Up North

Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2013 2:39 pm

Once you head north of HWY 8 in the state, the number of geocachers active, present, vocal and involved in the activity and the WGA drops off significantly.

What is something you would like to do if it's possible to get them fired up and more involved. (I realize many have connections or have done things, but please list something that may not have been done if possible or a new suggestion.)

Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2013 9:25 pm

Good Question Tom,

We have looked into having one of the Large WGA events in the great north in the past, but the logistics for the current board were just out of reach. (A large event requires at least 3-4 trips to the park to check out pavilions, campsites, put out new caches, etc.) With the current board, most of us are at least a couple of hours from Highway 8.

We have been using Highway 29 as the "North/South" divider and 51/39 as the "East/West" divider.

this is how we have divided the state into quadrants for the rotation of events.

We did have the picnic at Brunett Island last year (23 miles south of 8 ) and did draw a few cachers from the north.

The spring campout will be at Interstate SP (Highway 8 runs thru the park)

So looking at the resent past we are attempting to draw cachers from the North to join us, but still have to keep the events available to our current memebership in the south

We are trying to attract the entire states cachers to our events, but unless we buy a bus and pick them up, we cannot force them to attend.

Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2013 10:23 pm

Hello Northwoods Tom

The key thing is .. people .. would there be geocachers in the area willing to take on leading a Geo 101 class for example? If connections could be made to offer it, say at the local library, to recruit new geocachers, if supporting materials could be given, would they get involved?

Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2013 7:29 pm

Does the number fall off due to the lower concentrations of people in the Northwoods?

I've noticed that over the years geocaching has become more social so we find our groups to cache with but the number of events and the area we cover has also greatly increased.

It looks like the WGA tries to spread out it's events and rotates them every year to give new groups of people access to the "WGA" and all of us fun people that are part of it.

If I was one the WGA, hopefully I'd meet more Up North cachers and work with them to make them more confortable with hosting their own events so they can strengthen their caching ties with others in the area.

It's the members that make the WGA strong. Without them, there's no way that 9 people (the BOD) could do what they get done every year.

Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2013 7:57 pm

I do live in the SE corner of the state where we have a high concentration of active geocachers so I may not be the best one to answer this question. But I do try to be friendly and talk to as many people as I can at the WGA events, regardless of their zip code. I had such a blast at the WGA picnic in 2011 at Brunet SP meeting many people from the north part of the state. I do love the Wisconsin northwoods, we have property just south of Hwy 8 in Taylor county where I've spent a lot of time. When our family lived in Eau Claire we got farther north fairly often but that was before I had discovered geocaching. I would hope to include people from all corners of the state.