Orienteering at EP Tom Sawyer State Park

Do you often find yourself lost? Wish you had a better sense of direction? Practice reading a map and blazing your own trail on a simple, controlled course that'll teach us how to get unlost!

We'll visit and practice in our navigational skills on the permanent Orienteering course at E.P. Tom Sawyer State Park outside Louisville, KY.

Plan to meet at Lowe's at 8:00 AM (CDT). We'll carpool to the park where we'll spend the day. Orienteering begins by 10:00a (CDT). Bring a picnic lunch. We'll wrap up around 2:00pm.

Can we find our way?

Plan to meet at East Side Lowe's at 8:00 AM (CST). We'll carpool to the park where we'll spend the day. Orienteering begins by 10:00a (CST). Bring a picnic lunch. We'll wrap up around 3:00pm.

WHERE/WHEN TO MEET:

ALL TIMES LISTED IN CENTRAL STANDARD (CST):

• 8:00a - Meet at Lowe's to carpool
• 10:00a - Arrive at the State Park
• 10:10a - Discuss routes and begin orienteering
• 12:00p - Lunch at Picnic area
• 2:00p - Finish course
• 4:00p - Arrive in Evansville

WHO SHOULD JOIN:

• Adventurers who don't mind getting a little bit lost.
• People who like to blaze their own trail.
• People who hate modern technology and want to pretend it's pre-1990 again.
• Cartographers (map-lovers)
• Competitive people. (Remember, this IS a sport, and sometimes a race!)

WHAT YOU SHOULD BRING:

• a compass (REQUIRED)
• a printed map (REQUIRED -- see links below)
• durable trail shoes (expect some mud off-trail)
• water (for drinking) and snacks
• picnic lunch (in a cooler in the car)
• sunscreen and bug spray
• walking stick or hiking poles (optional)

WHAT TO CONSIDER LEAVING BEHIND:

• your cell phone
• your GPS (that would be cheating!)

OTHER THINGS TO NOTE:

• Terrain is mild, mostly flat.
• Much of the course can be completed on existing trails.
• There are some grassy, wooded, and marshy areas without a trail.
• Compass Course is approx. 2.5 miles.
• There are restrooms in the park.

COST:

• None

GROUND RULES:

• No children
• Dogs permitted on a six-foot leash only.

MAPS / INFORMATION:

• Carpool Location: Lowe's on Oak Grove Rd
• Meeting Location at Tom Sawyer SP: in front of the Activities Building
• Control Point Map (KY Parks) (this is best printed in full color!): 
• Park Website: EP Tom Sawyer SP