MnGCA Spring Event!
Join us this year at Jay Cooke State Park (780 Highway 210 Carlton, MN), which is celebrating it's 100th anniversary! We will have games. great burgers, caches to find in and around the park, socializing, and lots of fun! Please post your "will attend" early. Oldenburg Point will be our base camp. Please watch the page for updates as we finalize plans to make this an awesome spring event!
Who: This event is open to the public. You do NOT have to be a member of the MnGCA to attend this event. Veteran geocachers, newer geocachers and people who just want to learn what geocaching is about are all welcome. Geocaching is a family oriented activity and so is this event. Bring the kids!
What: A social event with lunch and geocaching activities. We will have prizes, games, caching, contests, kids caches, and more!
When: Saturday, May 16, 2015
9:30am - 3:00pm
Cost: If you do not have a current MN State Park sticker, you can purchase one at the park, either an annual or a daily.
Why: Because it's just plain fun! This is a great chance to "cache" up with friends old and new!
Lunch: The MnGCA will provide burgers free of charge, but would appreciate if folks are willing to bring a potluck food offering to share. See more below!
9:30 - 11:30 am: Games, socializing, kids caches
10 am Creative cache entries must be in for voting
11:30-12:30 pm: lunch
12:30 pm: MnGCA meeting, followed by prizes and group photo
Potluck
MnGCA will be providing Hamburgers (courtesy of ButcherAndSwimmer). We would ask that you all bring something to share with the group. Please use the following to determine what you should bring based on your geocaching name.
Limited electrical plugins are available prior to lunch to keep food hot.
If your caching name starts with:
Bring this
0-9 or A-F Salad or a Side dish
G-M Chips or Snacks
N-R Beverages
S-Z Dessert
If you have a signature item, please feel free to bring that; we just ask that to you mention it on your 'will attend' log.
Games and Activities
Creative Cache Container Contest
Back by popular demand, camo a container and submit it to win a prize! The cache needs to be constructed in such a way that it could actually be placed as a cache in the wild. It must be able to stand up to the elements without falling apart or leaking. You must include a log book, and the cache name should be written on it. When you check in and enter your cache, you will be assigned a number; this number will be written on the first page of the log. One voting slip will be handed to each person on check in. There will be three blanks so you can vote for one cache out of each of the three categories (Best Camouflage, Best Craftsmanship, and Most Creative). When you vote, use the number on the first page of the log to indicate which cache you are voting for. You can vote until 12 pm; the votes will be tallied at that time. Prizes will be awarded during the "Awards and Door Prizes" time.
Turkey Shoot
How accurate can you get. Get your flag and punch in the coordinates and mark where you think ground zero is. Prize will be awarded for the closest flag. Flags must be placed by 11 am
Cache Fact Race 10:30 am
Line up at 10:30 to see which cacher can get to the prize first...no matter how long you have been caching, everyone has a chance at winning
Kid-Friendly Caches
Kids, under the age of 15, will have the opportunity to look for their own caches at the event. Please come get your logbook at the table near registration. Bring it to each cache and color the square on your logbook from the marker in the cache. Bring your completed logbook back to the table to receive your goodie bag. Caches will be put out by 9:30 am to be found. Below are the coordinates for each cache so you can load them ahead of time and be ready to go!
open trail 46 39.392 092 21.105
fortress potty 46 39.335 092 21.163
stumped 46 39.343 092 21.102
closed trail 46 39.317 092 21.049
big rock 46 39.238 092 21.120
Kids Snipe Hunt:
Hey kids, do you want to find a snipe? We are going on a snipe hunt right before lunch. At 11 am, come up to the kids table to get the coordinates. But the coordinates won't bring you to the snipe. That would be too easy! We are going to give you coordinates to where you should be so that you can hear the snipe. The longer it takes you to find the snipe, the louder the snipe gets. If you are the first one to find him, please bring him back to the table for your prize. Then, that sneaky little snipe might just run off to hide again, so stick around for more coordinates! Your parents can help you set up the gps, but they cannot help you find the snipe.
Creative Log writing:
Every cacher eventually gets uncreative when writing logs. So, let's try as a group to write a very funny, creative log together (as a single cacher) for a fictional cache called ???? (looks like we need a name too!). Find the log sheet near the registration table and add one line to the log. Check back throughout the morning to see what happens to this cacher while pursuing the smiley. The entire log entry will be posted on the event page following the event.
Introduction to Geocaching
What is geocaching all about? What do those sizes mean? What's a 3.5 terrain? How do I program my GPSr? If you are new to geocaching and have a lot of questions, we'll have someone on hand to answer them for you!
Be sure to mark your calendar now! Hope to see you there!