Monthly Archives: October 2015

Organization News

UPDATE: THANK YOU FOR OFFERING!!! We Cannot Do It Without You!

UPDATE: 11/10/2015 We have had one individual step up to look over the WordPress section of the website and another offer with the Nuts and Bolts programming pieces of the website and right after that, a 3rd WGAer offered their assistance with the Nuts and Bolts programming. For now, I think we have more volunteers than there is work. Look for announcements very soon introducing these people! Thanks to all who give their time to keep us great~ WalkingAdventure

The WGA is run completely by the efforts of our members who graciously volunteer their time for the organization.  Whether you’re a volunteer who helps a little, maybe wiping tables after an event, or a lot, like the board members or webmaster, your efforts are appreciated.  It takes the efforts of many to keep this excellent organization up and running.  Can you help?  We always have a need for help at events, please consider donating your time.  We also have a need for volunteers for ongoing projects, here are a few volunteering opportunities to consider:

  • New Webmasters needed ASAP – We need several people to keep our website smoothly. We are looking for someone familiar with website administration using WordPress, Linux admin and PHP/MySQL programming. It isn’t necessary to have all 3 skills so contact <walkingadventure (at) wi-geocaching.com for more information.
  • Newsletter help – We need volunteers to write or collect articles for the quarterly newsletter.
  • We need new members in our regular committees (Membership, education and technology). Please consider joining to help with ongoing projects.
  • Event help – We need volunteers at our events. Our next large event will be the spring campout, just outside the Milwaukee area.  We are looking for geocache hiders and help at the event.

If you are willing to share your time and talents with the WGA, please contact any board member or email beccaday (at) wi-geocaching.com.  Thank you for your consideration!

 

Event Reports, Newsletters

GIFF – Geocaching International Film Festival

In the past, the Geocaching International Film Festival was held at the HQ in Seattle but this year the event was rained out.  Their loss is our gain as they have decided to send out the films to be viewed at events around the world.  All who attend one of these events gets a special souvenir for their geocaching.com profiles.

The Wisconsin Geocaching Association is hosting a GIFF event for you all to attend.  Check out GC654RG to be held at Horicon Marsh International Education Center on Sunday, November 8th.

Other Wisconsin geocachers are hosting GIFF events of their own across the state, maybe one of those locations would work better for you?  Check out GC64ZTK, GC65C86 and GC654KK or visit the WGA Events page to find others around you.

Member Submssions, Newsletters

Member Submission: Crunchy Leaves

by rawevil

It’s that time of year again when the days get shorter and the nights get longer. There’s a crispness to the air and its scent can never be captured in a candle or an air freshener. Yes, it’s autumn in Wisconsin. It’s time to pull out those WGA hoodies and warm socks and head to the trails and woods to seek out the elusive caches that are buried underneath Mother Nature’s fall blanket.

Like most of you, we enjoy hiking a lot during this time of year. The mosquitoes are pretty much done and the ticks are on the down low. But, the grasshoppers are out in full force crisscrossing our steps. And, the garter snakes are slithering off the trail and the open fields after warming their bodies in the sun as we approach. The black walnut, oak, and hickory trees are tossing their nuts at us as we make our way to the next 528 feet. (It’s either that or the WGA squirrel. At times, we are not sure.) Along the way, the white pines are sporting their green and gold Packer colors. Now you know Mother Nature must be a Green Bay fan! That’s just a snippet of what we see while enjoying what Wisconsin’s woods has to offer this time of year.

As we trip our way over the cleverly hidden tree roots with a thick layer of colorful maple, oak, aspen, birch, cottonwood, and willow leaves, we are always amazed at the canvas that’s all around us. Stunning! However, those leaves we come upon aren’t just any leaves, they’re the crunchy leaves. You know what we mean. They are the kind of leaves that break the silence of an entire forest with just one step. The sort of leaves that make you drag your feet just so you can hear the sound as you pile them into a small heap on the trail. The type of leaves that make you feel like a kid again and make you want to jump into a huge pile and roll around. The leaves that make noises as they gently fall to the ground but hit hard at the surface. Beautiful, Wisconsin, crunchy fall leaves. The bright yellow ones, the vivid red ones, the crispy green ones, the sunny orange ones, and yes, even the rusty brown ones! Enjoy this while you can because the quietness of light snow falling is surely just around the corner.

yellowleaves

Event Reports, Newsletters

2015 Fall Picnic Recap

On September 26th geocachers from around the state, and a fewwaterfall from outside the state, gathered at Pattison State Park for the WGA Fall Picnic.  The day began in a haze as the dense fog made it difficult to see the beautiful fall colors that were erupting all around.  The beautiful northwoods forest was full of variety of green, yellow, orange and red leaves.  Of course the main attraction was the impressive Big Manitou Falls, the highest waterfall east of the Mississippi.   As the day went on the fog lifted and it turned out to be a sunny day.

A huge thank you goes out to Lostcheq for all of her help.  Lostcheq hid all of the 21 new caches in the park, including a new EarthCache at the falls.  People were seen alKid1ong all of the many trails in the park digging through logs, staring up into the sky and walking in circles (a.k.a. geocaching) all day long.  There was plenty to do to keep all the attendees busy and most weren’t able to find all of the caches in the park in one day, but a few hearty teams were able to find them all!

 

Along with the new camedallionches hidden in the park there was a new game to keep everyone on their toes.  This year there was a medallion hidden in the woods and clues were given out every hour to narrow down the search.  A big congratulations to Raslas for finding the elusive medallion and being the recipient of a whole bunch of WGA merchandise!

A huge thank you goes out to all who helped make this event possible, as well as all of those who attended the event.  The WGA continues to reach out to as many members as possible over the years.  This event was held in the North-west part of the state so that means that the campout will be in the South-east.  Watch out for more details to come soon!SW

Uncategorized

A Few More Chances to CITO before the white stuff arrives:

If you have been looking for a reason to get outdoors in the next couple weeks and have yet to find one, there are several opportunities to get out and do some CITO work and help clean up our playing field before the covers it all until spring.

Find a CITO near you!!

October 10 – GC63ENR CITO While Chasing Icons and Stars

October 10 – GC5W9FY 2015 WGA Fall Adopt-A-Highway Cleanup CITO

October 11 – GC63G8K 5th Annual Gibraltar Rock CITO

October 17 – GC62T9B Mayville Lions Park Meet-and-Greet / CITO