Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation presents the 2011 Geocaching Adventure, a high-tech safari traveling through 15 different parks and preserves in search of the elusive geocache. We hope that, in addition to geocaching, seekers will also take a moment to appreciate the beauty and splendor of these properties, many of which remain little known to the general public.
There is no need to register in order to participate in the 2011 Geocaching Adventure. All you need is a love of the outdoors, a means of travel, and a GPS or a Smart Phone equipped with a geocaching application. All set? Then let's begin! There are 15 caches total in our Geocaching Adventure, each hidden in a different Washtenaw County Parks property. The caches for this inaugural event are listed as follows:
- WCP - Rolling Hills (small entrance fee required)
- WCP - County Farms
- WCP - Independence Lake (small entrance fee required)
- WCP - Park Lyndon
- WCP - Leonard Preserve
- WCP - Brauer Preserve
- WCP - DeVine Preserve
- WCP - LeFurge Woods Nature Preserve
- WCP - Kosch Headwaters
- WCP - Goodrich Preserve
- WCP - Fox Science Preserve
- WCP - West Lake Preserve
- WCP - Draper-Houston Meadows Preserve
- WCP - Scio Woods Preserve
- WCP - Northfield Woods Preserve
You may wish to do only one or only a handful. However, if you choose to complete the entire Geocaching Adventure, you will need to bring along a camera or a notebook, as on the inside of each cache container's lid are two words or phrases that directly refer to an aspect of the property in which the cache is hidden. To complete the Geocaching Adventure, you will need to collect all 30 of these words and phrases and email them to us along with your Geocaching.com user name, your real name, your email address, and your mailing address. Those geocachers who correctly complete the Geocaching Adventure will receive a Washtenaw County Parks 2011 Geocaching Adventure tag. In addition, a special prize awaits the first geocacher to correctly complete the Geocaching Adventure. The 2011 Geocaching Adventure runs through May 31, 2013, so be sure to keep this deadline in mind!
All 15 caches are regular Lock-n-Lock style containers, camouflaged, labelled, and hidden within a short distance from the main trails. We're a family-friendly event, so relatively little bushwhacking is required, if any. As with any geocache, our Geocaching Adventure caches are loaded with goodies. You may wish to simply sign the log but, if you do choose to take something, please be sure to leave something in its place. Trackables are welcome guests! Please take care to carefully seal our cache containers and to return them to their original hiding spots, in order for other folks to enjoy the Geocaching Adventure and in order to prevent the caches from being muggled. Should you find a cache that has been muggled or damaged, please do let us know!
Purchased in 2003, the 226-acre Brauer Preserve protects a diversity of habitat types, including dry Southern forest, Southern swamp, marsh, and open water. In particular the swamp around the lake has many mature trees and an impressive fern community. The preserve also includes approximately 85 acres that were farmed prior to the County acquiring the property. Washtenaw County Parks has developed a conservation management plan that includes conservation farming on this land, featuring such farming practices as crop rotation, establishment of field borders and buffer strips to protect waterways, and minimum use of fertilizer and pesticides. The Brauer Preserve is open year round from dawn to dusk.
Good luck, geocachers, and enjoy the Washtenaw County Parks 2011 Geocaching Adventure!
Congratulations to geoconsumer, the First to Find the entire 2011 Washtenaw County Parks Geocaching Adventure series!