* 2017 WGA Fall Geo Picnic *
Whitefish Dunes State Park
Door County Wisconsin
The Wisconsin Geocaching Association Fall Picnic will be held on Saturday, September 23rd, 2017
Whitefish Dunes State Park is a 867-acre state park of Wisconsin, United States, on the eastern shore of the Door Peninsula. This day-use park preserves the most substantial sand dunes on the western shore of Lake Michigan. The remains of eight successive prehistoric Native American villages are on the National Register of Historic Places as Whitefish Dunes-Bay View Site.
Recreational activities at Whitefish Dunes include hiking, fishing, canoeing, boating, and swimming. There are several picnic tables located throughout the park and shelters to rent. During the winter there is skiing and snowshoeing.
The Whitefish Dunes Nature Center features exhibits about the ecology, geology and cultural history of the park. The center is open year-round. There are programs offered for children and adults to learn about the park's natural history and cultural history. Naturalists are available to answer questions as well as give tours.
There are several trails within Whitefish Dunes. The Black trail is 2.5 miles long through the woods with rock exposure. The Brachipod trail is 1.5 miles long with fossils and nature views. The Clark Lake Spur trail is 0.7 miles long. The Green trail is 1.8 miles long. There are also the Red, Red Pine, Whitefish Creek Spur, and Yellow trails.
Mammals that inhabit the park include rabbits, raccoons, skunks, squirrels, and woodchucks. Reptiles and amphibians inhabit the dunes, including frogs, painted turtles, salamanders, and snakes.
The shelter is reserved for the Picnic which includes a fireplace, electricity, tables and an outdoor cooking grill.
*** Whitefish Dunes State Park requires a state park admission sticker or daily pass to enter the campground where the shelter is located. Please state you are going to the Reserved Shelter for he WGA Picnic. If you plan to bike on the Bike Trails there is a trail pass required. ***
Coming to the Picnic and need a WGA name tag? They are free for all WGA members, but to get one, you must be a member. Not a member? Good news, membership is free. Head to www.wi-geocaching.com to sign up. Already a member but need a name tag? Follow the link below to take you to the website.
WGA NAME TAG REQUEST
A WGA BOD member caching in the area has reported cell coverage may be spotty at the picnic and forest area. Cachers may want to download the area caches to GPS units ahead of time and not depend on cellphone apps for caching.
** WGA ON-SITE VOLUNTEERS ** Want to assist with the activities? We may need some helping hands for a few activities on the schedule. We may just ask those at the picnic for a bit of help.
EVENT SCHEDULE
• Check In/Registration . . . . . . . . 8:30 - 11:30 AM
• Park caches download by (WGA Member). . . . . 8:30 - 10:30 AM
• Nametag Pickup . . . . . . . . . . . . 8:30 - Noon
• WGA Merchandise Sales . . . . . . . . . .9:00 - 5:00 PM
Frog Toss and Chuck an Ammo Can entries will be sold at the merchandise table.
Game chances sold all day. Game rules will be available at the merchandise table. Announcements may be made concerning the games.
• PICK INFO UP AT REGISTRATION FOR ALL THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES . . . . . 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
****** CREATIVE CACHE CONTEST - Bring a Creative Cache and Vote for your Favorite. Top Caches win a Prize.
****** BUY A BISON - FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A PRIZE! 30 Bison Tubes will be sold at $2 each, with a prize in 5 of the Tubes for a chance to be a WINNER.
• Meet at Shelter to find a Group to go out and Cache With . . . .9:00, 10:00, 11:00 AM . . . .
• TB/Geocoin Exchange Table. . . . . . . .All Day
• Lawn Games - BYO Games to have available for the Group. . . . . . . . All Day
The WGA has come across some authentic Pathtags LCR dice. This means that if you are feeling lucky with those tags and want to try a shake at a fast-paced, high-stakes, pathtag swapping dice game, just look around for the crazies in the corner "throwing the bones" wagering their Pathtags. Who knows, some lucky cacher may even find themselves taking home their very own set of dice.
• Lunch /Grills Ready . . . . . . . . . . Noon
• Group Picture - Drone and Camera Shots. . . . . . . . . .4:00 PM
• WGA member meeting OPEN FORUM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:30 PM
• Attendance Prize Drawings and Contest Winners (Must be present to win!) . . . . . . . . . . . 4:45 PM
• 5th Annual 2016 Travel Bug Race Awards. . . . 5:00 PM
• 6th Annual 2017 Travel Bug Race Start . . . 5:15 PM
• Supper/Grills Ready . . . . . . . . . 5:30 - 6:30 PM
WHAT TO BRING TO THE PICNIC
• Your own meat to grill
• Table setting for you and your family
• Lawn chairs if you want them
• Beverages for your group
• A FOOD ITEM TO SHARE. To ensure variety, please bring an item to share based on your Last name: Last name A-H: chips or snacks/ Last name I-P: cookies or dessert/ Last name Q-Z: salad, vegetable or fruit
If you would like to contribute a prize for the drawing please contact a WGA Board of Director.
Join the 6th Annual WGA Picnic to Picnic Travel Bug Race! Bring along a new travel bug or purchase a WGA Cachekinz ($7) or WGA Geocoin ($15) to enter in this year-long race. New this year, the WGA will be offering Hitchhiker Travel Tags($7) that are supplied by Wooden Nickel Geocoins. The winners will be crowned at the 2018 WGA Picnic! The current 2016-2017 Race is getting close to the Finish Line.
Check The Standings Here