How long have you been geocaching?

I have been Geocaching since 2012, and was introduced to the game through a summer school class. I then participated in the Geocaching Club throughout high school, and have enjoyed the game ever since! My husband (Dale_and_Acre) and I just wrapped up a 750-day caching streak, so I am looking forward to where geocaching takes me next!

How many finds and hides do you have?

I currently have 1,680 finds, and 4 active hides. The hide I am most proud of is Cache Across America – Wisconsin, which is hidden in Thorp, WI.

Which WGA events have you attended or volunteered for in the past?

I have attended West Bend Cache Bash for the past two years, and have been beginning to participate in more events ever since becoming a member of the WGA within the past couple of years.

What skills do you possess that would benefit the WGA?

I am currently the head of the event planning committee at my work, where I plan and organize events, as well as set up and tear down. I love to meet people and make connections, as well as lead and host activities in a group setting. I am very creative and skilled with a variety of media for communications, whether that is event posters and materials, social media, or other design work.

The WGA’s mission is to promote and protect geocaching in Wisconsin.

Which part of that mission (Education, Landowner Relations, Events, or Community) are you most passionate about, and why?

I am most passionate about community, as I am extremely outgoing and prioritize connection and belonging in my relationships with others. This is what has driven me to lead the event planning committee at work, and I would love to further use these skills to attract more players to the game and to our association.

If elected, what is one specific goal or project you would like to see the WGA accomplish during your term?

I would love to see the WGA develop materials//curriculum to guide teachers that want to develop summer school classes dedicated to Geocaching. I have already worked with a teacher at Venture Academy to initially introduce a summer school program, but I would like to improve the materials and methods for facilitating such classes.

How do you think the WGA can better reach out to new geocachers or those living in underrepresented parts of the state?

This topic is something that I am extremely passionate about, as it was because of a particularly well-designed summer school course that I so thoroughly fell in love with the great sport of Geocaching. Because of the guidance of my teachers who provided thorough instruction and excellent educational materials, I felt fully prepared and confident in my caching abilities by the time I began to geocache on my own. I believe that the lack of this guidance and tutelage often causes new cachers to give up prematurely due to confusion or difficulty understanding the game as a whole.

One of my dreams is to scout out ideal areas to prepare as “Geocaching 101” locations, where seasoned cachers come together to place a series of hides that introduce new cachers to a variety of hide types (ammo can, matchstick container, preform, bison tube, etc.). Each cache would focus on teaching another aspect of the game, and all thematically relate to one another. The chosen location for these series should be walkable areas that don’t require re-parking, and would preferably be near a picnic area or park.

Once the series was hidden, regular “Geocaching 101” events could be scheduled by local cachers to show new cachers the ropes. I believe that an initial “tutorial” caching day or guided caching tour would increase newcomer retention by reducing frustration and confusion due to lack of guidance. This would also benefit local school groups that would want to do summer school classes as they could load up a bus full of kids with packed lunches, and easily do a day full of geocaching without having to drive from cache to cache. They could then give kids a break at the playground or picnic area and let them eat lunch there, perhaps inviting a local cacher or group of cachers out to talk with the students. I also already have some educational materials in the works to distribute to teachers looking to start a Geocaching summer school course, and would love to develop those resources and connections during my time on the board.

Being on the Board requires attending meetings (online and in-person) and helping run events. Are you able to commit the necessary time to fulfill these duties for the duration of your term?

I think this is the perfect time for me to run for the Board, as I have just concluded my geocaching streak and have gained back a significant amount of time in my life. My husband and I also do not currently have children, so I think that this opportunity will be a great next step for me while I have more readily available free time.

What’s your favorite style or type of geocache to find and why does it appeal to you?

My favorite cache types are Earthcaches and Letterboxes! I love science and Earthcaching really scratches the itch to get out and learn about the world, while letterboxes appeal to my creative side with linocut, and the analog style of the clues intrigues me!

Do you have a passion for hiding geocaches? What types of geocaches do you like to hide and why?

I do not have many cache hides because I really prefer to hide interesting and fun experiences over P&Gs (though both have their place!) I am hoping now that we are done with our daily streak, that I can invest more time in planning and putting out creative hides!