Behind the scenes with a geocaching reviewer: Antheia
Three years into playing the game, UK geocacher Yvonne Mundy (aka mundy family) was asked to become a geocaching Community Volunteer.
Community Volunteers are a group of over 400 dedicated geocachers who give their time and talent to support the worldwide geocaching community. Did joining the UK Reviewer team change the way she played the game? We chatted with Yvonne—Reviewer alias Antheia—about why she loves geocaching, what it’s like to be a Reviewer, and playing squash.
Tell us about how you first started geocaching, and what you like about it.
“I read a small article about Geocaching in October 2005 in a local magazine. Being an adventurous, outdoor person, that weekend as a family we decided to give it a go using our car sat nav. We were triumphant in finding our first cache, and were hooked. I love that it takes me to new places, and find out about them, its sociable (I’ve made some very good friends through geocaching) and its an excellent excuse to go out for a walk.”
What do you enjoy about being a reviewer?
“I was very stunned to have been asked to be a reviewer and its great to give something back to the game that I am so passionate about. I get a real buzz when a newbie gets it right first time – it doesn’t happen often – when a cache comes together through positive communications between owner and reviewer, and the support I get from the UK review team. They are like extended family and we ‘speak’ most days on line.”
How can someone best set up their cache listing in order to have it published quickly?
“After reading the guidelines and taking accurate coords the cache listing needs to make sure it fits within those guidelines, with any extra information added as a note to the reviewer, such as where the hide is, any permission details, how to solve a puzzle etc. The more information you can give us the better. On publication the note to the reviewer is archived so you won’t be giving anything away.”
What’s one thing you wish all geocachers knew or did before submitting a cache for review?
“Obviously read the guidelines , and also for the UK cachers the UK wiki which gives details of local guidelines.”
What’s your favorite type of cache to search for?
“One I can find is a very good start! But give me a wow what a great place, a circular walk in the country side with good sized boxes, something imaginative and well maintained caches and I’ll be happy.”
Aside from geocaching, what other hobbies do you have?
“My other 2 passions are Girlguiding and playing squash. I’ve been involved in Guiding since I was a brownie and I have now been Brown Owl and a Rainbow leader for over 20 years. I have also held Island positions as outdoor activities adviser, Special needs adviser and am currenlty PR and Media adviser. I’m also becoming a trainer for Girlguiding UK and the first training I was asked to do was on geocaching!
I played squash as a teenager but stopped playing in my early 20’s due to a shoulder injury, then 3 years ago I saw an advert for a Sunday morning ladies only squash and decided to get back on court. Enjoying it again, I now have 2 training sessions a week, play in an individual mixed league (going up 3 divisions in the last year), a mixed team league (we came second last cycle) and have also taken to playing racketball. In 2013 I was Jersey ladies over 40’s champion, and I competed in my first double tournament last year which was great fun. I am currently setting up a new squash club at Fort Regent where I play.”
How would you describe geocaching in the UK (as compared to other places in the world)?
“In the UK there is a vast diversity of caches, with something to suit everyone. We have large landowners across the UK that fully support caches on their land as long as they comply with the guidelines so as reviewers we do try to ensure that those guidelines are adhered to. There is also land in the UK that has legal protection so again the guidelines must be followed.
Throughout the UK is a big series called Church Micro Series – though they don’t have to be micros! This leads you to find caches at some very interesting and pretty churches that are often steeped in history with amazing architecture detail. Currently there are 7732 published. http://www.15ddv.me.uk/geo/cm/
Another series that has taken off in the UK and now growing in other countries is the Sidetracked Series. This takes you to caches placed near railways, which again has a great history and interesting facts about them. Many are placed where railway stations or tracks used to be which if it wasn’t for caching you maybe wouldn’t have known existed. There are currently 2219 published with 1986 in the UK. Other countries that it has expanded to are Ireland, Germany, Russia, USA and Lithuania. In the UK a cache cannot be placed on Railway property without specific permission.” http://sidetrackedseries.info
Finally, if you could go geocaching anywhere in the world (or find any geocache in the world), where would you go?
“It would have to be USA as I would love to go to HQ and find the cache there, and to see the hub of geocaching. Also to find “HG-35 Antheia (Reviewer UK)” GC479T5 in the Mojarve Desert, California, which makes up a piece of geo-art.”
Yvonne/Antheia/mundy family lives in Jersey, one of the Channel Islands off the coast of France. Don’t be surprised if you see her username on geocache logbooks in the area!
If you’re lucky enough to meet her in person, thank her for the work she does to keep the game we all love going.
