I would like invite all my Geocaching friends to stop by the Visitor Center on Saturday, August 6, 2016, between 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM, for some fun and games, camaraderie and good food. And hopefully, we will have some interesting learning experiences, too! This will be our FOURTH Annual Meet and Greet event here at the Visitor Center!
The interactive displays in the Visitor Center will be available to use during the day. And you may also chose to enjoy the interesting presentations by my fellow Master Naturalists about the refuge.
With more than 4700 acres of diverse habitats including sandy beach and dune, cranberry bog, maritime forest and shrub land, and freshwater marsh and over 300 species of birds and additional species of mammals, reptiles, amphibians, insects, and plants.... there is plenty to talk about!
~ Schedule of Events ~
11:00 – 12:00 Gather at the Visitor Center to meet and greet and have a snack! This is a potluck event so all food and drink donations will be more than welcome! You will find us in the large classroom beyond the Auditorium. Look for the signs!
~ Sign the event log
~ Grab a Geo-BINGO sheet. This is a new version of the game. You will still be trying to get a "5-in-a-row Bingo" but it will be cache-based... let's just say that the more caches you have found in the area of the event, the better your chances are to win! And a special drawing will be held for anyone who turns in a "Cover-All"...!
~ Pick up your GeoQuest Trail Contest Worksheet if you are interested in exploring the Refuge and also qualifying to win a special geocoin. It takes more than an hour to find all eight waypoints, so if you want to get a jumpstart on the GeoQuest Trail, here is a link to the worksheet: http://www.fws.gov/uploadedFiles/geoquestworksheetaug2013(1).pdf
~ Grab a door prize ticket for the drawing (you must be present to win)
*** Presentations in the Auditorium ***
12:00 - History of "The Anchorage" - the last remaining cottage in the Refuge – by Ellie Bailey, Master Naturalist
12:30 – Marine Mammals - by Emmalee Bowers Tarry - Volunetter at PRNWR
1:00 – Astrophotography 101 - by Patty Evans - Geocacher, Master Naturalist, Photographer
2:30 – Time for Door Prize drawings and GeoQuest Trail Contest Prize awards!
*** On-going Demonstrations OUTDOORS ***
Learn how to use your GPS receiver and bring your questions about your GPS, the Geocaching website, or Geocaching in general. There will be volunteers on hand to help you sort it all out.
GeoQuest Trail Contest - Once you have learned the basics of GPS navigation, you are welcome to try out your newfound skills on the Refuge’s GeoQuest Trail! You will learn some interesting facts about this national wildlife refuge and visit some of its most beautiful location. And if you accumulate enough points, you may win a prize!
You will receive points for each correct answer – equivalent to the number of the Stop. (Example: You will receive 5 points for answering the question at Stop No. 5) The cacher with the most points will win a special prize. If more than one cacher completes the GeoQuest Trail, the winner will be determined by a drawing.
Answer all of the questions on the GeoQuest Trail Worksheet and also receive a Junior Refuge Manager Badge from the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge!
The GeoQuest Trail was created and updated by PRNWR Volunteer Richard Grey. Special thanks to Richard for doing such a good job. All of the waypoints are in great shape and ready for our event!
And please note, the GeoQuest Trail waypoints are not registered with Geocaching.com so there will be no smilies earned from GC.com for finding them. But I can guarantee you will have a smile on your face if you visit these beautiful locations!
For those of you who will be visiting for the first time, I can assure you that you will have a greater appreciation and knowledge of Parker River National Wildlife Refuge by the end of the day. And for those of you who attended our first, second and/or third events, there will be plenty of new things to learn and do!
This will be a potluck event, so all food and drink donations will be most welcome! Please let me know what you are planning to bring by including it in your "Will Attend" log. I will supply some plates, plastic utensils and napkins, but if you can, it would help if you could also bring paper plates or bowls and utensils to go with your dish. We will be gathering in a large classroom that has a long counter and plenty of outlets for hot plates and crock pots.
Hope you can join us!