{"id":20514,"date":"2014-03-11T09:49:52","date_gmt":"2014-03-11T16:49:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.geocaching.com\/blog\/?p=20514"},"modified":"2016-01-15T13:13:46","modified_gmt":"2016-01-15T21:13:46","slug":"a-swag-filled-mega-event","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.geocaching.com\/blog\/2014\/03\/a-swag-filled-mega-event\/","title":{"rendered":"A S*W*A*G Filled Mega-Event"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Seattle
Seattle vs Yuma<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Editor’s Note: Staff from Geocaching HQ in Seattle are visiting more than 30 Mega-Events around the globe this year, to shake hands, share stories and hear what you think is next for geocaching.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

In February, the Southwest Arizona Geocachers hosted their signature event, S*W*A*G\u2019s Yuma Mega #11<\/a>, in sunny Yuma. Above is what it looked like at home in Seattle, where Geocaching HQ is located, that same weekend.<\/p>\n

\"Christy
Christy and Signal<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After arriving in Yuma and thanking the Southwest Sunshine Gods (they must exist), I found my first-ever Arizona geocaches and got started on the Mega Event\u2019s Lab Caches.<\/p>\n

Jeff Nicholson, you+me_makes3<\/a>, with S*W*A*G created an elaborate series of 10 Lab Cache locations to show visitors a diverse range of attractions all around Yuma. Fortunately, he had suggested that I get a rental car for the trip. The Lab Caches were an excellent way to see the city\u2019s well-known and hidden gems, ranging from the historical Sanguinetti House Museum to the Yuma Territorial Prison Cemetery. I even got to see some cute animals at the Wild World Zoo and Camel Farm, thanks to the Lab Caches.<\/p>\n

The Yuma Warm-Up Mega Event #11<\/a> at a local restaurant was a great opportunity to meet the friendly Geocaching community and to get to thank our amazing volunteers in person. There was a nice handful of Geocachers who also had ties to the Seattle-area, and it was fun to catch-up with them. The event also featured a special screening of the Geocaching International Film Festival (GIFF), as shown at the 2013 HQ Geocaching Block Party.<\/p>\n

\n
\"Making
Making friends at the Yuma Warm-Up Mega-Event #11<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The next morning, the Mega Event was set up and ready for crowds. The West Wetlands Park was an incredible location, not too cramped and very pretty. There was a large array of fun activities to choose from; check out the impressive Activities Schedule on the cache page<\/a>! I met with even more geocachers, vendors, Signal the Frog, and checked out the cool vehicles on display before completing the Lab Cache series later that afternoon.<\/p>\n

Before heading back to the airport, I hosted a very-early-morning event cache of my own: I choo-choo-choose you!<\/a> at the historic steam train near Gateway Park. I arrived early and there was already a welcoming crowd of friendly faces waiting for me as the sun came up. What an incredible group of geocachers! A great way to end an outstanding weekend of geocaching. Thanks, S*W*A*G!<\/p>\n

\"yuma
A Show of Support Local Sheriff’s Department<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Yuma
All are welcome<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"yuma
I choo-choo-choose you Logbook<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Editor’s Note: Staff from Geocaching HQ in Seattle are visiting more than 30 Mega-Events around the globe this year, to shake hands, share stories and hear what you think is next for geocaching.\u00a0 In February, the Southwest Arizona Geocachers hosted their signature event, S*W*A*G\u2019s Yuma Mega #11, in sunny Yuma. Above is what it looked…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"episode_type":"","audio_file":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","filesize_raw":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[134,48],"tags":[159],"series":[],"class_list":["post-20514","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-community","category-lackeys","tag-geocaching-hq"],"episode_featured_image":false,"episode_player_image":"https:\/\/www.geocaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/plugins\/seriously-simple-podcasting\/assets\/images\/no-album-art.png","download_link":"","player_link":"","audio_player":false,"episode_data":{"playerMode":"dark","subscribeUrls":{"apple_podcasts":{"key":"apple_podcasts","url":"","label":"Apple Podcasts","class":"apple_podcasts","icon":"apple-podcasts.png"},"google_podcasts":{"key":"google_podcasts","url":"","label":"Google Podcasts","class":"google_podcasts","icon":"google-podcasts.png"},"spotify":{"key":"spotify","url":"","label":"Spotify","class":"spotify","icon":"spotify.png"},"stitcher":{"key":"stitcher","url":"","label":"Stitcher","class":"stitcher","icon":"stitcher.png"}},"rssFeedUrl":"https:\/\/www.geocaching.com\/blog\/feed\/podcast\/inside-geocaching-hq-podcast","embedCode":"

A S*W*A*G Filled Mega-Event<\/a><\/blockquote>