This event will start at 4:00 PM at the new GigaParts store at 6123 University Dr (US-72), just west of AL-255 -- in the building where Burlington Coat Factory used to be. We will meet in the HUMONGOUS lecture hall through the double doors in the back right of the store, under the “Classroom” sign.
This is a very special event; it's not just one event,
it will be three, Three, THREE events in ONE!
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1) Geocaching 100. A short presentation covering the most basic/essential aspects of geocaching will be given. There will be ample time for questions and answers. Experienced cachers are invited to participate and help answer questions and share stories of their experience, hints, secrets, and escapades. Door prizes will be awarded.
2) International Geocaching Day (IGD). Each year, geocaching.com designates the third Saturday in August as International Geocaching Day. By attending this event--and/or finding at least one geocache that day--premium members will be awarded a special digital souvenir on their profile. Geocachers who have found (or attempted to find) geocaches in other countries will be invited to share stories about those adventures – digital pictures are encouraged. Please contact GameForTravel via the link above.
NOTE: For the current Cosmic Quest promotion, everyone will receive three points for attending an event. These points might help you receive one, Two, and possibly THREE digital souvenirs for that endeavor!
3) IGD Travel Bug Race 2025. The first International Geocaching Day (IGD) Travel Bug Race will be started around 5:30, at the end of third section of this very special event. All attendees are invited to enter up to FIVE recently activated travel bugs into the race. Anyone may submit a late entry by physically dropping it off at the GigaParts store and logging a “Dropped” into GC9HWMA, see below. The rules are loosely based on those used for The Great Geocaching Block Party 2013 Travel Bug Race (and are subject to change from those listed here).
NOTE: Activating a travel bug during the Cosmic Quest will earn you one point
All travel bugs submitted will be collected and simultaneously released in a Travel Bug Hotel nearby. The owners of travel bugs in the race should not retrieve or move any travel bug in the race. The Grand Prize, a $100 gift certificate to GigaParts, will be awarded to the owner of the trackable with the most accumulated points. Other prizes to be announced. A status report will be posted at least monthly
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In addition to any specific goal you may create for a travel bug, its description should include:
"This travel bug is racing in the International Geocaching Day Travel Bug Race 2025. To be eligible for a prize, this travel bug must 1) travel at least 2025 miles before the end of the race, which is at the start of the International Geocaching Day event to be held on August 16, 2025 in Huntsville, AL and 2) be Dropped into GC9HWMA at least once.
Geocachers that Retrieve, move, and earn points for one or more trackables will also receive those points for themselves… with the possibility of potential prizes.
POINTS AWARDED FOR ACTIVITIES
ACTIVITY POINTS
1 - Recalculated miles traveled ............................................................ 1
Miles traveled will start with the distance shown on the
trackable’s webpage minus “virtual” or suspicious activity
and by early return to GC9HWMA (see #3)
2 - First trackable to travel at least 2025 miles ............................ 2025
3 - Dropped into GC9HWMA1 and confirmed by judge ............. 2025
A trackable can be Dropped into GC9HWMA at any
time. If its “current” distance (not cumulative) is at least
2025 miles, these points will be awarded. Each time a
trackable is Retrieved from GC9HWMA, its “current”
mileage is reset to 0 (zero).
4 - First trackable to be Dropped into GC9HWMA and confirmed
by judge after traveling at least 2025 miles ................................. 1000
5 - Trackable physically in container inside GigaParts at start of
IGD event in 2025 ............................................................................ 2025
6 - Cacher Retrieves or Grabs a trackable and moves it ............... 50
7 - Enter a state in USA or province in Canada2, 3 ....................... 100
8 - Enter a country other than USA2, 3 .......................................... 1000
9 - Visit a local Event2 ....................................................................... 100
10 - Visit a CITO Event2 .................................................................... 200
11 - Visit a Mega Event2 .................................................................... 500
12 - Visit a GIGA Event2 .................................................................. 1000
13 - Trackable is Discovered .............................................................. 25
14 - Picture uploaded to trackable’s webpage .............................. 100
15 – Picture uploaded to social media using #GigaParts or
#IGD2025 ................................................................................ 250
1 GC9HWMA, Hubbel V23, is located in the parking lot for GigaParts, 6123 Univerity Dr, Huntsville, AL. Trackables should be Dropped into this cache online, but physically placed in the container at the Customer Service desk inside the store. Store hours are 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Monday through Saturday.
2 Cacher’s logging activity will be reviewed to verify physical movement of trackable
3 Each state, province, and country will be counted only once per trackable”