This is an idea I have had for a few years now, but every year when I thought about organizing this event, it was too late to get it started.
This year is the year!
What: Secret Santa Gift Exchange (with a twist) and Potluck
When: Sunday, December 7th from 12:30pm until 3:30pm
Where: The Heartland Forest Learning Center, Art Gallery
Who: All Geocachers and family and friends are welcome
Why: I want to give back to the Geocaching community and possibly start a new yearly tradition.
All geocachers are welcome, and if you would like to participate in the Secret Santa Gift Exchange, all that you need to do is bring a wrapped gift of any size to be given to another cacher, but please remember to keep it family friendly.
Your gift can be anything you think another cacher would like or enjoy. Gifts can be large or small, expensive or inexpensive, funny or thoughtful. You can include a note with your gift, or you can make it anonymous....it's totally up to you.
There will be micro containers (35mm film canisters) provided, but if you wish to use your own container, you are more than welcome to do so. In addition, if you wish to receive the container back after the event, please ensure that you pick it up after the event and you may even wish to leave a note for the finder that you would like to have it back. Any leftover containers will be given out to be used at a later time.
Arrival/Registration: 12:30pm - 1:00pm
Step 1: Show up and sign the logbook
Step 2: Put on a nametag so everybody knows who everybody is
Step 3: Give your wrapped gift to the gift co-ordinator who will assign it a number and provide you with a corresponding numbered piece of paper, which you will place in a container provided. If you wish to bring your own container, feel free to do so. The gift will be placed under the Cachemas Tree.
Step 4: After you have registered, you will need to go and hide the container anywhere in the nearby area and mark your co-ordinates. You will have 45 mins to hide your cache and return with your co-ordinates. You can make the cache as simple or as difficult as you would like, but please keep in mind that the finder will have a limited amount of time to locate the cache and return with it. Important: Please keep the caches within walking distance of the Learning Center.
Step 5: Enjoy some food and drink from the potluck and engage in some great conversations with your fellow cachers.
1:45pm - All participants will need to return to the Learning Center and submit their co-ordinates.
2:15pm - The drawing of co-ordinates. One member from each group will draw co-ordinates from a box and once they are in hand, off you go in search of the cache! Once you have made the find, please return to the Learning Center, with the cache. All participants must be back at the Learning Center no later than 3:00pm (even if you don't find the cache container).
3:00pm - Gather back at the Learning Center, enjoy some more food and drink and the gifts will be distributed, based on the number you have found in the cache container.
3:30pm - Event wraps up. Feel free to stick around, chat, find some nearby caches, trade some TBs or geocoins, or just enjoy the comraderie.
When logging your will attend, please indicate how many will be attending, and if you are bringing anything for the potluck, that way we can get an idea of how much food and what types of food are coming.
Helpers: I am looking for assistants to aid in registration and gift distribution, so if you are interested in helping out, please email me.
Last thing: Have fun, happy caching and ho-ho-ho!