The 7th Annual Cache In Trash Out Events are scheduled for May
2nd & 3rd, 2009. This "Cache In Trash Out" event is being held
at Grand
Isle State Park from 9:30 AM to 2:00 PM on Saturday, May
2nd.
PURPOSE
The focus of the effort will be park cleanup as an opportunity
for cachers to give back to the Vermont Department of Forests,
Parks and Recreation.
HISTORY
Grand Isle is 14 miles long and over 3 miles wide, making it the
largest island in Lake Champlain. It contains the towns Grand Isle
(on the northern half) and South Hero (on the southern half). The
North and South Hero Islands are named in honor of early pioneering
Vermonters who served in the American Revolution.
Grand Isle State Park, on the Island's east shore in the town of
Grand Isle was opened in 1959 when 54 acres of land was purchased
from a private summer resort. The original acquisition included a
hotel-like building, cabins and a recreation hall. Today's Nature
Center is the last remaining Birchcliff building. Three additional
property acquisitions brought the park to its current 226-acre
size. Park development during the 1960's was spurred by a
successful effort to attract visitors to the area by providing
quality camping opportunities.
Today, the result of that effort is apparent. Grand Isle State
Park is the most-visited campground in the state park system. With
4,150 feet of Lake Champlain shoreline, Grand Isle is popular with
many destination campers
* taken from Grand Isle S.P.Brochure
The Vermont ANR has done an incredible job on the open spaces
they maintain and we now have an opportunity to give a little back
with a cleanup event at their Grand Isle State Park location
Saturday, May 2nd from 9:30 AM until 2:00 PM (rain or shine).
DIRECTIONS
The cache page coordinates are for the parking lot - Follow your
GPSr!
Take I-89 to Exit 17; Travel west on US Route 2 through the
towns of South Hero and Keeler Bay. Continue straight through the
flashing light at the junction of US Route 2 and VT Route 314. The
park entrance road is exactly 2 miles past the light on the right
side of the road; Follow road to park entrance, approximately 1
mile.
*NOTE: The main entrance (from Rt 2) might be unavailable on our
clean-up date. You may need to use an alternate approach, being
geocachers that should be easy to figure out! If you are coming
from the south, use Town Line Road. If you are coming from the
north, use Donaldson Road.
DETAILS
Attendees should plan on 2 to 3 hours of actual work time (with
a good turnout, the duration may be shorter). We will meet at main
parking area, at the posted coordinates, where refreshments will be
available. WiFi will be available in the parking area. One
of the park's 5 bathrooms will be available (I'm not sure which
one). The Nature Center will be available for our use (as needed)
for shelter and gathering.
The majority of the cleanup will be removing trash from the
campsites and gathering areas, straightening up site number posts,
replacing a few posts and signs, raking sites and ‘lawns’, and
pulling a couple small patches of invasive plants (Garlic Mustard)
so please come prepared for this type of work. We will meet at the
parking coordinates at 9:30 AM to separate into groups of 3-5
people and select a specific task or area to focus on.
Bring a lunch, we'll take a break and have a general gathering
to meet & greet your fellow cachers.
There is the possibility for some post-event caching activity
with potential newly released caches.
*Please bring all filled, semi-filled trash bags to dumpsters
located near the park office
SUPPLIES / LOGISTICS
In order to log this event you will need to help with the
cleanup, you will need to sign the log book (which I will have in
my possession)
Things to bring:
* Rakes If you have one, please bring it
* LUNCH
* Long pants and sleeves to help protect against poison ivy and
biting insects
* Protective eye glasses
* Insect repellent
* Sunscreen, hat
* Durable shoes or boots that might get wet or muddy
* trash grabber / litter sticks
Supplies provided:
* Trash bags
* Latex gloves
Safety reminders:
* Be careful
* Avoid poison ivy
* If you have allergies, take necessary precautions
* Wear gloves when removing trash
* Perform a thorough check for ticks