This topic contains 59 replies, has 15 voices, and was last updated by 
JimandLinda 11 years, 7 months ago.
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We’re very happy to see this program finally get off the ground, since Birdin’ knows from her short time on the Board that it’s been a long time coming. One thought I had based on our experiences doing the Minnesota State Park series since the first one of those….would it be possible to create a standardized sheet to post at each park’s main information site with the coordinates? In Minnesota, the sheet is the “next stage,” as all of those are multis, but we might try the same thing here. I know that even as experienced cachers (without smartphones), there were a couple times we ended up close to one of the parks and realized….we could get a cache there.
I’m sure it also generates interest from non-cachers who see them. I know some of the Wisconsin parks have units for loan and maybe working with local volunteers, we could have them be “demo” parks. I have done such programs at Perrot, and will probably be doing them again, because I will be a volunteer naturalist with them now. Just some thoughts to build on all the great work already being done. Thanks to the Board and all the local trail bosses for finally making this a reality!
Following the signals from space.
@Trekkin and Birdin wrote:
We’re very happy to see this program finally get off the ground, since Birdin’ knows from her short time on the Board that it’s been a long time coming. One thought I had based on our experiences doing the Minnesota State Park series since the first one of those….would it be possible to create a standardized sheet to post at each park’s main information site with the coordinates? In Minnesota, the sheet is the “next stage,” as all of those are multis, but we might try the same thing here. I know that even as experienced cachers (without smartphones), there were a couple times we ended up close to one of the parks and realized….we could get a cache there.
I’m sure it also generates interest from non-cachers who see them. I know some of the Wisconsin parks have units for loan and maybe working with local volunteers, we could have them be “demo” parks. I have done such programs at Perrot, and will probably be doing them again, because I will be a volunteer naturalist with them now. Just some thoughts to build on all the great work already being done. Thanks to the Board and all the local trail bosses for finally making this a reality!
Awesome idea. It is also a great way to introduce new folks to the fun of geocaching, and is a good way to partner with the DNR in helping folks get the most out of the state park system.
z
I could try to create some sort of standard design. Not my strong suit, but I’ve managed to make each of my bird club newsletters a little better each time. Then trail bosses could arrange to add their info and post it when they visit their area.
We are still trying to decide on a standard design for a patch/embroidered hat, etc. that would reflect the WGA, visiting the state parks and the State Park Challenge.
Open for all idea anyone may have.
Following the signals from space.
@walkingadventure wrote:
We are still trying to decide on a standard design for a patch/embroidered hat, etc. that would reflect the WGA, visiting the state parks and the State Park Challenge.
Open for all idea anyone may have.
I think that we should have 3 levels of challenge for State Park Challenge.
15 state parks – Bronze
30 state parks – Silver
45 state parks – GoldIn that way, people can “complete” the challenge with as few as 15 state park visits, but still have future goals to get more of them.
The WGA has plenty of cash on hand, and should be able to fund prizes for those who complete the challenge.
Bronze – Bronze Patch only, may purchase shirt, eligible to find Bronze Challenge cache
Silver – Silver patch, a free WGA State Park tour shirt, eligible to find Silver Challenge cache
Gold – Gold patch, afree WGA State Park hoodie and eligible to find Gold Challenge cache.The toughest part is what the design for the patch and shirt would look like. It would be a single design, available in 3 colors, one for each level of challenge completion.
It would be great if some of the graphic designers and artists in our midst could work something up, as that is not something I am capable of doing. If we dont get a good offer of a design in a week or so, it may be reasonable to do a design contest, even though design contests do introduce their own set of problems.
zuma
That is true Ralph. We are knocking around some ideas many are very close to what you list.
Following the signals from space.
Bringing in Prizes invites armchair logs….Patches are great but more than that encourages deception.
Sadly you’re right. But I wouldn’t want to not do something good for our members because a few dishonest people may work the system.
Not all who wander are lost. -J.R.R. Tolkien
@beccaday wrote:
Sadly you’re right. But I wouldn’t want to not do something good for our members because a few dishonest people may work the system.
I agree. Besides it is always fun to point and laugh at the cheaters. Probably worth the price of admission.
Also, if the prizes were only available when attending a WGA event, people would have to claim the prize with others observing, which would be a real bonus for those who complete the challenge the right way and encourage others to work at it. The side benefit of that, is most cheaters would be reluctant to show their face to claim a prize in that type of situation.
z
Claiming their prize at a WGA event only may not be a realistic idea. If we group into Bronze,Silver and Gold levels, there is a very good possibility that one could qualify without ever coming near a locale that there is a WGA event planned. It would be nice to recognize those who qualify at the events but to force them to attend to receive their pin/patch/whatever IMHO is a bit much.
Integrity is the key and sadly there are some who lack.
also, we do have trailbosses for each cache, perhaps if they would every so often, supply a list of those who have signed the physical log sheet, it may assist in deterring the riff-raff. (not a perfect idea as log sheets/caches go missing, etc)
Disclaimer : Always answering to a higher power.
@zuma wrote:
@beccaday wrote:
Sadly you’re right. But I wouldn’t want to not do something good for our members because a few dishonest people may work the system.
I agree. Besides it is always fun to point and laugh at the cheaters. Probably worth the price of admission.
Also, if the prizes were only available when attending a WGA event, people would have to claim the prize with others observing, which would be a real bonus for those who complete the challenge the right way and encourage others to work at it. The side benefit of that, is most cheaters would be reluctant to show their face to claim a prize in that type of situation.
z
That does seem like a fairly good compromise (for the larger items like a T or sweatshirt)…and way to keep it a little more honest.
This is my copy/paste post from December 7, 2013.
[Alright, how ’bout this:
Any WGA member can buy a WGA SP hat with a patch on it, for (x) amount of dollars.
If a member finds 15 SP caches, they get a bronze star pin for the hat; 30 SP caches gets a silver star pin, 45 gets a gold star pin. Any cacher that finds ALL the SP caches gets a State of Wisconsin pin for the hat. Pins can be awarded at WGA Events or sent by request.
The stars should be inexpensive; the flag pin should be available somewhere and we’ll need less of those anyway.
The price of the hat should fund the whole shebank.
Just having a star on the hat should stimulate some conversation with cachers that are unaware of the SP Challenge levels. Our “hat wearers” will be good advertising for the SPs and the WGA, whether worn locally or outside the state, at other events.
We just need a patch design that is simple, with some eye appeal, that mentions the “WGA State Park Challenge”.]
A hat is adjustable, so “one size fits all”.
If someone wants to arm chair log, fine! It’s still ($x) to buy a hat. Thanks for the support and wear it while in your arm chair!
…now for the designs as we have lots of ideas on what to do with the stuff.
Following the signals from space.
@jimandlinda wrote:
This is my copy/paste post from December 7, 2013.
[Alright, how ’bout this:
Any WGA member can buy a WGA SP hat with a patch on it, for (x) amount of dollars.
If a member finds 15 SP caches, they get a bronze star pin for the hat; 30 SP caches gets a silver star pin, 45 gets a gold star pin. Any cacher that finds ALL the SP caches gets a State of Wisconsin pin for the hat. Pins can be awarded at WGA Events or sent by request.
The stars should be inexpensive; the flag pin should be available somewhere and we’ll need less of those anyway.
The price of the hat should fund the whole shebank.
Just having a star on the hat should stimulate some conversation with cachers that are unaware of the SP Challenge levels. Our “hat wearers” will be good advertising for the SPs and the WGA, whether worn locally or outside the state, at other events.
We just need a patch design that is simple, with some eye appeal, that mentions the “WGA State Park Challenge”.]
A hat is adjustable, so “one size fits all”.
If someone wants to arm chair log, fine! It’s still ($x) to buy a hat. Thanks for the support and wear it while in your arm chair!
The hat and pins strike me as being kind of chintzy. The WGA has plenty of funds to award decent prizes for this like patchs, T-shirts and hoodies, as I outlined above.
If you want to do the hat and pins in addition to decent prizes, that is one thing. If you are thinking that a project of this magnitude warrants just a cheap hat and stick pins, then we are on a little different wavelength.
z
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