November Geocacher of the Month Nominees – Add Your Comment
From the cold winter nights in the frigid north to the warm beaches of tropical paradise, the nominees for Geocacher of the Month share (at least) one thing in common: dedication.
Each nominee is being honored for their contributions to the geocaching community. Each will receive worldwide recognition and a prize package from Geocaching HQ in Seattle, but which will be named Geocacher of the Month?
This is your opportunity to help decide who will take home the earned, never for sale, Geocacher of the Month geocoin (at left). Each featured Geocacher of the Month will receive the exclusive special edition Geocoin, a hat and a profile icon. They’ll also receive a certificate acknowledging their contributions, signed by two of the founders of Geocaching.com.
In October, Mic68 was named Geocacher of the Month.
One geocacher who commented wrote, “After visiting (Mic68’s)“Dragonheart” I kept referring to this cache as the best I’ve ever done. By now they have published another one which we have just finished a couple of weeks ago and I have to say that this cache definitely is a milestone in geocaching! Wow! In Germany people are willing to travel quite a bit if the cache is worth it and I see people flocking in. The mixture of storytelling, suspense, technical know-how and fun is hard to beat. Also, this team is immensely nice and helpful! All in all they are very worthy candidates and I would be happy for them to win!”
Now it’s your turn to help us select the next Geocacher of the Month. Write a supportive comment at the bottom of this blog for the nominated geocacher that you feel should be awarded the title. A panel of folks from Geocaching HQ will then use your comments to help guide the decision of which geocacher is awarded the Geocacher of the Month honor.
Here are your nominees for the November Geocacher of the Month. Some testimonials have been edited for length.
Janizy
Milton Munoz writes, “Janizy has been one of most outstanding geocachers in the history of the hobby in Puerto Rico. She started 4 and half years ago, since then she is being a leader, creating events and inviting geocachers to the most beautiful places of the island. Her caches combine a wide variety of clever ideas and diabolic camouflages, which have become the most wanted (and frightful too) in the local arena. She has created one the most successful Multi-Cache in the south part of the island, inviting geocachers to do CITO in a beautiful coastal valley area.
Janizy has involved her entire family into the hobby: husband, 2 daughters, brother, sister, brother in law, niece and nephews. Janizy and her family are known as one the most successful FTF (First to Find) hunters of the island. Janizy has a great passion for the photography too and always is taking pictures and recording video of every geocaching adventure and produces excellent videos that she uploads in her YouTube and Vimeo channels. Janizy combines pretty well her profession as Special Education Teacher and her passion for the geocaching, recently she created the first Earth Cache published by a local geocacher on the island. For all the energy and interest that Janizy puts in to geocaching, she deserves to be honored as the geocacher of the month!”
BIGBROTHERBEAR
Gary Goodyear writes, “I would like to submit BIGBROTHERBEAR as the Geocacher of the Month. BBB (bigbrotherbear) and his series Quest For The Holy Grail (GC3WKNB) was an inspiration for us. Jim (bigbrotherbear) spent months planning and researching the series. BBB has taken time out of his life for so many people to accompany them on this journey. If someone needs some help while out on the trail he is more than willing to do this for them, not just a nudge or hint, he will bring them water, food or whatever they need. BBB is involved with the Iowa Geocaching Organization. He has hidden many caches to help make the events successful for them.
BigBrotherBear is more than the average cacher. He contributes countless hours to the community as well. His series Quest For The Hoiy Grail won the IGO peoples choice for outstanding series of 2013.
If you look at the entire series you will see that it has been awarded more than 650 favorite points in total. BBB has hiked this series with several of the teams. 8-12 miles of rough terrain, hills, river crossings and wild life. BBB is planning a new series that involves over 161 well placed caches. It has been placed submitted and is awaiting review.
BBB will take the time to get the permission to place the caches and he also maintains them. I found one of his bike trail geocaches that was in need of repair. I called BBB and told him about this. The next day he was at the site and had repaired it.”
NorthWes
Darlene Fortin writes, “I would like to nominate NorthWes of Anchorage, Alaska for geocacher of the month. NorthWes is the president of Geocache Alaska. NorthWes is a man of knowledge on his state and on Geocaching. Northwes took time out of busy life to help me organize Events and Geocaching tours for 72 geocachers who were cruising from Vancouver to Alaska. Northwes organized a Meet and Greet for the Cruisers and the locals to meet each other and supplied some awesome prizes for the Event. Northwes is a very respected cacher in his area and has many caches throughout Anchorage and works hard to keep his and other caches in the area maintained. He also guided many of us on private geocaching tours through many of the parks in Anchorage. His knowledge of Alaska was amazing to help us with the many earthcaches through out Alaska.
NorthWes also helped me with all the paperwork to make Bermuda Island Geocachers a non-profit organization. His organization is well established and has members all over the world.
He is for sure one of the best ambassador for Geocaching and is well respected by his local cachers and now all the cachers that were cruising from all over the states and Bermuda. This man surely deserves to be recognized for all his hard work he has put into geocaching for Alaska!”
Comment below to tell us who you think should be the November Geocacher of the Month. We will be accepting comments through December 30.
If your nominee wasn’t recognized here, please submit your nominations again next month. We’re always looking for the next Geocacher of the Month. To nominate a geocacher, send an email to geocacherofthemonth@geocaching.com and include the following information:
- Your name, the name of your nominee, their username
- A picture of the nominee
- Description (200 or more words) explaining why he or she deserves to be the Geocacher of the Month
Please inform your nominee that you have submitted them for the award. Nominations for the next Geocacher of the Month should be received by January 3. Once Geocaching HQ has received the nominations, we will choose the top candidates and post them on the blog. You will then get a chance to champion your favorite. Our goal is to involve the entire geocaching community in this process so that we might learn from each other.
BIGBROTHERBEAR is dedicated to geocaching and I think he deserves to be geocacher of the month
BearsFan11 vote: BIGBROTHERBEAR
Hope to see BIGBROTHERBEAR win, he has some great series in Iowa
My vote is for Janizy! She was my mentor in the geocaching life and her example was great.
Mi voto es para Janizy. Ella es una geocacher dedicada, que brinda de su tiempo y esfuerzo para el disfrute de toda la comunidad de geocachers de Puerto Rico. Ella es una geocacher completa; pues no solo son buenos sus caches, sino también sus eventos, sus actividades y su compromiso con el juego desde que entró en él.
All I know of geocaching is thanks to Janizy. She is a great leader and special women, always trying to everyone have a good experience with her caches and events.
Desde que conozco a Janizy la he visto integrarse a la cominidad de geocacher de Puerto Rico de forma casi inmediata. En sus inicios aprendió todo sobre el juego y preparó su primer cache que recibió excelentes críticas de los veteranos del juego en la isla. Poco a poco fue interesándose por los FTF’ s y en sus años en el juego, se ha convertido en la geocacher con más FTF’ en la isla. También fue perfeccionando la técnica del camuflaje en sus caches, lo que la ha hecho famosa pues muchos han sufrido buscando por largas horas contenedores que están a simple vista. Por otra parte, cuando decidió entrar en la creación de eventos, rompió las reglas de lo que se había conocido hasta el momento en P.R. Con cada evento, pasaba semanas, incluso meses, preparando estrategias, contenedores, historias, rutas y coordinando con la policía y agencias pertinentes del lugar donde iba a trabajar sus eventos para los geocachers tuvieran toda la seguridad necesaria y vivieran una experiencia excelente. De igual forma, trata siempre de documentar los sucesos importantes del geocaching en la isla para poner en alto el nombre de los geocachers de Puerto Rico, a través de las redes sociales. Muchas personas han entrado al mundo del geocaching gracias a ella y les ha servido de ejemplo mostrandoles las guias sobre como se trabaja en geocaching. A mi entender, Janizy merece ser la geocacher del mes y mi voto es para ella.
Janizy se ha ganado un lugar especial en la comunidad de geocachers de Puerto Rico. Siempre esta al pendiente para mantener a los geocachers unidos y activos en el juego. Incluso, formó parte de la directiva de la Asociación de Geocachers de Puerto Rico (AGPR) que se estableció en la isla.
While I have never met the cacher or done any of his caches, I have only ever heard great things about BigBrotherBear and his caches. From everything I’ve heard, he has only ever added to the great game of geocaching in Iowa and geocaching in general. One would not be remiss in voting Geocacher of the Month to BigBrotherBear.
My vote is for NorthWes – his dedication to caching in the Great Land is both tireless and critical.
Big Brother Bear’s two series are definitely in my to do lists. The series are well done and the favorite points speak for themselves. That amount of work and dedication is exactly what a geocacher is the month is all about. Gets my vote.
Waba 62 votes for BIGBROTHERBEAR . Don’t know him personally , but sounds like a really nice guy and cacher .
Big Brother Bear I vote for, as I read these logs, he has touched so many and given so much to his comunity selflessly. He has walked over 100 miles of the most difficult terrain to insure that the geocacher came out safe and there experance was extrodnary. I call that dedication. Then his extrodnary series of all most 200 caches. He’s caches never need maintainance because he checks them often to make sure they are at there best and if they do it fixed next day or that day. He has all qualifying attributes that honor Incompasses and more
I vote for NorthWes…he’s a leader in the Alaskan geocache community and tirelessly serves GeocacheAlaska!!
A vote for Big Brother Bear! Thank you for contributing to this hobby we love
Wantmy$2
Si me pongo a pensar en todas las cualidades que debe poseer un geocacher de excelencia, sin duda, Janizy las tiene todas. Mas allá de sólo buenos caches, ella orienta, trabaja y promueve el geocaching en todo lo que hace.
My vote is for Janizy, she is always ready for a geocaching adventure. Her interest in learn and promote the game is amazing.
Yo conocí del geocaching gracias a las fotos de Janizy en instagram. Luego de ver el hashtag de geocaching en fotos de lugares súper hermosos de mi isla que no conocía, me dió curiosidad y pregunté. La explicación de Janizy fue precisa y adecuada. Pude comprender e interesarme aún más por éste increíble mundo, incluso pagué enseguida mi membresía premium pues no quiero perderme nada. Gracias a Janizy aquí hay un geocacher más. Janizy merece mi voto!
Janizy es una mujer que trabaja duro por sus estudiantes, es madre de 2 hermosas niñas (que también son geocacher y ftf hunters) y aún así, utiliza magistralmente su tiempo para mantener al geocaching activo en Puerto Rico con eventos, actividades y caches que además de requerir tiempo y dedicación fomentan la unión y participación de más y más geocachers. Yo voto por Janizy!
My vote is for BBB (BigBrotherBear)he is a very kind and helpful person. I went to a meet and greet and he was very welcoming and talkative with stories and advice. I consider it an honor to know this person! best wishes in all your quests BBB.
I vote for BIGBROTHERBEAR. He is the definition of what geocaching is all about!
In just a mere 2 and a half years, Big Brother Bear has become an afficionado of geocaching. Having filled his Fizzy Grid TWELVE times, he is truly an all-around cacher. If you have managed to complete this task just once, you know how much of a challenge it is. BBB feels that each time he completes another set.
When it comes to hides, BBB is a true steward of the caches that he puts out. Not only are they well thought-out, they are always maintained on a regular basis. Bear is routinely spotted at his own caches if he hears that someone is having a hard time finding his secret spot. Whether it’s a cache that needs a 50-foot pole, or one that needs a magnet to retrieve the log, you never know what you are gonna get when he places a new one. His Holy Grail series (GC3YXRP) has received rave reviews, and I can hardly wait until the snow melts to go after the 160+ he put out with the G-men on the Heritage Trail.
To match his 3000+ finds, Bear also has logged just as many travel bugs. Knowing how important trackables are to this sport, BBB treats these as if they were his own, by carefully logging, and moving them regularly.
The most impressive acheivement that I personally remember of BBB was when 4 of us acheived an impossible feat of finding almost 250 caches within a 24 hour period. This included over 50 puzzle caches and 35+ Letterbox caches that had to be planned out and worked well in advanced before taking on a monumental task – all BBB was instrumental in this acheivement.
Bear is truly worthy of being nominated for cacher of the month, for being a true all-around geocacher!
Great job on all your caches, hope you win BBB.
Definitivamente, Janizy se vive la experiencia del geocaching al 100%!! Desde salir tras un ftf sin importar hora o distancia, caminar largas horas y visitar un lugar ya visitado sólo por el compartir con buenos amigos geocachers, hacer mil llamadas hasta conseguir un digger que auxiliara a nuevo amigo geocacher, pasar semanas trabajando con los reviewers de su earthcache, pasar meses coordinando sus eventos competitivos y de camping, poner su mente maquiavelica a funcionar para preparar caches retantes y con camuflajes a otro nivel, cargar todo el tiempo con su cámara (sin importar lo incómodo que sea) para documentar todo y que volvamos a revivir experiencias excelentes gracias a sus fotos y videos, dejar de hacer lo que estaba haciendo en su casa para salir a ayudar a algún geocacher que la llamara e involucrar a toda su familia en el mundo del geocaching para unirla aún más…Yo pienso que Janizy merece ser la geocacher del mes de Noviembre y la apoyo con mi voto.
My vote goes for BIGBROTHERBEAR. He is a great guy and has helped me with hints to several of his caches and others that I was having problems with. He has always been friendly and seems to really enjoy just hanging out with other people while geocaching or at events. I’m sure that the other nominees are great too but my vote is for the Bear.
BIGBROTHERBEAR is great! My dad goes geocaching with him a lot and sometimes my brothers and I go too. I even have my own geocaching handle and I have hidden a few geocaches too. I really like BBB. He is friendly and doesn’t seem to mind when me and my younger brother and friends go along too. Vote for BIGBROTHERBEAR!
Now, to add this to the nomination above! Well put, LBK! Thank you for providing additional and nearly exhaustive context to this nomination!
I just wanted to post the great recognition that Wes (NorthWes) received from the Bureau of Land Management for his work with them over the years, and especially his efforts with this last years’ National Public Lands Day. I hope the image is readable!
My vote is for JANIZY, I have enjoyed her caches. I hope she wins!
Voto por Janizy!!! Janizy ha sido un ejemplo para la comunidad local de geocachers, con su alegría y dedicación ha impulsado el geocachin en la isla del encanto. Feliz Navidad y espero que ganes Janizy!
My vote is for Janizy. One of the best geocachers of Puerto Rico. Her dedication and responsibility makes her an outstanding geocacher!
When I think Geocacher of the month not how many people I can get to vote for me.
I myself don’t look at this as popularity contest but more as testiment to who has help there comunities grow and inlighten people and is a great steward to or public lands and trails. Big Brother Bear has and continues to be a leader in his comunity. He is a wonderful guy that has true heart of gold his caches are considered to some of the finest around as 956 favored points will attest to that. With his many endorsements truly is what makes him worthy of this honor.
Janizy is my candidate to be the geocacher of the month, she is a great lider and she promotes geocaching all along the island. Her caches are amazing.
Janizy is not only popular in the local geocaching community, she is also a geocacher that works very hard to create great caches full of creativity. Janizy has organized a great number of events that stimulates new geocachers to participate and be more involved with the hobby. Geocaching in Puerto Rico has been a new experience for all thanks to Janizy and her family commitment to this fantastic activity. Janizy must be geocacher of the month.
My vote goes to BIGBROTHERBEAR one of the most inspiring people and he always makes good caches and always maintains them and will help people if they need it definitely gets my vote
my vote goes for the awesome bear!!
The one and only Big Brother Bear
But seriously the man has lead the way in all aspects. When you think of a true giver Big Brother Bear when think of great caches you think Big Brother Bear. When you think of Geocacher of the month you think Big Brother Bear.
The guy is what this honor is about!!
Go Bear Go
IVote for big brother bear
Mi voto es para Janizy! He participado de sus actividades y eventos así como de la búsqueda de sus caches y puedo dar fe de que ella se esfuerza y trabaja duro para motivar a los geocachers, unirlos como comunidad y brindar una experiencia de calidad en cada cosa que hace.
Voto por JANIZY!!! Ella merece el reconocimiento de ser geocacher del mes, ya que promueve el juego y siempre esta inventando algún evento, trip o actividad que una a los geocachers de Puerto Rico. Siempre se pasa bien en su compañía y a cada momento nos sorprende con la creatividad e ingenio de sus contenedores.
My vote is for Janizy is excellent.
Janizy gets my vote to be honored as geocacher of the month. Janizy has demonstrated with lot of actions that she is valuable geocacher always ready to gather and include all geocacher to improve the hobby in the island. Her caches are very clever and in her listings she always includes relevant information about the places she invites us to visits. She published a very interesting earth cache in the island. I know that all the nominees are already winners and I send them my congratulations, they have done great things for geocaching!
My vote is for Janizy. All three nominees are examples of very responsible and dedicated geocachers, but as a puerto rican geocacher Janizy gets my vote. I love all of her caches, the events she organize are the best and the those camping events are very memorable.
NorthWes is a role model cacher! The work that he does to make GeoCaching what has become here in Alaska is second to none. He is always working with local land managers to keep them informed and Knowledgeable. Our state wide non profit organization is led by NorthWes. We have hundreds of members across the state that have been directly impacted in a very positive way because of the dedication NorthWes has, he is always willing to host meet and great events with out of town caters as well as take them on tours around town and beyond to make sure that they get to enjoy the most out of there time in Alaska! My vote is for NorthWes!
Janizy gets my vote for the geocacher of the month honor. Janizy is so dedicated, responsible and organized with geocaching and every event she organize that deserve our admiration. Janizy deserves this honor!
Janizy is my candidate for this recognition. There are many things to mention about Janizy but I summary it as making great caches for everybody, with exceptional ideas and hiding places. Great multi caches, and events with lot of geocaching competences not easy to forget. Janizy has made an invaluable contribution to geocaching in Puerto Rico.
Janizy puts to much energy and effort in every event she organize that makes them unforgettable. Janizy gets my vote.
My vote is for Janizy. She has a unique combination of skills that make her an effective advocate for the quality of geocaching in Puerto Rico. Janizy brings people together with a collaborative style of leadership resulting in memorable events and unique geocaches. I hope Janizy will be honored as geocacher of the month.
Big Brother Bear
Geocaches are very unique as they let the cacher live a story line and it is truly amazing how cachers get into the role playing and brings a whole new approach to this game we love. He’s “Quest for The Holy Grail” is set in White Water Canyon a beautiful and very scenic, but very rugged with very steep terrain and a river that runs through canyon. He’s pages are masterfully constructed to draw you into story and live the tale. Here is a log from “Quest for The Holy Grail”.
Lucy~
At long last we stood before the opening to the inner chamber. Inside we know the Holy Grail sits. We stand speechless but for a moment…letting it sink in that we have only to complete this final task to hold it with in our grasp. You could hear our collective sigh. Was it relief? anticipation? weariness? exhilaration? or the combination of all? I leave that to all future adventures to express for I can not, it would be found wanting. There are no words.
We sprung from our reverie and a plan for the task at hand soon was in motion. We sent one of us forward as the rest bolstered his approach. The cask that held the Grail was soon among us! Again silence then a mighty roar as we celebrated this victory. We had done it! We had made the journey…defeated all the knights…and found The Holy Grail! Our hands each held the beautiful chalice and we reveled in the glory. Then we gently put in back in the cask and sent it back to it’s resting place.
My thanks to each of my fellow adventures…each step made with you today was sweet and memorable. A better group i would not have chosen!
My humble thanks and awe go to BigBrotherBear who fashioned this challenge. Your time, effort, and diligence in keeping this a premiere destination series can be seen at every turn and I commend you for all you have done here.
That’s just one of the many fantastic logs. Now you can understand why this series has earned 743 favorite points in a year, it takes you a premiere destination and lets you live the adventure as a Knight. This series has won series of the year and geocache of the month.
Now Big Brother Bear has a New adventure called The “G” Men (GC4MYFC) that is set on a rails to trails called The Heritage Trail 26 miles, 164 caches
This expertly crafted series and has a fantastic story line, plus web pages that are perfection. In this story line you are FBI Agent trying to Save Dubuque from a nitrous crime family.
Now with State budget cuts, the parks and trails we love are in jeopardy of loosing funding. Big Brother Bear and Brian Preston The Executive Director Dubuque County Conservation Board and Jenny Ammon The Dubuque County Naturalist are showing that geocaching has a great impact on our community, geocachers buy gas here and food also lodging which will help retain funding. When our parks and trails are fully funded it helps attract news business to our community and to attract those employees that maybe a non-typical park users plus gives them a new venue for after work activities with there families.
Big Brother Bear is also working with The Dubuque Area Convention & Visitor’s Bureau they are working on impact studies and hoping to include Geocaching in the next visitors guide to Dubuque in the spring.
That’s why Big Brother Bear should be chosen for Geocacher of the Month
Janizy is a social butterfly! She has an energy and enthusiasm that is contagious. Just when you think you’re tired and immersed in the routine of work or school, she publishes a cache, organize an activity, trip or event that forces you to get out and enjoy this wonderful game. Best of all, Janizy live the experience to the fullest and enjoy it like she was born for this. She is an excellent leader in geocaching in Puerto Rico and is my candidate to be the geocacher of the month.