If you haven't heard about Geekfest, here's what it's about - geocachers helping other geocachers learn (even remotely) geeky stuff!
The event will be held, in part, outdoors at a location to be determined, but probably somewhere along the river. This segment will include a geocaching "demo" and "how to" WHICH IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. We'll need plenty of geocachers to help with this, acting as "tour guides" for the participants.
The really Geeky stuff will be presented INDOORS, in the wonderful Air-Conditioned Meeting Room, complete with internet access, at the RUIZ Branch Library, 1600 Grove Blvd, just off East Riverside Dr. The room is reserved for their open hours that day, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Expect this to be an ALL DAY event if you want to attend both the outdoor and indoor segments.
Here's the tentative curriculum:
- OUTDOOR CLASSES:
- What the heck IS geocaching?? For rank newbies only! With help from EVERYONE who's already a geocacher. This will be OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
- Basic GPSr skills -- taking waypoints
- Basic GPSr skills -- compensating for obstacles such as tree cover, cliffs, walls, etc. when searching
- Things to look for in a "muggle-proof" cache location
- Practicing "leave no trace" tenets in your searches
- What do YOU want to learn? Let us know!
- INDOOR CLASSES:
- Basic geocaching with Geocaching Swiss Army Knife
- how to generate a "pocket query" on gc.com
- how to load it in a database
- basic filtering to limit your list
- basic paperless caching using a PDA or IPod
- Intermediate GSAK
- (under construction!)
- (under construction!)
- (under construction!)
- (under construction!)
- Advanced GSAK:
- Advanced filtering techniques
- how to look for caches along a route (like for a vacation) or in a polygon, and other tricky
operations
- what do YOU want to learn? Let us know!
Lunch is not yet planned, but we'll want some drinks and snacks available, so please plan to help with a little something.
Almost forgot ... We'd like you to RSVP for a) the morning session, b) the afternoon session, and c) if you are willing to help with the "intro to geocaching". Please note here what sessions you wish to attend, and whether you'll help with the newbies.
If you have never geocached before, and came to this page based on the note in the Austin REI newsletter, simply email Moosiegirl to let her know you're coming! You will be notified about time, location, etc. as specifics are finalized.
Thanks, Dirich92, for setting me straight on the branch library name! :-I
UPDATE, JULY 17TH: The initial location for the outdoor session is N30 14.724 W97 42.870 (the fire training tower at the Kreig Softball Fields on Pleasant Valley Rd. next to Longhorn Dam on Town Lake). Time is 8:00 a.m. Bring your GPSr, a compass if you have one, a bottle of water (refills available), and your questions. IN CASE OF BAD WEATHER, go straight to the Library (We're not talking drizzle here!).
INDOOR SESSIONS WILL BEGIN AT 11:30, WITH A SHORT LUNCH BREAK AT 1:00 P.M. Basic and Advanced Sessions on GSAK, plus Paperless Caching with Cachemate (Palm) and GPX Sonar (PPC), will be held at the same time, in a "Round Robin" format. We'll also ask some of our "seasoned" cachers to be available for Q&A sessions, in case you didn't hear what you needed, or missed something in a presentation.
NOW, ABOUT FOOD AND DRINK:
I'd like four volunteers to bring a 12-pack each of the following beverages: Coke, Diet Coke, Dr. Pepper, Sprite. Volunteer for something you like, because I want you to take the leftovers HOME! Next, I'd like four volunteers to bring a plate with finger foods such as fruit or veggie chunks, chips and/or crackers, meat and cheese chunks, cookies, etc. -- things that DO NOT need utensils -- and NO DIPS. These will be all-day snack food for a quick pick-me-up for attendees. Same rule goes for the people who bring these items ... take the leftovers HOME! I will bring 2 big crocks of tea (sweet and unsweet) and lots of ice, plenty of cups and plates and napkins. For lunch, we will get 3 or 4 volunteers to be "runners" to local restaurants for fast food lunches, so bring some small bills and change to pay for your lunch.
We'll have to wrap up and be out of the room when the library closes, so I would appreciate as many hands as possible for cleanup and carry-out in the 4:30 to 5 time frame.
WATCH THIS PAGE for more details and updates!