I can answer that question in 3 words: PERMANENT WATERTIGHT CONTAINERS.

I would also lobby for releasing caches the Monday before the event. Not only does this give people time to download queries and plan routes, but a few souls will head out to find the caches early, which will serve to test the accuracy of the coordinates and uncover other problems which might arise when caches are placed in advance.

Not exactly for the Cache Bash, but the post bash party. Did Players know we were going to be there on Saturday night?

FOOD AT THE VENUE!!!

I understand that the chamber wants us to visit the area restaurants that are part of the chamber, but there needs to be something of nutritional value available at the park.

MWGB has food vendors similar to what you would find at a county fair come directly to the venue, when we were done caching, if we knew there was nothing to eat at the park, we would have stopped and grabbed something before we headed back.

Mainly on Saturday during the day would be the best time for the food at the park.

@sweetlife wrote:

FOOD AT THE VENUE!!!

I understand that the chamber wants us to visit the area restaurants that are part of the chamber, but there needs to be something of nutritional value available at the park.

MWGB has food vendors similar to what you would find at a county fair come directly to the venue, when we were done caching, if we knew there was nothing to eat at the park, we would have stopped and grabbed something before we headed back.

Mainly on Saturday during the day would be the best time for the food at the park.

You have to remember that this event is not put on by geocachers, it is put on by the chamber and it’s member merchants. It is their money that foots the bill to put it on. The continuation of the event is dependant on the results that they see from the influx of visitors so I wouldn’t count on seeing any food at the event.

Regarding food: (yes I read above posts)
Suggest to chamber members ie: Starbucks, Subway, Cousins, etc to have mobile booths to sell food. They do that in my little community and raise money for costs plus donation back to the chamber.
Would the chamber endorse or encourage Boy Scouts/Girl Scouts/4 H/ Future Farmers/non-profits to have a booth/tent to sell coffee or baked goods? If not, a roadside stand outside the park would be a “gold-mine.” Anyone notice the # of nearby rummage sales??

Batteries…..newbie cachers and experienced cachers all have that momentary lapse of having fresh batteries. Sat am was asked 3-4x if we had/sold batteries. Bug Spray…Sunscreen. Maybe Walgreens and the Chamber could work out an assignment agreement, mark up the product $0.25, and some profit for the Chamber.

BIG Kudos to the color maps of the cache locations given out at the event though. That was a very helpful simple item.

@Lostby7 wrote:

@goirish75 wrote:

BIG Kudos to the color maps of the cache locations given out at the event though. That was a very helpful simple item.

I wish I would have gotten one…I never saw one.

Yes, it is a simple thing. I was disappointed I didn’t get one, being a visual learner. I mentioned it to a cacher on the trail that they had the cache maps previous years, and was told they were at registration, you just had to pick one up. I must have been so focused on getting out there, I didn’t see them. When I went back, others must also have missed them, because the lady there mentioned maybe they could go in the bags next year. Once I had the map, planning my time was much easier.

And another very minor thing, the group photo. I thought the stage was too small an area for such a big group. There were people in the back several deep that would not even be seen. Maybe several photos could be taken there, or move it to a more open area?

Anyway, my biggest problems at the event were personal (car, health…)and the rain. I think it just keeps getting better every year. Thanks to all who made it great!