2015 Mount Vernon Parks Geocoin Challenge
Update 6/22/15: The Geoweekend was a total blast! We still have some coins (about 50) left over for this event. So, the event continues, until all the coins are gone. We will update this as the coins dwindle. Download the logsheet (click here) and complete the challenge. Turn the sheet into the Parks Admin Office at Hillcrest Park to receive your coin. We've left the below description in place. Tell your friends! It was a awesome weekend. See you next June. Birthday 126 and a bigger better event!
For our 2nd annual event, we are celebrating Mount Vernon's 125th Birthday and the Summer Solstice. Three days of events await you.
Friday night is the Travel Bug Social. We are hosting a 'BugHunt'. Scattered around Historic Downtown and the new 'River Walk' are 10 travel bugs to hunt and discover. A trackable tag is awarded for finding them, as well as logging the bugs and the event itself. Display tables will be set up to show off your collection, and a exchange table will also be available.
Saturday is the main Geocoin event. Starting at Hillcrest Park ( N 48° 24.550 W 122° 19.620 ) Cachers will check in, receive their logbooks and head out to the Mount Vernon Parks, Trails and other city landmarks in search of 10 brand new caches. Upon completion of the hunt, return your logbook to the Hillcrest Lodge (or Admin office) to receive your coin. At 10:00am, we will be closing down the Lodge and moving our event to 'The Front Gallery and Event Room'. This is located right on the Riverwalk where our Friday Night Event took place (N48 25.139 W122 20.345) Our original plan to have food trucks at the Hillcrest Lodge got DNF'd as there are no trucks available. They are all in Burlington for the Berry Dairy Days.
So this works just as well. At 11:00am, we will open up at the Front Gallery. There is also a Farmers Market going on with several food vendors. This is also in the Downtown Core which has numerous restaurants within a short walk. We will be handing out coins from the 'Front'.
At 12:30pm, we will be handing out Birthday Cake to celebrate Mount Vernon's 125th Birthday. Mayor Jill Boudreau will be on hand. Starting at 1pm, there will be a raffle for items donated by local merchants, as well as some geocaching goodies. You must be present to win. Your registration includes a raffle ticket. Additional tickets are available for purchase. Like last years raffle, you'll place your ticket(s) in the basket of the prize you want to win. All proceeds go to the Mount Vernon Parks Foundation. A non-profit organization that supports the parks projects, and a major contributor to this event.
Sunday starts with a Meet and Greet at Woods Coffee (7:30am) hosted by MizD. Then at 11:00am, MilosPeople have organized a CITO event at Hillcrest Park to remove some invasive Ivy. This will be followed by the second Geocoin Event of the weekend. The Mount Vernon Outdoor Community Art Hunt Geocoin.
Pre-registration is requested, but can also be done at checkin. Register Here
The Mount Vernon Arts commission and other local art are the focus of the second Geocoin to be awarded this weekend. The Geocoin Art hunt! Log books will be provided with clues to locating pieces of art around the city. Complete the logbook and return it to receive the limited edition MV Arts Geocoin. There are only 100 coins expected to be minted, and this will be posted soon. The hunt will start at noon.
If you have not visited Mount Vernon, or the Skagit Valley, as a Geocacher you are missing out. This particular challenge is based on the City's expansive parks system, trails and other city landmarks. There are over 100 caches hidden in our small community, with more than a 1,000 throughout the valley with a few power trails to get those numbers up.
Follow the links for the online registration form. Registration is also available the day of the event. It will continue until all of the coins are gone.
Home base for this event is at the Hillcrest Lodge, located within Hillcrest Park. 1717 S 13th St Mount Vernon Wa. We will have Wi-Fi and public computers available at the lodge for any last minute updates or information you may need. If you have any special needs for software, please email us at geocaching@mountvernonwa.gov and we'll try to accomodate you.
Timeline for the event is:
7:30am- Registration Opens
10:00am- Lodge Closes and the event moves to the Riverwalk at 'The Front' 420 Myrtle St
11:00am- Event reopens at The Front
12:30pm-2:00pm. City Birthday Cake and Raffle
4:00pm- Event Ends
To claim your coin, take the entry form you are given during registration. Mark the caches you found and return them to the administration office for your coin. This event is limited to one coin per household and/or family. For families with more than one registered Geocaching name, please contact staff. Forms can be mailed, or brought in later to claim your coin. Limited to coins available. The event will be closed when the last coin is awarded. If you cannot attend the day of the event, we ask that you call first to check on the availability of the coin. The Parks website will also be updated as the supply dwindles.
Traveler Information:
Hotels: Sadly we had hoped to entice some of our local establishments for a discount. Unfortunately, we could not guarantee the numbers they wanted.
RV's: We are opening up the North Edgewater parking area for RV's. This is dry camping with no services. There are public restrooms a short walk away.
Tent Camping: Edgewater Park is a grassy area perfect for tents. However, it is not a secured campground and we'd recommend taking your tent down when not occupied. There is no charge for use of the Edgewater facility.
Links:
Downtown Bughunt
Mount Vernon Parks Geocaching Page
Mount Vernon Downtown Association
Mount Vernon Parks Foundation
Online Registration
 This event is sponsored in part by the Washington State Geocaching Association. If you are a geocacher in the state of Washington, please consider joining WSGA. See the WSGA website for details. |