Here’s the latest sneak peak Geocaching Challenges video and more information about this exciting evolution in geocaching. Geocaching Challenges are an innovative new way to experience and share location-based adventures around the world. Groundspeak is anticipating releasing Challenges on Geocaching.com later this week. Geocaching Challenges will also be available the same via free smartphone apps for the iPhone, Android and Windows Phone 7 platforms.
Groundspeak is beginning by launching two types of Challenges: Action and Photo. The video above describes what an Action Challenge is. Additional types of Challenges are slated to be added in the future.
Geocachers will earn smileys for completing a Challenge. The smileys for Challenges will appear separate from geocaches in user profiles, but will be part of your found/completed count. Geocaching.com Premium Members will be able to create Action and Photo Challenges.
One of the first pictures (circa 2001) from GC40 cache page
The oldest active geocache on the European continent, simply called “Geocache” (GC40), has become a magnet for geocachers. The cache was placed on July 7, 2000 – months before Geocaching.com even existed. The difficulty one, terrain one cache was logged for the first time nine days later.
The location in southern Belgium was chosen because it sits at the confluence of two significant degrees. You’ll have to check the cache page to find out the exact latitude and longitude.
The original description remains on the the cache page. While much changed in the world of geocaching in the past eleven years, this next sentiment hasn’t. The cache page reads, “As the rule says: take something, leave something, write in the log book…” More than 600 adventurers have done just that. They’ve logged smileys on the cache, and hundreds more logs are expected for “Geocache” in the next few weeks.
Tour of geocachers discovering GC40
GeoCoinfest 2011 – Europa is scheduled for August 28 not far from “Geocache” in Cologne, Germany. The largest Geocoin event in the world will attract as many as 4000 geocachers. Organizers are even arranging buses to take geocachers (including Lackeys) to discover “Geocache” and other historic geocaches in the region.
Continue your exploration of some of the most engaging geocaches from around the world. Explore all the Geocaches of the Week on the Latitude 47 blog or view the Bookmark List on Geocaching.com.
Geocaching.com is excited about introducing “Geocaching Challenges” in the near future. Enjoy this sneak peek at the innovative new way to experience and share location-based adventures around the world on Geocaching.com. More information will be released in the next days. “Geocaching Challenges” is scheduled to launch on Geocaching.com in the next weeks.
Groundspeak needs your help acknowledging a geocacher each month that stands out by inspiring other geocachers with their innovation, creative hides and/or logs, respect for the environment, and helpfulness. More than a hundred geocachers submitted outstanding nominees from around the world.
The Geocacher of the Month celebrates geocachers for their contributions. A panel of Lackeys had the difficult task of selecting four of the most outstanding nominees. You can help name one of these nominees the “Geocacher of the Month.”
Each geocacher you see below displays extraordinary geocaching qualities including generosity and inventiveness. Write a comment on this blog post about which of these three geocachers you’d like to see as the first “Geocacher of the Month.” All those not awarded or nominated are encouraged to submit nominations again next month.
Read the testimonials below and leave a comment with your suggestion. Some testimonials have been edited for length.
Nominated by ZeroOne: “When I read about your Geocacher of the Month project, I naturally started thinking who would be the most suitable Finnish cacher for the nomination. It took me a while because the person is so humble, but when it came to me it was obvious: username haksu10.
Haksu10 is extremely devoted to the Finnish geocaching community — I dare to say there’s no one more devoted than him. He has single-handedly created and is constantly developing the geocache.fi site, used by most Finnish geocachers daily.
I don’t know when, but in the middle of maintaining the site haksu10 also seems to find the time to occasionally go geocaching. Last summer it almost cost him his life, though. He was bitten by a poisonous snake and was hospitalized. Luckily he recovered in a few days and was back developing the site. Haksu has already found almost 2000 caches and owns almost a hundred caches. The most special of his caches is probably GC16QCH Haksulandia.. What makes it special, though, is that it is located at haksu10’s yard. According to the description, the cache is equipped with an electric outlet in case you need to charge anything. Call before you arrive (or just ring the doorbell) and haksu10 will make you some coffee.”
Nominated by Joshism: “I am nominating ‘Dale n Barb.’ Dale and Barbara have been very active in geocaching for several years. They have organized or assisted in numerous events with both their Space Coast Geocaching Association and the larger Florida Geocaching Association. I live more than hour’s drive away, but still attend their events; I know many more who drive even farther. They have worked with parks and the geocaching community, including numerous CITO events. They are the owners of “A Cool Cache” (GC15RQB): the most Favorited non-Virtual in the state of Florida. They encourage others to “Take Pride In Your Hide” and live that motto, with thoughtful well-maintained hides that have never disappointed me. They are a huge asset to the Florida geocaching community in every way possible.”
kdv writes, “I would like to nominate “De broekies.” They are spending most of their spare time helping the Dutch (and international) geocaching community enjoy their geocaching experiences even more. They run a successful geocaching website (www.globalcaching.eu) and offer a lot of functionality and fun to all its users and guests.
They often give away Geocoins and other stuff to visitors. Plus they often help out other websites too, hosting items that require special technical knowledge, for instance to run a Geocoin race. And I have never even met him in person! Robert is just a great person, and I can honestly not think of anyone more deserving of this title. Actually, Geocacher of the Decade would be even more appropriate!
Marcel en Micha writes,”With this email I would like to nominate Robert of the Broekies for Geocacher of the Month. The reason I would like to nominate him is for his outstanding commitment to the Dutch geocaching community. I think he is a good example of how to make the geocaching community a better place. Every country in the world should have a ‘Robert’.”
Geocoin front and back
A panel of Lackeys will use your comments to help decide the Geocacher of the Month award on August 20, 2011 at the Geocaching Block Party in Seattle, Washington, USA. Each Geocacher of the Month will receive an exclusive special edition ”Geocacher of the Month” Geocoin along with a Geocacher of the Month hat and certificate acknowledging their contributions signed by the founders of Geocaching.com: Jeremy Irish, Bryan Roth and Elias Alvord.
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 September Geocacher of the Month must be received by September 3rd.
Once we have received all of 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 we might learn from each other.
Watch the latest Geocaching.com Presents video, “Dosenfischer.” Dosenfischer is a German geocaching musical phenomenon. The band writes and performs geocaching-themed songs with unforgettable beats and hysterical lyrics. “Dosenfischer” literally means “can fishers.” The group consists of geocaching podcasters aba and sandmann with their very own muggle, Carsten Stotco, on guitar.
Dosenfischer released their first geocaching CD in November of 2010. Songs on the release cover topics such as micro caches, a geocaching groupie and the many nuances of the family hobby of geocaching. They’ve sold more than a thousand CDs and plan to release their second geocaching CD in the near future.
Dosenfischer recently performed in front of hundreds of geocachers at the German Mega-Event, FORTsetzung: – Die DOSENFISCHER.
The next Geocaching.com Presents video is scheduled to post on August 25th. Explore one of the most watched geocaches in all of Germany. Some hints about the geocache include: the cache involves water, the woods and a wall.
Dosenfischer CD cover
Sehe das neueste „Geocaching.com Presents“ Video, „Dosenfischer.“ Dosenfischer sind ein deutsches Geocaching musikalisches Phänomen. Die Band schreibt und führt geocaching Songs mit unvergesslichen Beats und komischen Texten. Die Gruppe besteht aus Geocaching Podcaster aba und sandmann, und ihren eigenen Muggel, Carsten Stotco, an der Gitarre. Dosenfischer haben ihre erste Geocaching CD im November 2010 veröffentlicht. Songs auf der Ausgabe sind unter anderen Themen über Mikro-Caches, einen geocaching Groupie und die vielen Nuancen der Familienhobby Geocaching. Sie haben mehr als tausend CDs verkauft und planen ihre zweite Geocaching CD in der nahen Zukunft zu veröffentlichen. Dosenfischer sind kürzlich vor hunderten von Geocacher auf dem deutschen Mega-Event aufgetreten. FORTsetzung: – Die DOSENFISCHER
Das nächste „Geocaching.com Presents“ Video soll am 25. August veröffentlicht werden. Erforsche eine der am meisten beachteten Geocaches in ganz Deutschland. Einige Hinweise über den Geocache sind: der Cache beinhaltet Wasser, Wälder und eine Mauer.
