We return to Bedwell Bayfront Park in Menlo Park, but in the winter this time instead if in the summer. Bedwell Bayfront is a fairly small, open, flattish park near the western end of the Dumbarton Bridge — easy to get to, with fun orienteering and great views.
This park is a great place to try orienteering for those new to the sport — beginners new to orienteering are encouraged to attend. There will be a course intended for beginners, with easier navigation to give an introduction to the sport. (Beginners are welcome to try a more challenging second course.)
Beginners
Beginner clinics will be available to introduce orienteering. They are short, repeating sessions that explain orienteering maps and the process for completing a course. Of course, it's up to the participants to be able to read their map and navigate to the controls on their course. That should not be too difficult at this feature-rich venue.
"Advanced" Beginners
If you are in the early stages of learning orienteering, Bedwell Bayfront Park is a great venue to try a more-advanced course. The park is very open, so features are easy to see, and it's confined to a small area, so you cannot get far from the event center. However, to artificially make navigation harder, the maps for the Intermediate/Advanced course will have "special twists" (e.g., trails and roads could be omitted). Thus, that course will give you a chance to practice more-advanced skills such as following a bearing, using attack points, and reading contour lines and vegetation features.
2026 BAOC Youth Program Kick-Off
We will be having the kick-off of the 2026 BAOC Youth Program at this event. The Youth Program is free (except for the normal, junior course fees), and is open to all juniors (age 20 and under).