deadline for the adult event is 9 p.m. June 23. The cost is $10 for club members and $15 for the general public. Walk-up starts may register for $20 between 10 and 10:45 a.m., but only a few extra maps will be printed.
Check-in begins at 10 a.m., and maps will be handed out at 10:30 for planning. The event will begin at 11 a.m. with a mass start.
For more information, see the event page, or the club website at neooc.com.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: FallsQuest 2023 by Northeastern Ohio Orienteering Club is Sunday
