Meet the WGA #6: WGA Picnics Traditional Geocache
Meet the WGA #6: WGA Picnics
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You are looking for a cache that is the size of a film container (or larger) that commemorates one of Wisconsin’s most popular geocaching events: the annual WGA Geo-Picnic. It is located in or near the picnic shelter, so please do not look for this cache if the shelter is in use by others. Bring your own pen. It is not on the roof, and it is not necessary to unscrew, pry, or disassemble anything to find the cache, although certain TOTT may make it easier to retrieve.
The Wisconsin Geocaching Association (WGA) is a group of fun-loving, outdoor-minded people dedicated to promoting geocaching within the state of Wisconsin. The WGA organizes geocaching events that draw hundreds of geocachers from all over Wisconsin, works with land owners/managers on geocaching policies, educates organizations and the public at large about geocaching, and facilitates communication between WGA members via their website, events, and newsletters. Of the many events that the organization sponsors, one of their most popular is their annual fall WGA Geo-Picnic.
Each year the WGA geo-picnic moves to a different part of the state and is typically attended by 100 or more geocachers. There are many geocaching opportunities at the event, with sometimes as many as two or three dozen caches hidden in the park. However the picnic is more than a chance to race around after numbers and keeping busy. From first-time cachers to old hands at the game, people come for the fun, for the chance to be in the outdoors, for some good eating and good times, and for being with so many others who share the love of geocaching.
The first organized geocaching event in Wisconsin (predating the WGA) was the “SE Wisconsin Geocachers Picnic and Hunt” (GC1323) held August 26, 2001 at the Pike Lake Unit of SE Wisconsin’s Kettle Moraine State Forest. Over 43 people attended that event, coming from many parts of the state. Shortly afterward the name “Wisconsin Geocaching Association” was chosen, which was more representative of the entire state. During the planning for events in 2002, the WGA web site was established as a resource for Wisconsin geocachers, and the first official WGA picnic was held at Lapham Peak Park in the Kettle Moraine State Forest – the WGA Geo-Picnic 2002 (GC6B1F). Forty two teams consisting of 98 geocachers attended the picnic, and prize tickets were given to each finder for each of the 18 temporary geocaches placed throughout the park, with the tickets then entered into a drawing for some great prizes.
Here is a list of all of the annual Geo-Picnics to date, and a bit of random info about them:
• 2001 Pike Lake at Kettle Moraine State Forest, the first-ever Wisconsin geocaching event, actually predating the WGA but leading to the founding of it
• 2002 (2nd) Lapham Peak/Kettle Moraine State Forest, 42 teams consisting of 98 cachers, 524 “found it” logs includes 18 temporary caches
• 2003 (3rd) Devil’s Lake State Park, 558 “found it” logs on the temporary caches
• 2004 (4th) Mackenzie Environmental Education Center, 6 existing multis and 25 temporary caches, 1,641 “found it” logs on the temporary caches
• 2005 (5th) Greenbush trails, Kettle Moraine State Forest, 1,316 “found it” logs on the 37 caches
• 2006 (6th) Kettle Moraine State Forest Southern Unit, 861 logs on the 40+ temporary caches, plus permanent caches
• 2007 (7th) Wildcat Mountain State Park, 887 logs on 44 temporary caches, at least 8 permanent caches
• 2008 (8th) Lapham Peak/Kettle Moraine State Forest, 1st picnic where temporary caches are not logged, 40+ temporary and 12 permanent caches, 68 attended logs representing 131 cachers
• 2009 (9th) Lake Wissota State Park, 76 attended logs, 36 temporary and 32 permanent caches
• 2010 (10th) Roche-a-Cri State Park, 83 attended logs, 22 permanent caches, 1st time without temporary caches, 1st whereigo cache, pre-event CITO
• 2011 (11th) Brunet Island State Park, 78 attended logs representing about 140 cachers, 21+ caches, kayaking to a T5 island cache, 1st photo contest
• 2012 (12th) Pike Lake/Kettle Moraine State Forest, 117 attended logs, 1st picnic-to-picnic WGA travel bug race, 1st creative cache contest
• 2013 (13th) Governor Thompson State Park, 53 attended logs, 2nd TB race, pontoon ride to island caches, hatching of many baby snapping turtles
• 2014 (14th) Lapham Peak/Kettle Moraine State Forest (Delafield, WI), 89 attended logs representing well over 100 cachers, 1st FTF Dash, 1st Blackjack run
• 2015 (15th) Pattison State Park (Superior, WI), Wisconsin's highest waterfall, 21 new caches plus existing caches for the 70 in attendance, 1st WGA Medallion Hunt
• 2016 (16th) Black River State Forest (Black River Falls, WI), 15 new caches plus existing caches, 50 teams/65 people, geo-poker run (for adults) and geo-go fish (for 16 & under), TB race, creative cache contest, wet trails 2 days after near-record rains & floods
• 2017 (17th) Whitefish Dunes State Park (Door County)
• 2018 (18th) Devils Lake State Park (Sauk County), WI's largest state park
• 2019 (19th) Rib Lake, scheduled for Sept 21, 2019 (Lakeview Park, Taylor County)
In addition to geocaching, some of the many other activities possibly to be at the event include:
• Creative cache contest
• TB/Geocoin exchange
• GeoGolf contest (pick coordinates in the park, the 3 closest to the secret “pin” win)
• Log Roll contest (a geocache log, not a wooden log)
• Pin the flag on the waypoint game
• Geocacher social bingo and prizes
• Attendance raffle
• Group picture followed by brief WGA meeting
• Picnic-to-Picnic WGA travel bug race sendoff
• Geocoin/t-shirt/sweatshirt pickup or purchase
• Children’s activities including arts & crafts, under 12 kids cache
• Nature scavenger hunt
MEMBERSHIP
It’s easy to join the WGA, and membership is free. Just register on their website at http://www.wi-geocaching.com. The WGA website is one of the best resources for geocachers in Wisconsin. It is a great place to find and share information on any aspect of geocaching. Come share, download resources, ask questions or just socialize in their online forums! Also, if you would like to volunteer to help with an activity or upcoming event, you’re very invited to do so!
TRAIL MAP
Geocaching.com does not show the park trails on their maps. To view a map of the caches with the Wirth Park trails click here.
For us personally, we have benefited from joining and participating in the WGA. It’s expanded our awareness of so many more aspects of the game of geocaching and has connected us to so many fun people!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
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