This topic contains 43 replies, has 13 voices, and was last updated by 
Team Black-Cat 15 years, 8 months ago.
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If anyone has contact with the local people associated with this program, please make sure they understand about the “agenda” guideline. Some of the early submission from other states have been WAY over the line, such as soliciting donations or advertising membership. This is the main reason this program has been so slow to get started. If they just keep the pages informational, they will be fine. Programs, Eagle projects, ranks, merit badges, individual troops, etc. are all fair game. Putting out a cache saying “BSA is the world’s greatest charity, so send us money so that we can keep saving kids” is not.
My impression from looking at the BSA materials and the very few caches that have been published in other states is that this will somehow be disseminated from the Council level to the Pack/Troop level. In other words, the Council will say “Here’s a great new activity for your pack to do, so go out and place some geocaches.”
Therefore, it might be good to provide the Council Scout Executive (Mark Logeman) with a contact point to say that as the Council disseminates this information to Packs/Troops, or as the Council plans its own geocaches, they should be aware of the guidelines for publication.
I am happy to be a liaison here because I have contacted Mark about this several times, but I am not an official groundspeak voice…so…what would you like me to do?
On the Left Side of the Road...I have sent a message back to the scout exec with the concerns stated above…
On the Left Side of the Road...Got an email from the Scouts…
There were about 12 people who expressed interest in this project. The first planning meeting for this projet with thoe who expressed interest will be later this month. I am attending. Was there anyone else who sent an email sometime ago expressing interest (Gotta Run) that will be attending?
AstroK, I sent them a note saying that I could only do a Go2Meeting on it, which was one of the options they offered. I haven’t heard back on that yet.
On the Left Side of the Road...@gotta run wrote:
AstroK, I sent them a note saying that I could only do a Go2Meeting on it, which was one of the options they offered. I haven’t heard back on that yet.
Well, I look forward to “seeing” you there!
In a meeting with council folks on this program, a few things came to light that are interesting, particuarly in light of Deejay’s comments about placement problems.
First, it looks like there is a tighter partnership between groundspeak and BSA. Groundspeak is offering a free premium 30 day membership and this is advertised on the BSA site itself.
Second, the powerpoint presentation given by the council, which was appparently produced by the BSA, included references to things to include in the cache that definitely promote membership—information cards, etc.
At this juncture, the council is in the process of planning cache placements, so if there is any information that should be taken back to them, now’s the time to provide it.
AstroK…is that your takeaway as well?
On the Left Side of the Road...The meeting was insightful if anything. Mark, who is heading up the program, really has no experience with geocaching. So we have given him a lot of good information and is going to rely on us for help.
He is going to create a BSA council geocaching account to activate the TBs (I got one for you to release btw) and set up caches. It sounds like he is going to rely on us to go out, hide and maintain the caches if we are willing. Sounds like the BSA will supply all the cache materials as well (no micros here!)
There will 17 hidden. 12 of those called Cache to Eagle, will be based on the Scout law and will but at or near Eagle Scout projects within the council. (A list is being compiled of scout projects and then the selection process begins – proximity to other caches, equal representation around the district and permission being granted). Cachers completing all 12 of the Cache to Eagle series will receive a special patch while supplies last. The other 5 caches are tenatively being placed at the gates of the Boy Scout camps withing the district and possibly at the Council headquaters in Appleton. (this will allow public access and still be within the scouting theme – and there should be no caches within these areas).
Inside all these caches will be cards and information on scouting. One of these cards, if filled out completely, and mailed in, will give geocachers a chance to enter the monthly drawing for a special trackable geocoin that was made just for this endeavor.
It still sounds a bit too commerical, but it does sound like they do have groundspeak support and blessing. When things advance to the next stage, we will get an email notice.
I think with the active cachers who have volunteered to be involved in the process, there will be some nice well-stocked caches being placed for cachers to come and find. I think the targeted roll out will be spring 2010. I mentioned taking some extra time to do this right instead of just throwing caches out there just to get this going.
That’s my take on the meeting and what was discussed.
Yep, that’s exactly what I got too. So if anyone is both a cacher and a Scouter, it’s a good opportunity to make sure that the program ends up with quality caches in the field.
Also, the Bay Lakes District has some overlap with the southeast WI forums here, so it might be worth pointing a link from there to here.
On the Left Side of the Road...Jacob will benefit from this as a scouter and geocacher. I know he is interested in helping out. And Kyle who was at the meeting last night is a cacher from GB area and a scouter as well.
Gotta Run – I have one of the Scouting TBs for you to grab and move along (after Mark gets them all activated). We’ll have to make arrangements for you to get it if you’re interested.
Yup, I’ll get it started somehow. The Cubmaster is a geocacher here too (Ike80), I’m just a lowly Den Leader, maybe we can get the Den to join in the fun…
On the Left Side of the Road...@gotta run wrote:
Yup, I’ll get it started somehow. The Cubmaster is a geocacher here too (Ike80), I’m just a lowly Den Leader, maybe we can get the Den to join in the fun…
Den Leaders are important!! I was one for my son’s Tiger, Wolf and Webelos days. (I was Cubmaster during his Bear Year – yikes). Thankfully with Boys Scouts, I’m functioning as a Troop Committee member and a district wide Astronomy Merit Badge Counselor.
I know several in Jacob’s troop hve done geocaching – but not very actively. This project might get them more involved.
Let me know how it goes if you take the den out. It could be lots of fun!!
Just thought I would update this for anyone interested who hasn’t been directly involved in the process, as best as I understand where things are.
-The “pillars of scouting” travel bugs have been activated and released to various cachers in the Bay Lakes Council area: Leadership (SCAN31), Character (SC16V3), Achievement (SCQF4T), Service (SCQ455) & Outdoors (SCKWFQ).
-The council has sourced ammo cans and supplies for the various caches. Eagle Scout project sites and scout camps have been identified as potential locations, with final decisions yet to be made.
-Caches will be placed after the winter.
-The council has established a geocaching account and will own the cache listings. However, 10 local cachers have volunteered to work with the council on placement. Having experienced cachers involved in the process should hopefully address concerns about caches meeting guidelines.
On the Left Side of the Road...@gotta run wrote:
-The council has established a geocaching account and will own the cache listings. However, 10 local cachers have volunteered to work with the council on placement. Having experienced cachers involved in the process should hopefully address concerns about caches meeting guidelines.
Very cool. I would be less concerned about the guidelines than about future maintenance. (Not unconcerned, just less…) Looks like the caches will be well tended.
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