Welcome to
S*W*A*G's
Yuma Mega Event #11!!!
Be sure to visit our website to order your Official 2014 Yuma Mega Event GeoCoin! Click here or on the coins below!
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Hosted by: South West Arizona Geocachers (S*W*A*G)
Date: Sunday February 9, 2014
Time: 9:00 AM-2:00 PM
Location: West Wetlands Park, Yuma, Arizona
Since 2003, S*W*A*G has held this annual event that has blossomed into becoming the largest geocaching event in southwest Arizona. The event has grown from a mere 35 attendees in its first year to over 1,100 attendees in 2013!
The weekend also is the host of other quality events where you can meet other friendly geocachers, or you can tour the area of Yuma County where you'll find an abundance of geocaches of all shapes and sizes!
Weekend Events:
10:30AM Friday February 7, 2014: GC4XBZ3 Warm up before the warm up before the warm up BTWU
5:00PM Friday February 7, 2014: GC4TD7W Yuma Mega Event #11 Flash Mob
7:00AM Saturday February 8, 2014: GC4X47Y OVC Invasion
9:00AM Saturday February 8, 2014: GC4VJKJ Yuma Discovery Series #1 Kick-Off
Saturday February 8 - Sunday February 9, 2014: Yuma Discovery Series #1
How it works: Tour the city of Yuma by finding 5 traditional caches and 15 virtual waypoints. Finding all the caches and waypoints will earn you a free trackable geocoin! Click here for more details! Click here to RVSP for the Kick-Off event! Here are what the free geocoins look like:
4:30PM Saturday February 8, 2014: GC4VE3F Yuma Warm-Up Mega Event #11
7:00-7:30AM Monday February 10, 2014: GC4XMQF I choo-choo-choose you!
Mega Event Activities:
Activities Schedule:
9:00AM: Mega Event and Registration Begins
9:15AM: Display of State Proclamation and Can of Beans Artifact
9:30AM - 11:00AM: GSAK Class (First Session)
9:30AM - 11:15AM: Geo-Bingo
9:30AM - 12:00PM: Poker Run
9:30AM - 12:30PM: Youth Caching Activities
9:30AM - 12:45PM: 50/50 Raffle and Donation
9:30AM - 2:00PM: Coins and Shirts Sale
9:30AM - 2:00PM: Travel Bug Exchange
9:30AM - 4:00PM: Yuma Discovery Series
10:00AM - 12:00PM: Geo Art Challenge
10:00AM - 12:30PM: X Marks the Spot
10:00AM - 12:30PM: CITO Challenge
11:15AM - 12:45PM: GSAK Class (Second Session)
12:00PM - 2:00PM: Yuma Fire Department Truck Display
1:00PM: Event Prizes Drawing
1:45PM - 2:00PM: Clean-Up
Activities Map:
The Famous Original Can of Beans (O.C.B.)
A Piece of Geocaching History! The Original Can of Beans was SWAG from the world's first geocache! Check out more about it here.
The Arizona Star Geo-Art
If you have time during your stay in Yuma, check out the Arizona Star Geo-Art here.
The S*W*A*G Geo-Art
Just in time for Yuma Mega weekend, S*W*A*G has published the S*W*A*G Geo-Art, located just east of the Arizona Star Geo-Art. The S*W*A*G Geo-Art is composed of 119 caches, with a mix of traditional and very easy puzzle caches. Like the Arizona Star, an easy-to-obtain Goldwater Range use permit is required to access the area, and most caches will require a short hike to get to them. Check out the S*W*A*G Geo-Art here.
Meet Signal the Frog!
Get your photo with the most recognizable face in the geocaching world! And he's trackable, too!
Proclamation from the Office of the Governor of Arizona
The Governor of Arizona has officially declared February 9, 2014 to be Geocaching Day in the state of Arizona! See the real proclamation at the event!
The Biggest Geocache You've Ever Seen!
Come visit S*W*A*G's TINY TB HOTEL, the biggest geocache you've ever seen!
Also, be sure to visit S*W*A*G's PARK and STAY TB HOTEL, the second biggest geocache you've ever seen, out in the Foothills east of Yuma!
Lab Caches
How it works: Lab Caches are a new and rare geocache type that can be found by attending our Mega Event. At each Lab Cache, you'll have to write down a special code word that you'll use later to log the cache as found. This year's Lab Caches have the theme "Only In Yuma." Each Lab Cache will bring you to an unusual, unique, and historical place you can only find in Yuma, Arizona. The Lab Caches will publish at 8:00AM on February 2, 2014, and they will be available here.
Yuma Fire Department Truck
The Yuma Fire Department will display one of their fire trucks so you can see some real heroes up close. The truck will be at our event from 12PM to 2PM.
Yuma County Sheriff Search and Rescue Team
The Yuma County Sheriff Search and Rescue Team will be on hand all day with their Ident-a-Kid Child ID Program. You can read more about the Ident-a-Kid program here.
Search and Rescue will also be displaying a helicopter, a hummer, ATVs, and an air boat so we can all see some of the equipment used during operations!
Toyota Trucks Display
See the latest cache-mobiles that Toyota has to offer!
GSAK Workshop
Please allow 1 hour and 15 minutes for each presentation. That will give a few minutes between programs. Geocaching Swiss Army Knife (GSAK) is an essential tool for every "more than casual" cacher. Its simple design and easy interface belies the power of the program's capabilities. The presentation is designed to give you the skills to filter a pocket query to eliminate missing caches, sequence an efficient route, and log the caches quickly-but not just "copy/paste" duplicated logs. GSAK is much more than a "track my finds" database tool. Learn how it can improve your ability to hide caches. Use a macro to locate empty spaces in cache-heavy areas and how to import your coordinates of your hides into GSAK so you can copy/paste them to eliminate typing errors when publishing caches. And finally, see how GSAK interacts with other programs, like Streets and Trips, to make your geocaching more enjoyable. Hints and tricks include: Creating different views for different purposes; Using GSAK's variables to make your handheld more efficient and your Nuvi or other portable automobile unit sequence your route. If you use multiple GPS units, you will find the section on using Windows tools to assign drive letters to different units indispensable. GsmX2 is a nine-year geocacher and GSAK user but certainly no expert. His instruction will be practical, easy to understand and not "too nerdy." You will receive access to "click-by-click" instructions for every topic that is presented. Come join the fun!!! Seating space is limited, and you need to bring your own chair or you can stand.
Geo Bingo
How it works: Get to know other geocachers! Find someone who meets the requirements of each Bingo box, and then write their username in that box! (For example, find another geocacher who has scuba dived to find a cache.) Get five in a row! The first five geocaching teams or individuals with a bingo win a prize!
50/50 S*W*A*G Raffle
How it works: Tickets will be available for a donation of $1.00 each (or 6 tickets for $5). A winning ticket will be drawn towards the end of the event and one person will claim half of the collected amount; the other half will go toward the cost of the event. You must be present to win.
Travel Bug Exchange
How it works: A travel bug table will provide the opportunity to leave and/or pick up travel bugs so that we can assist them on their journeys.
X Marks the Spot
How it works: Each participant will be given the same coordinates to find and mark with their GPS. The person who is closest to the coordinates will be the winner.
Kids' Geo Trail and Youth Activities
How it works: Beginner and Advanced Geo Trails, Arts & Crafts Table, and more. Click here for more information!
GeoArt Challenge
How it works: A certain design will be assigned to draw on your GPS receiver by walking and using the tracking option on your GPS. A prize will be given for the best art of the design.
FREE Poker Run - The Best Six Hands Win!
How it works: You can pick up the coordinates during sign-in for these 5 caches. Do NOT open any envelopes. Turn your hand in to a S*W*A*G volunteer who will post your hand.
Prizes:
1st Place
2nd Place
3rd Place
4th Place
5th Place
6th Place
Be sure to include the number of people in your party in your "Will Attend" log!
We also update our website regularly regarding merchandise, registration, and accommodations for those of you visiting Yuma! You can visit our website by clicking here.
Be sure to "like" our Facebook page for the Yuma Event to help keep up-to-date on all things related to the event. You can find the Facebook Event page here.
If you would like to participate as a vendor, please contact us by clicking here.