Monthly Archives: September 2025
WGA State Trail Cache Series
The Wisconsin Geocaching Association (WGA), along with trail bosses around the state, created a geocache series that launched the weekend of September 21, 2025 that highlights 41 state trails around the state of Wisconsin. The goal of this series is to encourage exploration of trails throughout the state.
Bookmark list of State Trail Caches: www.geocaching.com/plan/lists/BMEX94Y
For interactive map, visit www.wi-geocaching.com/wga-state-trail-series-map
For current list of top finders, click here to go to list on Project-GC.
A state trail pass is required for all people age 16 or older who bike, cross-country ski, horseback ride or inline skate on certain trails. A state trail pass is not required for walking or hiking. State trail passes can be purchased online, at individual properties, at DNR service centers or from state trail pass vendors. For more information from the DNR, visit https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/parks/admission/trailpass
WGA Fall Campout Reminders
The WGA Fall Campout (GCB51J4) at Lake Emily Portage County Park is coming up this weekend, September 20! Are you ready? A few weekend reminders:
~ Looking for your very own personalized WGA name badge? Email [email protected] your geocaching name and actual first name (Not a WGA member? Head over the account menu to sign up for free.)
~ For those coming early, there’s even more events to attend! Friday CITO at Lake Emily at 10am (GCBCDNJ) & Community Celebration nearby in Amherst from 5:30-7:30pm (GCAXFXZ)
~ Search for at least 50 new area caches, expected to publish Friday afternoon
~ Want to enter 2025-26 WGA travel bug race? Bring an activated travel bug with 0 miles to enter. No entry fee.
~ Stop by on Saturday to shop WGA merchandise available for sale
~ Staying through Sunday? Grab some muffins and milk and compare notes of the weekend with fellow geocachers before hitting the road. Find us at a picnic table near the shelter between 8:00 am -10:00 am.
Haiku Poetry Contest
Welcome to the WGA Haiku Contest! Before submitting your entries, please review the following rules to ensure your poems meet the contest criteria.
Prizes:
First place: $25 WGA store gift certificate.
Second place: $15 WGA store gift certificate.
Third place: $10 WGA store gift certificate.
Submission Guidelines:
- Submissions must be emailed to [email protected] (note updated email address from previous post)
- Each contestant may submit up to three haiku poems.
- All haiku must follow the traditional 5-7-5 syllable structure:
- First line: 5 syllables
- Second line: 7 syllables
- Third line: 5 syllables
- Each haiku must incorporate a geocaching-related theme — examples include, but are not limited to, adventure, discovery, GPS navigation, hidden treasures, nature, or the thrill of the hunt.
- Poems must be original and written by the contestant.
- Submittal deadline is Noon, Wednesday October 8, 2025
- By submitting a poem, you agree to allow the WGA to publish the poem in any WGA publication or social media in the future. The poem remains your property and may be submitted to other publications after the contest ends.
- The contest ends November 15, 2025 with announcement of winners.
Judging Criteria:
- Adherence to the haiku format (5-7-5 syllables).
- Creativity and originality in expressing geocaching themes.
- Evocative imagery—does the poem paint a vivid picture?
- Emotional impact—does it capture the spirit of geocaching?
Example Haiku:
Trail bends out of sight, GPS senses the way, Treasure waits ahead.
WGA CITO Grants Available
CITO season 2 (September 1 – November 30) has kicked off for 2025. Are you planning to host a CITO event this year? Did you know the Wisconsin Geocaching Association offers grants to CITO event hosts across Wisconsin for up to the amount of $50 that can be used towards the costs associated with purchasing supplies? To receive this reimbursement, send an email to your Board of Directors at [email protected] as you begin your planning process. Please let us know your GC#, event location and date. We have funding for up to 10 events, so get your request in early!
www.geocaching.com/blog/2025/08/cache-in-trash-out-cito-season-2-announcement
Looking for Mammoth Meet-up Event Hosts in October
Have an Ice Age Trail community near you? Host a geocaching event in October to coincide with the Mammoth Hike Challenge from the Ice Age Trail Alliance.
To support this challenge, the Wisconsin Geocaching Association is looking for members to “adopt” one of the Trail Communities and host a geocaching meet and greet event during the month of October. To help coordinate the effort, go to www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A4DADAD2BA3FDC34-51330347-mammoth# to sign up to host an event in an Ice Age Trail Community near you. Let’s aim to host an October geocaching event in all 26 Ice Age Trail Communities!
Each year, in the month of October, the Ice Age Trail Alliance hosts the “Mammoth Challenge” www.iceagetrail.org/mammoth-hike-challenge To complete this year’s October challenge, hike 45 miles on the Ice Age Trail and visit 3 Trail Communities to earn a special Mammoth patch. You can take on the challenge as a solo, team, or family activity. (Team/family miles and trail community visits can be pooled together to reach the 45 miles.)