equipment for maze courses, advice please

[ifititches]

COBOC are thinking of putting together a "maze pack" of netting, posts, tape etc to take around parks/events as part of a promotional activity. We've seen on Facebook that lots of other clubs have done this, and understand that some have applied for small grants to fund putting a pack together. We're looking at having a maze surrounded overall by plastic mesh fencing, rather than just posts with tape, but are open to suggestions.

What has worked well for your club and what quantities of mesh and poles did you purchase? Did you go for plastic or metal poles? How expensive was it and how long does it take to put up the maze? I can see lots of equipment on-line, but it's good to have the voice of experience to guide the purchase!

Also, if you're prepared to share maze patterns, please let me know Thanks

[andypat]

We bought plastic electric fence posts - white ones are cheapest and went for tape rather than mesh, partly for cost, partly for storage (you'll need two large sacks at least for your posts) and partly for ease of erection - give yourself an hour for a decent size maze based on 10x10 grid. (remember you need 11 x 11 posts for that though!)

[paul]

Barrier plastic fences - pre-cut into suitable lengths with a plan of which segments to put in first. Screwfix do 50metre lengths for £25 in various colours. The barrier fences have a much better visual appearance than simple tape links.

Electric fence posts - also useful for finish run-ins etc. The clips on them make it easy to tie on the barrier fences and keep things at the right height.

[Sunlit Forres]

I use a 5x5-post set-up for schools stuff and have used this once for a public demo which seemed to go down OK. I use white posts (as mentioned by others) borrowed from Forres Harriers plus barrier tape which works fine .... as long as you stay relaxed about the occasional bit of cheating (well it's hardly the British Champs is it?)

I don't say this from any experience, but is going OTT with a mega-maze necessary? It might appeal to existing orienteers (it certainly appeals to me) but is this needed for the people we're trying to attract? I've always gone for something quite simple that gets people running with a bit of thinking rather that loads of thinking (and mistakes) and not a lot of running.

Quite happy to be persuaded otherwise as I'm willing to try something grander myself. What sort of comments have people had back from people who have tried these big mazes?

[Rosine]

The stakes that Tay bought for a recent maze event (don't know what they're called - green plastic, metal spike, and multiple attachments for tape - pictures on Facebook) turned out to be very useful for Dunalastair. They were used to attach signs, stake the routes to the starts, set out start lanes, and block wrong turns on the white course.

[Nottinghamshire outlaw]

Here is the link to a set of 5 x 5 maze maps which Helena Burrows brought to a past Coaching Conference and originally designed by her daughter, Heather, I think.
http://www.britishorienteering.org.uk/i ... ourses.pdf

Once you have these as a model it's fairly easy to make a 4 x 4 or 3 x 4 which are a bit quicker to put out and are fine for newcomers who come to my community club. If you want these maps email me via Rushcliffe Orienteers on the NOC web site. I use the fence post and tape method and it works well and gives lots of fun!

[andy]

We've always used wooden canes and tape. Simple but effective, but probably takes a bit longer to put out than the more modern suggestions here.

[Grahame N]

Just typed up what I learnt from doing this for TAY at a recent festival but when I hit "post" it all disappeared. Will try to reply again tomorrow. MelN

[ifititches]

thanks to everyone for the suggestions and maps. Grahame, I've had the time out wipe out all my composition in the past too. If I suspect I'm going to have to give a lot of time/thought to a post I try to type it in Word first and then paste it in, but still forget to do that sometimes
I've got a clearer picture of what to go for now. This isn't to be a stand-alone thing, it was to go in a package of fun beginner activities for parks. Package would maybe not even include a "proper" orienteering course or map.
Two final questions. I've noticed that some courses seem to enclose the whole maze in a netting barrier, can anyone explain the pros and cons of this or is it just a design preference? Also, does anyone use pin-punching rather than electronic? Just thinking that would cut down on complexity of setting up/amount to be transported.
thanks again

[Sloop]

Just an observation ... one crucial consideration when planning your maze is whether you want controls to be punchable from either side or just one side.

Either side is easier to construct (boxes are on top of stakes which are part of the structure) ... and interestingly it simplifies route to the control but makes the really tricky bit be the route to the next one.

One-side-only gives difficulties preventing or policing leaning-over, but more conventional planning trickery in making the route to the control interesting.

I've seen both sorts of mazes and planned a one-side-only. I think I would now go for either-side.