WGA 2006 Geo-campout Event Cache

(Wissota group photo)

Dates: May 12th - 14th, 2006

Location: Peninsula State Park, Fish Creek, WI

Caching event: Saturday May 13, 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM

Caching base: N45 09.846 W87 13.485 (Pine Picnic Area between Beach and Amphitheater)

Camping: Group sites "Orchard" & "Meadow"

Costs: Saturday caching event is free! (donations accepted)

Group site camping: -$10.00 per night/per family unit. This reflects a slight increase over past years to help cover the DNR's fee increase. (we hope to break even)
Payment needs to be received prior to the campout to lock in your reservation. All group campers must pre-register and pre-pay.

Registration: All participants must pre-register to guarantee enough materials are printed.

The Wisconsin Geocaching Association will be holding its 5th annual Geo-Campout at Peninsula State Park, May 12th through May 14th, 2006. Come camp with us at the group sites, or just come for the day on Saturday.

Friday Evening:
The fun starts Friday afternoon after 3:00 PM. Campers and geocachers can check-in anytime after 3:00 PM. (campers are not allowed to setup after 11:PM, DNR rules) Look for the hosts at the registration tent (group sites "Orchard" & "Meadow") upon your arrival. Those camping can start setting up once you sign in.

The Amazing Race - Geocaching Style If you have been to the past Friday Night Theme Caches, you may remember- 'Clue' 2003), 'The Crossword Hunt' (2004) and 'CSI' (2005).

This year's Friday Night Theme cache is 'The Amazing Race - Geocaching Style'. The ideas are taken from the popular reality TV show - The Amazing Race, complete with 'detours', 'roadblocks' and 'fastforwards'. In order to make it a race with cachers starting at all times during Friday afternoon/evening each team will be timed from when they start to when then hit the 'pit stop', the last leg of this race.

This will be a multi-cache with each leg of the race adding new twists, turns and puzzles. Make your decisions at Detours if you want to go for the brains or stamina option. Roadblocks will contain puzzles or activities designed to cause delays in getting to your next destination. Fastforwards allow you to skip a leg of the race to improve your time, but only a certain numbers of teams will be able to use them, it's your choice if you want to take the time to check and see if there is still one available, or by-pass it and continue with the normal legs of the race.

So, be sure to check in Friday to start YOUR amazing race!

The group campsite will be the base of operations for the Friday night caching game.

S'more good times will be had around the evening campfire!

Saturday caching event:
The event will be held rain or shine. Registration will be at the Pines Picnic area, which shares the Nicolet Beach parking lot. Look for the portable "GeoPink shelter" which will be our base of operations for the weekend. There will be lots of temporary caches hidden for you to find on Saturday.

When you arrive on Saturday, register at the shelter starting at 8:30am. At that point we will provide you with maps, handouts, cache sheets, and name tags. We will also be able to upload all the waypoints into your GPS with our laptop computers. (Serial cables available include: Garmin etrex flat style, Garmin round connecter, Lowrance GM100 style, Magellan 4-pin style. If you need a different cable, please bring yours along with you.) PDA files will also be available for those paperless geocachers.

Bring your FRS radios. Once again, we will be using our FRS radio repeater system. FRS radios are a fun way to keep in touch with other geocachers, and ask for help. We're sure to see a bunch of Rinos in the park. We will be operating on FRS/GMRS channel 7.

Bring your own food to grill for lunch. At noon we will have the grills fired up and hot. Return to base around lunch to grill your food and share your experiences with fellow cachers. Our picnic area has several smaller grills spread thoughout the area. We'll have several lit. Don't forget your plates and utensils!

At 5:00 PM all geocachers should make their way to the Amphitheater for the group photo. As usual, the photo will be taken at 5:00 PM sharp! The WGA will hold a General Membership meeting at the conclusion of the day's events. WGA members are strongly encouraged to attend this meeting which will include a presentation by the Park's Naturalist.

Night caching:
After dark on Saturday, we will be hosting night caching. Many have said the night caches are the best part of past events. The night caches are family friendly and not intended to be scary. In the past, night caches have blinked, glowed, and rung bells. We had angels swooping out of trees, trails of alien blood leading to crashed space craft, and caches that reflected their position. The night caches are a lot of fun.

There will be two upload areas for night caching -- the GeoPink Shelter at the Pines Picnic area, and Welker's Point Shelter. A fire will be warming in the Welker's Shelter fireplace. Welcker's shelter has very limited parking, 8 vehicles. Non-campers are welcome to join in for caching and a bonfire will also be at the group sites. Non-campers must leave the park by 11:00 PM, DNR rules.
Group site parking:
Those visiters who are not camping at the group site are asked to park in the overflow parking. No parking is permitted along the roads leading up to the group sites.

Sunday Morning - Pancake Breakfast The day after the Geocaching "event", we'll host our 3rd annual pancake breakfast fundraiser. Let us do the cooking so you can relax before breaking camp. All-U-Can-Eat Pancakes, sausage, coffee, and juice. Location will be at the GeoPink Shelter in the Pines Picnic area.

Recommended donations:
$4.00 - Adults (age 14+)
$2.00 - Children age 5 - 14
$ ??? - Children under 5, donate based on consumption

(Sorry, contest is only open to group campers for logistical reasons.)

Park Naturalist presentation - The Park's naturalist will be on hand to give a presentation about the park's history and natural formations. Many of the temp caches will highlight key locations which will be discussed at the presentation. She'll be able to answer our questions about the unique things we saw while out geocaching.

Camping information:
Pre-registration is required for all group site campers
Group sites: Orchard & Meadow
Coordinates: N45 09.877 W87 12.756 (Orchard/Meadow)
Arrival time: Friday 3:00 PM or later. Anytime on Saturday. Campers must sign in when they arrive at the campsite.

Group site "Meadow" has a 60-person capacity and room for 25 vehicles. Partially shaded. Pit toilets at the site.
Group site "Orchard" has an 60-person capacity and room for 25 vehicles. Partially shaded. Pit toilets at the site.

Both sites are walk-in and tent camping only. Wheeled campers are not allowed

Registrants will be assigned to a specific camping site (either "Meadow" or "Orchard") they need to register under. Upon arrival to the campground, campers need to stop at the park office and sign in with the DNR. Registrants will need to know their assigned campsite, name of WGA official who reserved the site, and possibly the registration number. This info will be emailed to you prior to your arrival at the park. Tent arrangement is on a first come-first served basis. Campsite assignment may be transfered upon arrival, as long as we don't exceed the maximum number of tents/people/cars on any of the sites. Any changes need to be coordinated though our event organizers.

There is room for up to 120 people to camp at the group sites. Because of limited parking at the group sites (50 vehicles), those with pop-ups or campers will need to consider reserving their own site in the family camping area. People who will be bringing larger RVs, motorhomes, or trailers should make their own reservations through the Reserve America website.

This event hosted by: (click to visit our website)