Submitted by Dan Dachelet
(February 12, 2024) — For anyone interested in getting off the beaten path in Haddam, there is a new orienteering course that has been built near Tylerville.
For those unfamiliar with orienteering, it is the sport of navigating through the woods using a map, compass and terrain association. A typical course has multiple checkpoints set up in the woods that someone goes out to find.
In the case of Haddam’s course, there are twelve boxes set up across the approximately two hundred acres The course was also designed to provide the user with a short history lesson on Connecticut’s Medal of Honor recipients.
Each of the boxes, like the one above, is named after a Connecticut recipient of the U.S’s highest award for valor. Once someone locates a box, they use their phone to scan the QR code that is on the sign in the woods. The QR code then takes them to the web site that has the Medal of Honor Citation for each individual. It’s a great reward at the end of each leg of the course.
If you are interested in using the course, go to https://haddamorienteering.wixsite.com/mysite The website is set up to help a user learn more about how the course is set up and tips for a successful outing.
If using a map and compass is too daunting for you, the course is also registered as a geo-caching course. This way, you can skip the map and compass and just use your phone to go from A to B – a great way for a family to easily experience this great preserve. However, if you’re new to orienteering, the website is also set up as a “How To” website, with links on learning the basics of orienteering. There are links to videos as well as plenty of printouts and other resources on learning. Anyone who is interested in trying out the course can do just a box at a time or attempt to do all of the boxes in one day.
The course is located on a few parcels of land that have been made available by the local CT DEEP office as well as Haddam Land Trust, Inc. The Haddam Land Trust section of the course is the Beaver Ledges Preserve, which has a short hike that takes you to the large beaver pond at the center of the property. Please observe all rules when using the land. No vehicles or bikes are allowed on either of the properties.
