Geocaching Summer Olympics Event Cache

Welcome to the Summer Geocaching Olympics!

The posted coordinates are for the wind-up event on Sunday, September 6, 2020 at 11am. The event marks the end of the Summer Geocaching Olympics. Anyone may log a “will attend” for this event without any participation in the Olympics.

The Summer Geocaching Olympics is a 2-month-long game ending with the event. The Olympics begin on Wednesday, July 1, 2020, at 12:00am and end on Friday, September 4, 2020, at 11:59pm. To participate in the Olympics, post a note on the event page by July 7, 2020.

Scoreboard will be updated periodically throughout the Olympics.

The Summer Geocaching Olympics is a fun competition to get you out and caching during the long hot Midwest summer! Designed for all cachers, the objective is to complete any twelve (12) tasks during the two months of the Geocaching Olympics. This is not a race. Tasks have higher or lower points assigned to them. Read the task requirements carefully and choose wisely. You are seeking points, not completing the Games first. There is danger in waiting too long though! Even if you don’t get the high score, a strategic approach may still result in a prize. Posting a note by July 7 lets me know that you plan to participate in the Olympics.

In order to claim a smiley for this event, you just need to attend the wind-up event.

RULES

Short Version:

• Claim 12 tasks in 2 months (July 1-September 4, 2020)
• Using the "write note" feature on this event page, report your claims with task number, GC code(s), points claimed, and any task-specific requirements within 7 days of fulfilling (or by 11:59 on 9/4/2020)
• Some tasks have outright points stated while others are dependent on the geocache found. Some offer positive points, some offer negative points, and some are the cacher's choice. Claimed point values must be stated on the note and cannot be edited.
• Watch for bonuses!
• Photos are encouraged! If required, it will be stated in the task requirement.
• Full rules are at the bottom of the event page.

Tasks:

Tasks may only be claimed once per participating geocaching login (single player or multi-player team)

1.  Hide a large traditional geocache: 15 points your choice of positive or negative

• Hide a large traditional cache. A large container is described by Groundspeak as being “a minimum of 20L (around 5 Imperial gallons.)
• Your geocache must be listed at www.geocaching.com and must be published before the end of the Olympics. Points cannot be claimed until the cache is published. Please ensure you give adequate time for the cache reviewer to publish your hide.

2. Bridge the (Age) Gap: 5 points

• Log any physical cache with a person who is at least 20 years different in age. This person can be a Muggle or a geocachers. Geocachers do no have to be participating in the Olympics to qualify. Your log must indiciate who you were caching with and contain a picture of the 2 of you while geocaching. If the gap is close, be prepared to provide proof of age!
• If you are a multi-person team, only one member of the team can be used for the age difference. Example: Dad (35) and Child (8) who both use the same geocaching name would not qualify for this task but bringing Muggle Uncle (40) would qualify for this task since Child and Uncle are more than 20 years apart in age.

3. Kid Cache: (D+T) points

• Log any physical cache that displays the "kid friendly" icon attribute.

4. Wheelchair Friendly Cache: (D+T) points

• Log any physical cache that displays the "wheelchair friendly" icon attribute.

5. Into the Dark: (2+D+T) points

• Log any physical cache that displays one or both of the "night cache" or "recommended at night" icon attributes.

6. Teamwork: (3+D+T) points

• Log any physical cache that displays the "teamwork required" icon attribute.

7. Field Medic: (1+D+T) points

• Perform field maintenance and log any physical cache that displays the "maintenance required" icon attribute. Log must describe steps taken to perform the maintenance (replacing container, replacing logbook, or restocking the swag inside.)

8. Take a stroll: (2+D+T) points

• Log any physical cache that displays either the "medium hike (1-10km)" or the "long hike (10km+)" icon attribute. Please note rule #16 for any multi-person geocaching teams.

9. Happy Anniversary: (2+D+T) points - your choice of positive or negative

• Find a cache on its "hidden on" anniversary, regardless of what year it was placed.
• Example: cache states the date it was hidden on was July 30. Finding this cache on July 30, 2020 will you qualify you for this task.

10. 815 or 563 Cache: (2+D+T) points - your choice of positive or negative

• Log any cache (see exceptions below) where the numbers 815 or 563 appear in the given order anywhere in the published coordinates (not puzzle solutions or intermediate steps in multicaches) to claim the task. The numbers can run across the latitude and longitude. The numbers do not need to appear consecutively, but they need to appear in sequence.
• Example: N 41° 51.821 W 090° 16.257 would qualify as the numbers 815 appear in order, even though they are not consecutive.

11. Sunrise or Sunset: (D+T) points

• Log any physical cache that you find at sunrise or sunset. Please post a picture of yourself with the sunrise or sunset at the cache location.

12. Dozen Finds Day: (4+highest D+highest T) - your choice of positive or negative

• Find exactly 12 caches in a calendar day (midnight to midnight.)
• Scoring example: Find 10 caches of 1.5/1.5, 1 cache of 5.0/1.0 and 1 cache of 1.0/5.0; therefore 4+5+5=14 (either positive or negative)

13. Cache with D/T Combination of 7: 10 points

• Log any cache (of any type) where the sum of the difficulty and terrain totals exactly 7.
• Qualifying examples: 2/5, 2.5/4.5, 3/4, 3.5/3.5, 4/3, 4.5/2.5, 5/2

14. Mini Spelling Bee: (4+highest D+highest T) - your choice of positive or negative

• Find a total of 8 caches, using the first letter of the cache name to spell "LEAP YEAR."
• Caches that start with numbers or symbols do not count.
• This task is exempt from any timeline. You can take the entire Olympics to spell "LEAP YEAR," but you must claim the task prior to the conclusion of the Olympics.

15. Mysterious Task: 6 points

• Find exactly 3 mystery/puzzle caches during a single calendar day (midnight to midnight.) Other cache types may be found during the same calendar day, but only 3 mystery/puzzles can be found in order to claim this task.

16. Series Cache: (D+T) points

• Log any one cache (of any type) that is part of a series. The cache title must clearly illustrate that it is part of a series. It does not have to be a multicache or a multi-part challenge to qualify. The series can be created by one or multiple COs.

17. Multicache: (2+D+T) points

• Log any multicache that has a minimum of 3 steps (posted coordinates, mid-point, and final location); there can be more than 3 but not less.

18. Unloved: 5 points

• Log any physical cache that has not been found in the preceeding 90 days.

19. Turn That Frown Upside-Down: 5 points

• Log a find on a physical geocache that you have previously logged a DNF on. Your DNF must have been logged and dated before the start of the Olympics. Your task note must include the date of your earlier DNF.

20. Fancy Dress: (3+D+T) points

• Log any physical cache and post a photo of you dressed in attire which directly relates to the cache's theme. Be creative! Don't wear normal clothes and try to make the theme fit.

21. Active Streak: 0.5 points per day with a maximum of 10 points - your choice of positive or negative

• Find a minimum of 1 cache per day to create a streak of consecutive days. Maximum streak that will qualify for this task is 20 days (10 points.) Minimum streak is 1 day (0.5 points.)
• This task is exempt from rule #9; streak caches can be claimed for other tasks.

22. Host an Event: 4 points - your choice of positive or negative

• Your event must be listed on www.geocaching.com and must be published before the Olympics end. Your event can take place after the Olympics end.
• Note: According to geocache guidelines, event caches should be submitted no less than two weeks before the date of the event so plan accordingly! Also, please ensure you give adequate time for the cache reviewer to publish your hide.

23. Hide a Wherigo (10 points), reverse Wherigo (7 points), or an earthcache (10 points) – your choice of positive or negative

• Create a Wherigo, reverse Wherigo, or earthcache
• Your geocache must be listed at www.geocaching.com and must be published before the end of the Olympics. Points cannot be claimed until the cache is published. Please ensure you give adequate time for the cache reviewer to publish your hide.

24. Make Things Mysterious: 8 points

• Hide a minimum of 3 mystery/puzzles caches. A mystery/puzzle cache is described by Groundspeak as being a "geocache where the listed coordinates are not where the cache is placed." This could require a puzzle to be solved, a beacon to be found, etc. Challenge caches would also meet the requirements for this task.
• Your geocaches must be listed at www.geocaching.com and must be published before the end of the Olympics. Points cannot be claimed until the caches are published. Please ensure you give adequate time for the cache reviewer to publish your hides.

25. Become Friendlier: 8 points

• Hide a minimum of 3 caches with the attribute of "recommended for kids." These caches should be easily found by children regardless of location.
• Your geocaches must be listed at www.geocaching.com and must be published before the end of the Olympics. Points cannot be claimed until the caches are published. Please ensure you give adequate time for the cache review to publish your hides.

26. Complete an Adventure Lab: 10 points your choice of positive or negative

• As proof of completing an Adventure Lab, post a screen shot of the Adventure Lab showing your geocaching name at the top and the completed icon with with check mark on the page. This task may not be used in the spelling bee task.

Bonuses:

There will be both weekly and monthly bonuses. Any bonuses will be posted prior to the start of the active time period. Each participating geocaching ID may claim each bonus once. 

Weekly bonuses will be Saturday to Friday. This means you must find the bonus within the posted dates of the bonus (weekly or monthly.) Bonuses must be claimed by midnight of the last day of the bonus window.

• Week 1 Bonus - July 4-10, 2020

AVENGE A DNF - points are calculate D+T PLUS the number of attributes (your choice +/-)

Ex. If your DNF was a 1/4 with 7 attributes, you would be able to claim +/-12 pts in your note for this bonus. 

Please include a screenshot of your previous DNF log. 

• Week 2 Bonus - July 11-17, 2020

SINGLE CO DAY - 10 points (your choice +/-)

Find three (3) caches hidden by the same cache owner in one calendar day. The caches could be originally placed by the CO or since adopted by the CO, but it needs to be clear that it was an adopted cache on the cache page and which CO you are claiming it for. Please include the cache owner's name on your claim note. The twist... the cache owner you choose cannot be participating in this year's Olympics! You may use caches published at any time (including since the Games began) for the challenge but NOT events.

• Week 3 Bonus - July 18-24, 2020

SILLY HOLIDAY DAY - D/T+5 (your choice +/-) for any day this week OR D/T+10 (your choice +/-) if you complete it on the specific date listed for the holiday!

Don't you just love all the silly holidays you can find when you look things up online? Find a cache that fits the "theme" of one of these holidays this week to log the bonus. You can fit the theme in one of two ways - the cache description/name itself ties into the theme OR you post a picture of yourself with the cache doing something that fits the theme (silly dress, props, etc.) The smaller bonus is for someone completing one of those tasks on any day this week. The bigger bonus is if you are able to complete the specific them on the exact specific date! Here are your holidays/dates to choose from:

July 18 - National Caviar Day or Women's Dive Day; July 19 - National Daiquiri Day, National Ice Cream Day, National Stick Out Your Tongue Day; July 20 - National Lollipop Day, National Moon Day; July 21 - National Junk Food Day; July 22 - National Hot Dog Day, Pi Approximation Day; July 23 - Vanilla Ice Cream Day; July 24 - National Tequila Day, National Drive-Thru Day, Cousins Day, Tell an Old Joke Day

• Week 4 Bonus - July 25-31, 2020

THANK A GEOCACHE HIDER - 3 points per "thanks," up to 9 points allowed (your choice +/-) 

Thank up to 3 geocache hiders via the geocaching message center. You might thank them for a specific hide you have found or you might thank them in general for hiding caches so our game can continue! Include a screenshot of your message to include with your note showing why you chose to thank each hider. If you have a secondary account, you cannot send a "thanks" to yourself (haha!) but otherwise you may send them to anyone you feel deserving.

• Week 5 Bonus - August 1-7, 2020

BENCHMARKING - 5 points per photo, up to 10 points allowed (your choice +/-)

Log two (2) benchmarks. While photos are not required to log benchmarks on the geocaching website, you must take a picture of the benchmark and your FOOT and post this photo with your note on the event page to claim the points for the bonus. If the benchmark is not a disc, you might have to get creative in order to include your foot in this picture! Please include the benchmark code with your note as well. (Remember, you can always look for benchmarks near geocaches by clicking the link on any geocache page just below the hint area that says FIND... "all nearby benchmarks.")

• Week 6 Bonus - August 8-14, 2020

WRITE THAT LOG - 8 points (your choice +/-)

Write a "found it" log with at least 200 words. You should not just repeat the same words over and over again nor should you explain that you are writing the log for an Olympic requirement as your way to increase the word count. Use your 200 word minimum to explain the story of how you found the cache (or qualified for the challenge or attended the event.) You MAY use a cache that you are claiming for another task to complete this bonus as well!

• Week 7&8 Bonus - August 15-28, 2020

TRAVEL BUGS AND GEOCOINS, OH MY! - maximum of 30 points (your choice +/-)

Trackables always want to keep moving, so for the next two weeks, we're going to help them! All of these activities need to be completed for trackables in caches, not those in people's personal collections. Grabbing a trackable from a cache is +/-5 points. Dropping a trackable in a cache is +/-3 points. Discovering a trackable in a cache is +/-1 point. You may combine these however you would like, but the maximum number of points available will be 30 regardless of how many TBs or geocoins you assist.

• Week 8 Extra Bonus - August 22-28, 2020

WAYMARKING - 5 points per photo, up to 10 points allowed (your choice +/-)

Log two (2) waymarks. While photos are not required to log waymarks on the waymarking website, you must take a picture of the location that includes your HAND and/or FACE and post this photo with your note on the event page to claim the points for the bonus. The only twist is that the waymarks cannot be from the same waymarking category! Please include the waymark name or other identifying factor with your note as well. (Remember, you can always look for waymarks near geocaches by clicking the link on any geocache page just below the hint area that says FIND... "all nearby waymarks on waymarking.com.")

• Week 9 Bonus - August 29-September 4, 2020

VARIETY IS THE SPICE OF LIFE - 4 points per non-traditional, maximum of 20 points (your choice +/-)

Log at least 3 different icons on one day but with two twists. None of the icons can be traditional and no more than two caches can be from the same CO! Please provide GC code, icon, and CO for each claimed bonus cache as well as the date you found them all. 

• Month 1 Bonus - July

BINGO was his name Oh! - your choice of +25, 0, or -25 pts 

Complete a line of 5 in your D/T (Fizzy) loop. 

All 5 of the caches must have been published before the start of the Olympics. None of the caches can have been previously found by the competitor before July 1, 2020. The BINGO line can be horizontal, vertical, or diagonal, but you may not use the rows/columns of 1s or 1.5s. 

You do not need to find the bonus caches in D/T order but if you would list them in your note in order along with the dates you found them, the scorekeeper would be grateful!

• Month 2 Bonus - August 

X-FACTOR - your choice of up to 24 points (+/-)

By definition, an "x-factor" is a defining property or characteristic of a given situation or the variable on a given situation that could have the most impact. Your x-factor here will be ATTRIBUTES. Find up to a dozen (12) caches with a minimum of 6 attributes of any type on the cache page.  The key to this challenge... each cache needs to be hidden by a different CO. So, up to 12 caches, hidden by 12 different COs, each with at least 6 attributes.

Claim 2 points per cache found up to a maximum of 24 points, positive or negative. You may choose to claim only one cache or all 12 for this bonus. When posting your note, please include the following information for each find: GC code, CO name, number of attributes.

Challenge:

This challenge may only be claimed once per participating geocaching login and no substitutions/replacements will be allowed once claimed.

This challenge is exempt from rule #9 - your challenge cache can be claimed for another task.

Overview:

• Log a physical geocache and receive challenge bonus points based on specific air temperature ranges in degrees Fahrenheit. Challenge bonus point values can be your choice of positive or negative:
  • 70°F and above: 1 point
  • 71-85°: 3 points
  • 86-93°: 7 points
  • 94-99°: 13 points
  • 100° and above: 25 points
• This is a SUMMER Geocaching Olympics - the biggest bonuses go to the heartiest of cachers... or are they the craziest?!?
• Please note that the temperature ranges are referencing air temperature, not heat index.
• Your challenge note must include a screenshot of the temperature (weather app, website, thermometer, etc.) plus a photo of you at the cache (at least pretending to look happy!)
• This challenge must be claimed within 48 hours of logging the find. No going out when it's above 100° in July and then waiting until August 31st to claim the find - there is a calculated risk with this challenge.
• This challenge can only be claimed once.
• This challenge may only be claimed on caches within Iowa or Illinois.

Full Rules:

1. The Olympics run from 12am Wednesday, July 1 through 11:59pm Friday, September 4, 2020. 
2. Register on this event page by posting a "note" to let me know you will be participating. Event attendees can register up to the day of the wrap-up event.
3. Fulfill any 12 of the tasks listed above after the start of the Olympics. To complete the Olympics, exactly 12 tasks must be logged.
4. Caches you claim for the game must be logged on www.geocaching.com during the time frame of the game. No previous or late finds will be allowed.
5. Tasks must be claimed within 7 days of finding the cache and before the conclusion of the Olympics (task 14 is exempt from being claimed within 7 days, but must be claimed prior to the conclusion of the Olympics.) The post must clearly state which task is being claimed, the GC code(s) of the geocache(s), the points being claimed, and how the cache meets the requirement (if necessary.) Post your claims as notes on this event page.
6. Geocaches found as part of these games must be published before the start of the game on July 1, 2020. Any task that requires new cache(s) to be placed (physical or event) does not fall under this rule.
7. Task that require caches to be hidden msut be published prior to 11:59pm on September 4, 2020. Please plan accordingly and do not leave this to the last minute. By placing a geocache as part of these Olympics, you agree to follow all the guidelines set out by www.geocaching.com in owning a geocache.
8. Each task must be claimed on a geocache previously unfound by you.
9. Each task must be claimed against a different cache unless the requirement states otherwise.
10. Tasks, bonuses, and the challenge can only be claimed once per geocaching login (single person or teams.) Multiple claims against the same task, bonus, or challenge by the same geocacher will be rejected. *Exception: if your first claim of a task was rejected, it can be attempted again.
11. Once tasks, bonuses, and challenges are claimed, you may not substitute another.
12. Points vary by task, bonus, and challenge. These are clearly defined above. Some give participants a choice in point value, therefore you must claerly state the pointvalue, positive or negative, when claiming a task. Once claimed, your point values cannot be changed.
13. There are multiple prizes for the players who compete in the Olympics. For those who complete 12 tasks, prizes will go for the HIGHEST, the LOWEST, and the CLOSEST TO AVERAGE. Other prizes could be possible.
14. In the event of a tie score, the earliest score will be used as the tiebreaker.
15. No "arm chair" caching is permitted. You can only use geocaches that you found, signed, and logged on www.geocaching.com. Claiming a cache that you found months ago and just got around to logging is not permitted in these Olympics.
16. Multi-player teams would be more than 1 person using the same name. All members of multi-person teams must meet the qualification of the task and must be present when claiming the geocache. Spouses/family members that occasionally cache with the primary cacher are exempt from this rule. However they will not be considered muggles either. If there is confusion, please ask.
17. All time stamps will be based on when I receive emails about posted notes.
18. Tasks will be accepted in the order they are submitted. No substitutions may be made once a task has been claimed. 
19. I, cneumann98, will administer the game and my decisions are final. I reserve the right to provide any clarifications of the rules at any point in the game.

Most importantly, HAVE FUN!!!