Bear Paw Geocache Merit Badge Campout

[Barry Butrymowicz]

Was approached by the Ranger of Bear Paw Scout Camp in Mountain, WI

They are in the initial stages of planning a weekend campout centered around the new Geocaching merit badge.

Looking at the the early part of October.

I said that I would be able to help out, just looking for others that might be interested in helping, possibly doing a 101 course, and then some hands on

I’m sure that anyone that helps would be able to stay in one of the cabins, if camping is not your style.

Barry of sweetlife

[lone_gunman]

Definitely count me in!
and tell Andy I said hi next time you see him.

[wingwalkers]

All though Mountain is a good hike for me I would be interisted in helping. I have a cottage in crooked lake, just a few miles up the road from mountain. I am also hiding caches for the Glacier’s Edge Council “Get in the game” and Treasures of Scouting.
Would this be a weekend long thing so camping is involved?
As you know Scouts love camping.

[Barry Butrymowicz]

As of now the plan is for a weekend of camping.

[kmhiker]

I will be more then happy to help. I used to be the ranger/director at Camp Long Lake for the Potawatomi Are Council in the 80’s. I don’t know if i’ll be able to sleep on ground since my back went the way of the goose.
Just let me know.

Cache on

[Team_Sandman]

Count me in also sounds like alot of fun. The only day I’m not available in Oct is the 17th which is a Sunday gotta work.. 8)

[The Crippler]

I will probably be able to assist as well. Besides, I do not need an excuse to visit my favorite secret fishing hole on the Wolf.

[Miata]

@The Crippler wrote:

I will probably be able to assist as well. Besides, I do not need an excuse to visit my favorite secret fishing hole on the Wolf.

Must be on the way right? 😕

[rcflyer2242]

Oops what wingwalkers posted should have been with my name. Sorry i just noticed. I tell ya its really a pain having two accounts. I forgot to log out of their account after paying for the camp site for the campout.

[Team_Sandman]

found this while lookong around the bear paw site

Geocaching Merit Badge—Revised Requirements 2/24/2010

1. Do the following:
a. Explain to your counselor the most likely hazards you may encounter while
participating in geocaching activities and what you should do to anticipate,
help prevent, mitigate, and respond to these hazards.
b. Discuss first aid and prevention for the types of injuries or illnesses that
could occur while participating in geocaching activities, including cuts,
scrapes, snakebite, insect stings, tick bites, exposure to poisonous plants,
heat and cold reactions (sunburn, heatstroke, heat exhaustion, hypothermia),
and dehydration.
c. Discuss how to properly plan an activity that uses GPS, including using the
buddy system, sharing your plan with others, and considering the weather,
route, and proper attire.
2. Discuss the following with your counselor:
a. Why you should never bury a cache.
b. How to use proper geocaching etiquette when hiding or seeking a cache,
and how to properly hide a geocaches.
c. The principles of Leave No Trace as they apply to geocaching [[Front
country and back country issues can be discussed in the text.]]
3. Explain the following terms used in geocaching: waypoint, log, cache, accuracy,
difficulty and terrain ratings, attributes, trackable. Choose five additional terms to
explain to your counselor.
4. Explain how the Global Positioning System (GPS) works. Then, using Scouting’s
Teaching EDGE, demonstrate the use of a GPS unit to your counselor. Include
marking and editing a waypoint, changing field functions, and changing the
coordinate system in the unit.
5. Do the following:
a. Show that you know how to use a map and compass and explain why this is
important for geocaching.
b. Explain the similarities and differences between GPS navigation and
standard map reading skills and describe the benefits of each.
c. Explain the UTM (Universal Transverse Mercator) system and how it differs
from the latitude/longitude system used for public geocaches.
d. Show how to plot a UTM waypoint on a map. Compare the accuracy to that
found with a GPS unit.
6. Describe the four steps to finding your first cache to your counselor. Then mark
and edit a waypoint. [[To all: After more thought, I think we can leave out any
mention of geocaching.com here and just cite the Web site as the source in the
text. We use this same type of reference in other mbps, such as Whitewater.]]
geocaching.rev3 3/5/2010 2
7. With your parent’s permission*, go to http://www.geocaching.com. Type in your zip
code to locate public geocaches in your area. Print out information about three of
those geocaches and share this with your counselor. [[Yes, details about account
info can be discussed in the text. We have specific guidelines for online use—this
doesn’t need to be written by MS.]]
*To fulfill this requirement, you will need to set up a free user account with
http://www.geocaching.com. Ask your parent for permission and help before you do so.
Q to all: Does this wording work?
8. Do ONE of the following:
a. If a Cache to Eagle series exists in your council, visit at least three of the 12
locations. Describe the projects that each cache you visit highlights, and
explain how the Cache to Eagle program helps share our Scouting service
with the public.
b. Create a Scouting-related travel bug that promotes one of the values of
Scouting. “Release” your travel bug into a public geocache and, with your
parent’s permission, monitor its progress at http://www.geocaching.com for 30
days. Keep a log, and share this with your counselor at the end of the 30-day
period.
c. Set up and hide a public geocache, following all the http://www.geocaching.com
guidelines. We will include those guidelines in the text. With your parent’s
permission, follow the logs online for 30 days and share them with your
counselor.
d. Explain what Cache In Trash Out (CITO) means, and describe how you have
practiced CITO at public geocaches or at a CITO event. Then, either create
CITO containers to leave at public caches, or host a CITO event for your unit
or for the public.
9. Plan a geohunt for a youth group such as your troop or a neighboring pack, at
school, or your place of worship. Choose a theme, set up a course with at least
four waypoints, teach the players how to use a GPS unit, and play the game. Tell
your counselor about your experience, and share the materials you used and
developed for this event.

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