State Parks - Can we do something like this in Wisconsin?

Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2009 7:29 am

The Minnesota geocaching organization worked wonders in recent years to turn a bad situation for geocaching into a very good one. Here's more evidence: http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/10/19/stateparks/

Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2009 11:18 am

To coin a famous phrase, "Working on it!"

Bec

Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2009 1:50 pm

At Harrington Beach it continues to be a win-win situation. The Ranger is aware of many cachers that specifically come to the park because of the 10 caches there ... he gets positive feedback on the park in general and the caches ... he gets that feedback directly because I have the caches setup to email him the log entries.

But lately, it's the caches that have been benefiting ... as the park's campgrounds opened a couple months back ... causing about 4x the amount of finds. Many cacher/campers are finding the caches as a great night-time hunt, now that people in the park at night is not such a rare occurance (due to the camping).

The ranger is even getting into the fun of it by "giving hints" but I suspect he's being a bit evil about it: http://www.geocaching.com/seek/log.aspx?LUID=05cd1e30-0c6b-47c5-84bb-6168eb5fd7e0

Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2009 2:26 pm

Now there is a kewl username or cache name.. The Very Nice Evil Ranger.

Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2009 3:31 pm

greyhounder wrote:

To coin a famous phrase, "Working on it!"

Bec

If you don't mind me asking... what are you working on? Can you tell us what you have in mind?

Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2009 4:32 pm

Speaking on the board's behalf.....we have in mind something similar to what's been done successfully in Minnesota and some other states. It never hurts to have others contact any state parks folks they may have a relationship with to show interest.

There have been contacts and discussions. It took quite some time for some of those who came before my time to get us the policy we have in place to gain permission for cache placements on DNR managed lands, and then to get a similar process for EarthCache placements. Some things are embraced quickly by the powers that be at these agencies, others....longer. I do know some individual park rangers have expressed interest for their own park programming, and as mentioned by EnergySaver, some parks have embraced it in a big way.

Ken, thanks for pointing out that article, it can't hurt for the DNR folks to see evidence of the MN program's success.

Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2009 6:31 pm

I can't speak for any doings by the official WGA board, but I can speak to the positive things I am seeing that have happened at High Cliff State park since the campout earlier in the year.

The state park worked with us to place many new caches in the park where they were not welcomed in the past.

One of the caches I placed there has been found 100 plus times since May. That's many more times than most other caches I have placed.

I cant say that geocaching has brought more people to this park but I can say based on reading logs, that having caches there is adding geocaching to the agenda of park visitors and campers. Even introducing new cachers to the activity.

In theory that's 100+ state park admission fees Smile

I would have never expected those caches to be found that many times. It's a pleasant surprise.

Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2009 6:45 pm

Shane, Thanks for pointing out those stats. Maybe looking at numbers like that for selected parks would help nudge things more. That's a great point of view. I know there are some parks that we might never have visited ourselves if not for the caches placed there Buckhorn and Merrick spring to mind.

WGA Member Joined: 2007-11-26 Posts: 3259

-cheeto- wrote:

In theory that's 100+ state park admission fees Smile

This is a great point to be made to the PTB, along with all the other positives.

Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2009 8:51 pm

-cheeto- wrote:

I can't speak for any doings by the official WGA board, but I can speak to the positive things I am seeing that have happened at High Cliff State park since the campout earlier in the year.

The state park worked with us to place many new caches in the park where they were not welcomed in the past.

One of the caches I placed there has been found 100 plus times since May. That's many more times than most other caches I have placed.

I cant say that geocaching has brought more people to this park but I can say based on reading logs, that having caches there is adding geocaching to the agenda of park visitors and campers. Even introducing new cachers to the activity.

In theory that's 100+ state park admission fees Smile

I would have never expected those caches to be found that many times. It's a pleasant surprise.

That was where I found my first cache on Oct 31st 2004 (before the caches were all forced to be archived by the park folks). High Cliff has an amazing number of geocachers running through it. The EC there is one of the most commonly found in the state with 123 finds in just 18 months. So yes I think that this park has clearly demonstrated the draw of geocaches. I know I for one pay for my stickers every year...did I do that pre-Geocaching...nope. We can definitely show that geocaching IS a tourist draw. The state should be paying attention....and we should continue to point it out when possible.

Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2009 9:08 pm

Lostby7 wrote:

I know I for one pay for my stickers every year...did I do that pre-Geocaching...nope. We can definitely show that geocaching IS a tourist draw. The state should be paying attention....and we should continue to point it out when possible.

I bought my first annual state park sticker this year and plan to continue each year from now on. I know I wouldn't without geocaching. What this also does is it also makes me research camping at state parks as well. This year we camped at 2 State Parks and plan to add more to that list next year.

Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2009 9:12 pm

-cheeto- wrote:

Lostby7 wrote:

I know I for one pay for my stickers every year...did I do that pre-Geocaching...nope. We can definitely show that geocaching IS a tourist draw. The state should be paying attention....and we should continue to point it out when possible.

I bought my first annual state park sticker this year and plan to continue each year from now on. I know I wouldn't without geocaching. What this also does is it also makes me research camping at state parks as well. This year we camped at 2 State Parks and plan to add more to that list next year.

Agreed, I partly base what campground (usually state) I will be staying at based on the geocaches in and around the area.

Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2009 9:18 pm

The past two years that we know of, WGA members made presentations to groups of DNR/parks naturalists/staff members--Bec (greyhounder) and Ralph (zuma) in 2008, and Jim (Gramps) and us this summer. Most properties should be aware of geocaching and it potential by now, and most have sets of GPS receivers (8 per property?) that they can sign out to park users to find caches in their parks. Some properties (managers) are more receptive than others.

If there was a unified program that all the properties could participate in, I would think that less visited parks would see more activity, and maybe more reluctant personnel would see the benefits of having geocaches in their parks.

There are now fourteen caches in Roche-A-Cri State Park near us (5 traditional, 1 multi, 3 virtual, 3 earth, 2 puzzle), and we see all kinds of logs from there. Many are by the campers, many are by area cachers, but quite a few are from cachers who like the fact that they could find so many in one concentrated spot. And that park isn't very big, with quite a bit of its acreage designated state natural area.

And look how many caches Lake Wissota SP has in it now! We only hit the tip of that iceberg at the WGA picnic, and we're going back to find some more.

Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2009 9:44 pm

kbraband wrote:

The Minnesota geocaching organization worked wonders in recent years to turn a bad situation for geocaching into a very good one. Here's more evidence: http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/10/19/stateparks/

I hope so. The MN program is very successful in pulling more people into the state parks and increasing eco-tourism, and getting folks away from the Xbox.

zuma

Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2009 4:20 am

-cheeto- wrote:

I bought my first annual state park sticker this year and plan to continue each year from now on. I know I wouldn't without geocaching.

Ditto.