This cache was placed as an educational geocache by a 15 year old girl (me) as part of a volunteer project to bring local awareness to the park. In addition to this geocache I have volunteered over 155 hours in the park. As you are walking along the trail look for some of my projects: 2 screech owl boxes, 2 bat boxes, 2 wood duck boxes, 2 small mammal homes, 20 tree identification signs, and a 58 foot floating boardwalk! I received permission from the Oakridge Park board that consists of members from Eaton Rapids Township and the City of Eaton Rapids to place this geocache along with the E.R. Township board and the City of E.R. since it is a jointly owned park.
The park is very family friendly and great for kids! The cache is a large container that was started with several trinkets for both boys and girls. The first to find prizes are custom educational cards that I made to help educate people on a few of the animals they may encounter at the park. Please take 1 card.
You might want to wear long pants. In the summer there may or may not be thorns that will try slowing you down if you are not careful.
No need to go off trail until you are about 50 ft from the final stage.
Stage 1 is the Parking lot for Oakridge Park. No cache is placed here. Feel free to sit at the ampitheater to reread this too or to just orient yourself to this great nature center. You do not need to gather any info here for stage 2 or the final. Just take a stroll to the stage 2 coordinates which will take you to the floating boardwalk.
Stage 2 is the recently finished 58 foot floating boardwalk in the Woodland Pond. The boardwalk deckboards were constructed from an oak tree within the park. Originally the oak tree was cut down for timber, however; the tree was hollow because, many years ago it had been struck by lightening. The tree was cut into smaller pieces and used as part of a Sawmilll Demonstration at the local teen center. The lumber from the old oak tree is now the custom deckboards you are standing on. As you walk along the boardwalk note the custom woodworking and some of the boards fit together like puzzle pieces.
While at the boadwalk you will be able to see 2 wood duck nests. Please log if you see any wood ducks or any other critters. Obviously this is optional.
To find the final stage, count the number of deck boards on the floating boardwalk. Do not count the plywood ramp.
During our wonderful snowy days, if you can't easily move the snow away with your foot, lean over the railing or walk next to the boardwalk to count the deck boards ends.
Final stage N 42 31.298 W 084 39. ______ To calculate the missing last three numbers add 832+ the number of deckboards.
The final stage will take you by one of several Sassafras Tree groves in the park. This unique grove is marked by a fungus that caused the trees to have the visible cankers. The cankers are similar to scabs that we get on our skin as we heal from a sore.
Please log any animals you see in the park..again not a requirement, but it is neat to see what everyone else encounters! You might see wood ducks, screech owls, squirrles, rabbits, bats, foxes and many more unique animals!