Geocaching Premium Members have another powerful option in mapping their geocaching adventures. They can now access Google Maps on Geocaching.com. Google Maps offer extensive global map coverage, a shaded topographical map layer, and high resolution satellite imagery. Premium Members will be able to access Google Maps on the Geocaching.com advanced map. The current selection of maps, including OpenStreetMap and MapQuest, are still available.
The price of a Premium Membership will remain the same. Learn more about the benefits of Premium Membership, which also include custom searches, sorting search results by Favorite Points, and robust find statistics. Sign up for a Premium Membership for as little as $2.50 per month.
The subject of sustainable geocaching goes under the microscope during the German geocaching event “Gecko 2012.” The Geocaching “Konferenz” (Gecko) offers three days of workshops, lectures, and events on the topic of keeping and expanding, “sustainable geocaching in harmony with the environment, nature, and in harmony with our fellow human beings.” It’s a powerful undertaking in Germany, which has the highest geocache saturation of any country in the world.
Gecko 2012: Sustainable Geocaching
Jan aka Czerkus is part of the organizational team for Gecko-2012. Jan says a majority of geocachers play in harmony with nature. “Geocachers often say that the world is their playing field. If you use nature for your hobby, it should be self-evident to protect your playing field. This is the central slogan of the conference.”
This is one of the first conferences of its kind. Jan says, “All workshops, activities and discussions are focused on environmental education and building bridges between geocachers and their critics. As well, we’ll give geocachers who are environmentally aware a platform to develop networks. At the moment we are learning a lot, because there is no experience or event like this that we can lean on [and learn from].”
The events at the conference don’t just teach people about respecting nature, they embrace the outdoors and geocaching. Some of the sessions of the conference include courses on “T5 tree climbing,” “Observing and protecting animals,” and trips to nearby EarthCaches. Jan says there’s more, “There will be workshops about planning Cache In Trash Out (CITO) Events, discussions with hunters, forest rangers, and environmental activists and nature-guides will lead the geocachers in the woods to show them their play field.”
Location of "Gecko 2012"
Jan says geocachers have a great responsibility to the environment because geocaching is a highly visible activity, “Geocaching is very transparent and leaves geocachers’ marks in the World Wide Web. Everybody can see what we do, where, and how often.”
Along with seeing geocaching, Jan also hopes the greater community sees geocachers’ environmental efforts like Gecko 2012. He says, “We have a very special responsibility” to care for the environment. It’s even more fitting then, that after Gecko 2012, a giant Cache In Trash out (CITO) is planned. Gecko 2012 begins on June 8.
If you dare, this Geocache of the Week takes you underwater and into the midst of thousands of jellyfish. Jellyfish Lake (GC11A56) or “Ongeim’l Tketau” as it is called in the local language of Palauan, is one of approximately 70 marine lakes scattered throughout the southern portion of the main island of Palau.
This difficulty five, terrain five EarthCache was created by SurrenderTheBooty in March of 2007. Since then, this unique and rare lake has been visited and appreciated by geocachers all over the world.
In order the log a smiley on this EarthCache, adventurers must travel to the site and complete two requirements. There’s no container to discover. Instead, geocachers discover the geological forces that created this unique location. They must email SurrenderTheBooty with a picture taken at either the arrival dock or the floating dock on the lake, as well as the GPS elevation readings at sea level, on top of the ridge, and at lake level.
Swimming with Jellyfish
The lake is only accessible by boat and visitors have to climb a ridge to get to the golden jellyfish. The cache page provides a comprehensive overview of Palau’s Jellyfish Lake formation over the course of thousands of years. It also details what visitors can expect when they arrive at Ongeim’l Tketau.
One log reads, “Swimming in the Jellyfish Lake is a fantastic experience! The jellyfish are so fragile, so beautiful, … my English is not good enough to describe my feelings. Large jellyfish have a slow frequency when moving, smaller ones have a higher frequency. Thanks to SurrenderTheBooty for this amazing experience.”
Continue to explore some of the most engaging geocaches around the globe. Check out all the Geocaches of the Week on the Latitude 47 blog or view the Bookmark List on Geocaching.com.
If you’ d like to nominate a Geocache of the Week, send an email with your name, comments, the name of the geocache, and the GC code to pr@groundspeak.com.
Many people recognize April’s Featured Geocacher of the Month for their hospitality and ability to host and organize numerous geocaching gatherings. Congratulations to Milosheart for being named April’s featured Geocacher of the Month!
Lackeys were greatly impressed with the tight number of votes that pushed this power couple to take the lead. Many acknowledged that Milosheart is no stranger when it comes to the success of geocaching in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada.
April Featured Geocachers of the Month, Milosheart
As one geocacher casting a vote put it, “the fun we have had is due to their laid back but encouraging way of introducing people to the sport. They have held social gatherings as well educational events at their house where all are invited and made to feel at home. They have a lot of experience and knowledge to share and an easy way of going about it. They are excellent organizers as shown by the overwhelming success of this year’s contest and banquet. New people are joining the Fredericton club weekly (if not daily) due to their leadership. I guess what I am trying to say is: They are excellent ambassadors of the sport.”
Milosheart will receive a collector’s edition Featured Geocacher of the Month Geocoin, along with a Geocacher of the Month hat and certificate acknowledging their contributions signed by two of the founders of Geocaching.com.
Thank you to the fellow April nominees and all those who supported them. Those nominees not chosen as the featured Geocacher of the Month receive a gift of appreciation from Groundspeak. See a list of all the featured Geocachers of the Month here.
The geocaching community is encouraged to re-nominate those who have yet to be honored as featured Geocacher of the Month.
Every nomination must meet the following requirements: Please include your name, the name of your nominee, their username, at least one picture of the nominee and description (in 500 or fewer words) explaining why he or she deserves to be the Geocacher of the Month. Please inform your nominee that you’ve submitted them for the award. Nominations for the May featured Geocacher of the Month must be received by June 8th.
Once we have received all of the nominations, we will choose the top candidates and post them on the Latitude 47 blog. You will then get a chance to champion your favorite. Our goal is to involve the entire geocaching community in this process so we might learn from each other.
Commencing June 1st, Geocaching.com is adding a new benefit for Mega-Events. A Mega-Event is a geocaching event that brings at least 500 geocachers together at one time. It’s the ultimate geocaching gathering.
At Geocaching.com, we recognize that fundraising is an important part of hosting a Mega-Event and we want to help. We know that some of the best fundraisers involve official Mega-Event trackable Geocoins and trackable t-shirts. Beginning June 1, 2012, Mega-Events sponsored by Geocaching.com will receive free Geocaching.com tracking codes for use on the official Mega-Event merchandise. Sponsored Mega-Events will also receive a free tracking code icon and many other exclusive benefits. Some restrictions apply.
Check out this Help Center article for details and requirements for free Geocaching.com Mega-Event Sponsorship.
