Celebrate the birth of Geocaching on Friday, May 3rd, 2000 at Bloomington Blue Switch Day #4 at Shelter #1, West Bush Lake Park: 9301 W Bush Lake Rd, Bloomington, MN 55438. Event happens rain or shine. Join us for birthday cake and coffee plus prize drawings.
According to the Geocaching Official blog: May 2–5, you can earn the Blue Switch Day 2024 souvenir**. by finding a geocache, Adventure Lab® Location, or by attending an Event Community like Bloomington Blue Switch Day.
Rumor has it . . . a new cache will be posted the day of the event.
"On May 2, 2000, at approximately midnight, eastern savings time, the great blue switch* controlling selective availability was pressed. Twenty-four satellites around the globe processed their new orders, and instantly the accuracy of GPS technology improved tenfold. Tens of thousands of GPS receivers around the world had an instant upgrade.
"On May 3, 2000, in the woods just outside, Beaver Creek, Oregon Dave Ulmer, hid the FIRST Geocache." May 3rd is now celebrated as "Blue Switch Day"* and the birthday of your host! Come celebrate 24 years of this Worldwide Hobby in true Bloomington fashion. Outdoors and with cake!
*there is no actual blue switch!
From Ground Speak:
**We often underestimate our reliance on GPS (Global Positioning System), yet, over the course of 24 years, it has fundamentally reshaped our lives and the world we inhabit. Before May 2000, Selective Availability restricted GPS technology to military use. However, on Blue Switch Day, the U.S. government made a landmark decision which opened up GPS for public use. Earn a souvenir by going geocaching to celebrate the 24th anniversary of Blue Switch Day!