Meet the WGA #2: WGA Campouts Traditional Cache
Meet the WGA #2: WGA Campouts
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You are looking for a cache container that commemorates one of the (WGA) Wisconsin Geocaching Association’s most popular events: the annual WGA Geo-Campout. There is room for small swag items and trackables in the cache.
The WGA campout is a great way to experience geocaching fun and meet other geocachers. The very first WGA Geo-Campout was held on May 17, 2002 at Governor Dodge State Park. A total of 65 cachers logged 204 finds on the 26 hidden caches. Ever since then there has been an annual WGA campout on a weekend each spring, bringing together geocachers from all over the state, with the location changing each year.
What activities take place at the geo-campouts? Well the activities vary from year to year, but some of the mainstays include a campfire on Friday and Saturday nights, games and contests on Saturday for those who choose to participate, the always popular night cache contest on one of the evenings, and a pancake breakfast on Sunday morning. There is a group photo taken on Saturday, followed by the annual general membership meeting. Of course there are also geocaches to find, and plenty of them, against the backdrop of a beautiful park! Other activities that one can enjoy while at the campout include hiking, biking, swimming, canoeing, bird watching, rock climbing, s’mores, and fishing. Depending on the location, park naturalists sometimes offer presentations and guided nature tours of the park for those that sign up.
LOCATIONS
The following are the locations of the previous WGA Geo-Campouts, and a bit of random info about them:
- 2002 Governor Dodge State Park, the very first WGA campout, attended by 65 cachers
- 2003 (2nd) High Cliff State Park, 965 "found it" logs by 49 caching teams, 6 different night caches placed in the first-ever night cache contest (now an annual must-do), a “Clue” whodunit mystery cache series completed by 30 teams
- 2004 (3rd) Hartman Creek State Park, 2,179 "found it" logs, "Crossword Challenge Hunt" Friday night game
- 2005 (4th) Lake Wissota State Park, 2,349 "found it" logs, “CSI” geocaching game Friday night
- 2006 (5th) Peninsula State Park, 1,028 logs, Friday night game Geocaching Amazing Race (with detours, roadblocks, & fastforwards), best decorated campsite contest
- 2007 (6th) Hartman Creek State Park, 1,838 logs, 1st Geocacher Bingo game and raffle, 1st Sunday pancake breakfast (now done annually)
- 2008 (7th) Governor Dodge State Park, 75 geocaching teams attended, 55 temporary & 10 new permanent caches, first year that temporary caches are not logged
- 2009 (8th) High Cliff State Park, 102 geocaching teams attended, 40 temporary caches placed, general membership meeting held during the event (now done annually)
- 2010 (9th) Richard Bong State Recreation Area, 72 teams attended, Saturday family arts & crafts project, nature scavenger hunt
- 2011 (10th) Hartman Creek State Park, 78 teams attended, Cache Up and Mustard Out CITO Event, kids caches
- 2012 (11th) Governor Dodge State Park, 93 teams attended, 1st photo contest, geo golf, pig roast, pin the flag on the waypoint game
- 2013 (12th) Interstate State Park, joint WI/MN campout event, 74 teams attended, 1st Dutch oven cookoff, Park naturalist guided walking tours
- 2014 (13th) Mirror Lake State Park, 81 teams attended, photo scavenger hunt, a nice double rainbow on the last day
- 2015 (14th) High Cliff State Park, 92 teams attended, optional CITO event Saturday and pancake breakfast Sunday, 1st WGA silent auction, 1st WGA teamup token game, 17 new caches placed
- 2016 (15th) Kettle Moraine State Forest - Southern Unit (Dousman)
- 2017 (16th) Big Eau Pleine Park, Marathon County
- 2018 (17th) Wyalusing State Park
- 2019 (18th) Governor Thompson State Park, scheduled for May 17-19, 2019
NIGHT CACHES, REALLY?
Not just any night caches – these are a bunch of family-friendly special night caches temporarily placed for the WGA campout night cache contest! Many have said the night caches are the best part of past events. Each year a group of cachers create their greatest light-up, laser driven, glow in the dark, or just plain creative creations for the annual night cache contest. In the past, night caches have blinked, glowed, sang, hooted, rung bells, flashed, and even spoke. There have been angels swooping out of trees, trails of alien blood leading to crashed space craft, and caches that reflected their position. The night caches are a lot of fun and are always a highlight of the WGA campouts.
OTHER CAMPOUT RANDOM TIDBITS
-Not the camping type? Come anyway! Non-campers are welcome to join in for caching, the bonfire, and other activities. Non-campers must leave state parks by 11:00 PM, DNR rules.
- Sunday morning features a delicious all-you-can-eat breakfast featuring pancakes, sausage, coffee, and juice. Volunteers to help are always welcome!
- Following the Saturday group photo, the WGA hosts its annual general membership meeting, with a review of the past year, upcoming events, and general ideas for improving geocaching in Wisconsin. The meeting is run by the WGA Board of Directors and they do their best to address any questions or issues that arise.
- In past years those that attended receive a handout with event information, a map of all geocaches in the park, and the coordinates of newly published geocaches. Shirts, sweatshirts, and hoodies with a Geo-Campout logo on them are available for purchase or pick up (it’s best to order ahead of time at the WGA website as quantities are limited).
- After sunset, the group campfire is a fun place to keep warm, renew friendships, and make new ones. Don't forget the marshmallows!
ABOUT THE WGA
The Wisconsin Geocaching Association (WGA) is a group of fun-loving geocachers dedicated to promoting geocaching within the state of Wisconsin. The WGA organizes geocaching events, works with land owners/managers on geocaching policies, educates organizations and the public at large about geocaching, and facilitates communication between WGA members via their website, events, and newsletters.
It’s easy to join the WGA, and membership is free. Just register on their website at http://www.wi-geocaching.com. The WGA website is one of the best resources for geocachers in Wisconsin. It is a great place to find and share information on any aspect of geocaching. Come share, download resources, ask questions or just socialize in their online forums!
For us personally, we have benefitted from joining and participating in the WGA. It’s expanded our awareness of so many more aspects of the sport of geocaching and has connected us to so many fun people!
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