What is the Blitz?
The BCGA Cache Blitz is a way to dust off the winter cobwebs and
get out caching. Between May 1st and May 31th, the BCGA is
encouraging people to hide and seek caches. The Blitz will
culminate with several events scheduled across the province in
early June where you can meet local cachers and discuss some of
those great new caches you visited.
Do I need to be a BCGA member?
The cache Blitz is open to ALL geocachers in BC, you do not need
to be a registered BCGA Member... but if you're not... Why not?
Membership is free and you will be supporting the organization that
represents and supports goecachers in BC. Signing up on the BCGA
website is not equivalent to being a member... you must submit a
membership form.
Please
click here to learn more about BCGA membership.
Prizes Prizes Prizes!!!
Prizes will be awarded at the wrap-up events for the best cache
placements. Like last year the BCGA is stressing quality over
quantity. There will be no prize awarded for most cache placements.
You will have a better chance of winning a prize by placing one
great cache rather than several mediocre ones. It is a good idea to
keep this in mind as the prizes get better every year. Creativity
and ingenuity will be rewarded. No micro caches are allowed this
year... and environmental awareness will be an important theme.
Although the BCGA will be supplying several prizes, we depend
heavily on the support of the geocaching public. Prize donations
are greatly appreciated. Please contact your local representative
if you plan on bringing a prize to your local event.
Prizes will be awarded in several categories which
may include:
Camouflage -- The most popular caches take a
page from "The Purloined Letter." These caches are basically out in
the open but so well camouflaged they are virtually
indistinguishable from their surroundings. Whether placed in the
forest, a city park or on a park bench, a cache that blends in well
with its environment is always a challenge and the most fun to
find.
Hike -- was there an adventure in store on the
way to the cache? A pleasant walk or a fufilling hike is big part
of the outdoor experience.
Best View -- Sometimes we stumble upon that
perfect spot. A waterfall, a garden, a mountain top view, or an
area so pleasant it beckons us to stay. This category is dedicated
to the special, out of the way places people find to place a
cache.
Creative Web page -- Finding a geocache takes
just as much time at the computer as out in the field. A creative
web page adds to the overall experience.
Best Puzzle -- It's never easy to come up with
a perfect cache puzzle. Some puzzles can be done at home while
others have to be solved in the field. The best puzzles offer a
challenge while still allowing the novice the opportunity to solve
it.
Educational spot or Web page -- Although
British Columbia is a young province, it is not without history.
This category is dedicated to telling the story behind the area
where the cache is placed.
New or Unique Innovations -- This category
pertains to interesting ideas. People who placed the winning cache
in this category truly thought outside the box when placing the
cache. This category may include recent innovations in geocaching
such as fire tack night caches or any new idea that makes the
caching experience unique and enjoyable.
Environmental Awareness (New this year) --
Driving from cache to cache is not always the most environmentally
friendly activity. Geocachers can however play a positive role by
being more environmentally aware. Taking a bus, teaching people how
to reduce carbon emissions, creating a puzzle that explains some of
the lesser-known ways to reduce greenhouse gasses, teaching people
about the flowers in a park... these are all ways that we can
increase environmental awareness among geocachers. This category is
dedicated to making geocachers more aware of their role in
protecting our planet.
Night Cache (New this year) --
A good night cache takes careful planning. Strategically placed
reflectors and a fun adventure can turn the woods into a wonderful
night time playground. Rate your evening's adventure here.
Overall -- This category goes to your top pick
for best cache.
Prizes will be awarded at the Events to those in attendance. If
a prize winner is not present during an event the prize goes to a
runner up in attendance.
How do I enter my cache in the
Blitz?
The BCGA Cache Blitz is open to all cachers across the province.
Simply place "B09:" at the beginning of your cache name for
automatic inclusion. Detailed
instructions can be found Here. Please read the
instructions carefully. Voting procedures can also be
found on the instructions page.
It is our hope that this will be the most successful Blitz to
date. We encourage geocachers across British Columbia to think
outside the box when planning their cache hides. Think creatively,
respect the environment, and play safe. Good luck to everyone...
Start hiding (if you haven't already!) |