Some of my geocaching friends are little bit crazy. I have this one friend who is totally obsessed with Alice in Wonderland. I have another friend who keeps asking people to host cache swap events. I don’t know if they were a little crazy before they started geocaching, or whether finding micros in the woods drove them slightly batty. I doesn’t really matter. Being crazy and weird is a little bit awesome and so I wanted to throw a little party for my friends, who like the March Hare and his friend the Hatter are a little mad. What makes less sense than celebrating our un-birthdays together? Like Humpty Dumpty who received a lovely cravat for his un-birthday, geocachers attending this event will be getting some lovely gifts as well. EVERYONE IS WELCOME, whether you are and experienced geocacher or want to find out what its about, a little crazy or totally sane, bringing a gift or not. You may even attend if this is your actual birthday, although don’t expect any special treatment. I can hear you now asking, “Can I really get an un-birthday present?” The gift exchange is only open to those fully participating (see WHAT? for more on that.)
WHAT?
We're just going to be hanging out. But there will also be a geocaching version of birthday gift exchange. All are welcome, you do not have to participate in the Exchange to log the event; but if you do wish to participate in the March Hare’s Un-Birthday Cache Exchange you must follow the listed rules.
Please read the following March Hare’s Un-Birthday Cache Exchange rules carefully:
1) Prior to arriving at the event, you must hide a gift (Un-Birthday Cache) somewhere nearby. Suggested distance is within 3 miles of the event location. We’ve checked and there are lots of good places* close by, but we won’t be super strict if you find a perfect place just outside the 3 miles range. Remember, this Un-Birthday Cache will be for someone else**. The Un-Birthday Cache can be anything geocaching related (new trackables, awesome SWAG items, cache containers, Tools Of The Trade (TOTT) items, etc.) Please use your own judgment in selecting your Un-Birthday Cache items and try to keep the cost under $10. Place your gift items in any type of cache container. Don’t forget to mark a waypoint for your hidden gift before you leave it.
2) You must bring a (un-)birthday card of any type (handmade or store bought) to the event. Inside the card, you must provide the coordinates to the Un-Birthday Cache that you hid for another cacher to find. In addition to the coordinates, write your geocaching name and cell phone number just in case the receiving cacher needs to phone-a-friend (PAF) to find the their Un-Birthday Cache. Also include any unique attributes your cache may have; identify if the cache requires special tools or is not wheel-chair accessible, etc.
3) At the event, the (un-)birthday cards will be placed in a container and mixed up. Everyone who places a (un-)birthday card will then be able to randomly choose another (un-)birthday card. For families with multiple cachers, you may bring more than one (un-)birthday card, but there must be one Un-Birthday Cache hidden for each (un-)birthday card placed in the swap container. After exchange, we will make sure no one got their own card, and make additional exchanges as needed.
4) After the March Hare’s Un-Birthday Cache Exchange, we will have a group photo. The hosts will stick around until just after 11am, so feel free to stay and chat, but if you want to go find your Un-Birthday Cache, you’re free to do that, too. Remember… the entire cache is yours to keep including the container so make sure you take everything after the find - Cache-In-Cache-Out.
*Because these will not be permanent caches, you do not have to follow rules for placement distance from an existing cache. But please remember to be respectful of private or restricted property in choosing your placement hide. **You can make it a traditional type cache, a puzzle cache, or a multi-cache to make the hunt more fun. Just remember that the recipient may not be an experienced cacher and this should be fun for everyone.
WHEN:
Before 10am - hide your gift (see ‘What?’ above)
10:00 am — Show up, sign the log book, drop off your card, discover trackables, make some friends
10:30 am — (Un-)Birthday Card Exchange - receive your (un-)birthday card
10:45 am — Smile for the camera
11:00 am — Event concludes. Don’t forget to take your trackables with you.
WHERE:
Lovettsville Library, 12 North Light Street - Meeting Room
