Geocaching HQ Lackeys attend dozens of Mega and Giga-Events around the world, shaking hands, sharing stories of adventure, and of course, geocaching! WatermanHQ is the Community Special Programs Manager at Geocaching HQ. She recently traveled to the United Kingdom to attend Severn UK Mega 2025 (GCAWMQ8).

This year’s long-running UK Mega-Event, Severn UK Mega 2025 (GCAWMQ8) was held in South Gloucestershire at the Woodhouse Park Activity Centre, a sprawling scout camp with plenty of room for over 1,000 geocachers to explore.

This Mega-Event was located near the River Severn, which features one of around 67 tidal bores in the world. The Severn Bore is a natural tidal wave that travels up the River Severn, and at peak times, surfers can be seen riding waves of up to 50 feet!

This Event featured a GPS Maze, and 20 Adventure Lab® locations located throughout the park, each requiring puzzle-solving skills. One of my favorites involved helping the boar mascot “surf” his way up River Severn. It took me a couple of tries, but I managed to figure it out with the help of another cacher. Once at the top, the back of the disc revealed the code word needed to unlock the Location.

Sustainability was a priority throughout the Event. The organizing team worked toward several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Campers at the Event site used battery power instead of generators, supporter packs featured items made from recycled materials, and a digital booklet replaced printed materials. Through the Severn Subscribers program, the team planted 363 tree saplings!

After a busy day of making new caching friends and finding creative caches, it was time for the Event to come to a close. Attendees gathered for the ceremonial handing over of the golden ammo can to next year’s Event hosts.

A huge thank you to Josh and the entire Severn Mega Committee for their hard work and dedication in bringing this incredible Mega-Event to life. I can’t imagine a better way to celebrate 25 years of geocaching!