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I heard that this afternoon WBAY (Ch 2) news mentioned something about the bomb squad being sent to some park in DePere and that when the retrieved the container, it had something to do with geocaching. My guess is ir WAS one. That’s all I know and the Green Bay TV station websites don’t have anything about it. Anyone catch this story?
On another Green Bay note- also today some woman was attacked (by knifepoint) in the middle of the day, on her bicycle, on the Fox River Trail.
I’m trying to figure out which cache it might be- the news says “near the waterline in Voyageur Park”. From what I can tell, it must be this one (archived for a different reason): GCP5NR
Adam n Michelle seem to think so too in their log.
Please refer back to this thread….
http://www.wi-geocaching.com/forums/Forum8/HTML/000685.htmlCheck out these two items:
http://home.wi.rr.com/lcdcreations/Misc/geosticker.gifand
http://home.wi.rr.com/lcdcreations/Misc/GeoPermission.pdf http://home.wi.rr.com/lcdcreations/Misc/Geocache%20Permit.docNow what do you think? One step closer to banning our hobby…?
~Bill
I read in several places that if you hide an ammunition can, the least you should do is obliterate the words “ammunition” and “explosives.” However, nothing said about medical kits, which could also scare parents who might think they contain needles and sharp objects.
Almost every ammo-can cache I found had the sides covered, with everything from the labels that Groundspeak sells to duct-tape with large, black magic marker writing saying “Geocache” and listing the coordinates. This is a great idea, even for ice-cream buckets. The larger official labels have a spot to list how the owner can be contacted, the waypoint name, and enough space to also list the date placed, and the GPS coordinates, if I remember correctly.
I highly suggest people label ammo boxes this information to avoid getting a bill from the city, should the call the bomb squad, ESPECIALLY if it’s near an airport or other facility where security is extreme.
quote:
Originally posted by Flushingrouse:
Now what do you think? One step closer to banning our hobby…?I think it will give the government more ammunition to pull what they did in Madison–tax the *!@# out of you and make the geocaching “liaison” do all the work. The Ecorangers might be in a tight spot, especially if you have to pay the “permit fee” EVERY YEAR. And the price is only going to go up. If it’s like park fees, I’m betting it will be over $20 before 5 years goes by.
well, this explains the thread in the help section.
I read my own post and realized some people might think it sounds a bit critical of the cache hider–let me assure you, that’s not the case.
When planning our hides there was a lot of work that went into it. We did a lot of research on how to hide a cache, how to help keep them from being maintenance nightmares (like when they get wet), researched hide locations, took tons of waypoint readings, photographs, threw out a bunch of ideas that just weren’t fun, changed the type of cache at least 6 times, discussed how difficult to make it, and on and on…
Then we got input from “The Other Brian” (WGA cache approver), made changes, got more input, made more changes, and so on. After we got approved we thought we rated it harder than it was, then the other way, now maybe the other-other way. Arrrg!
Thankfully the WGA Admins pointed out a few requirements we missed along the way. We read them, originally, but in the midst of changes somehow overlooked them. Missing the small details can happen, like forgetting to tape over the “ammunition” label. You see the box sitting there every day, know it’s full of kids toys, know it’s harmless, and just forget about how others might look at it. You’re so excited about placing it you don’t even look at the label when you hide it, and don’t realize that someone could unintentionally find it–it’s hidden, after all!
After our cache was approved and listed, e-mail started to trickle in from those who found it, who logged they didn’t find it, and those who are still trying to find it. All of it has been positive, and we’re very thankful for the comments and insight. By far the “funnest” part of hiding the caches has been the feedback.
It’s easy to put someone down, but it’s useful to give them a hand. Thanks go to all the hands we’ve shaken.
Opossum
Scary that whomever owns this cache may get a bill for the bomb squad’s troubles… I will certainly start painting over or covering the words such as “ammo” or “explosives” from now on. Too bad the bumber stickers from groundspeak cost so much…
There are a lot of directions one might point fingers in this situation. Retailers sould obliterate the markings on these before stocking them on their shelves. Cachers should obliterate the markings before placing the caches. Cachers should seek permission before placing the cache. Approvers should insist on verification of permission. Bomb squads should be aware that not all packages labled “explosives” are a hazard (what terrorist will mark his bombs?).
We have seen this situation in the past and will see it again in the future. This is a good opportunity to create “much ado about nothing”. We as cachers need to be more aware of outsiders perceptions of us and our activities. We need to seek permission, educate emergency responders, remove external markings on cache containers and mark them with a point of contact. Let’s get our act together folks. ~tb
I don’t think retailers should obliterate markings on ammunition boxes. Some people use them to store ammunition.
I think the rules on hiding caches in approved locations are fine the way they are. The problem was not with the hide, but that the container was labeled improperly.
I do think the approvers should ask if all improper markings have been removed from the container, since this is a great benefit to the geocaching society, in my humble opinion. At least they could ask new hiders this question.
At $1.99 for the large (5″ x 10″) sticker, I don’t think the geocaching stickers are overpriced as they’re excellent quality. The ammunition box commonly costs $10 at local stores, $6 on line plus shipping, and for 10 cents more you can use three strips of duct tape and a black magic marker to cover the label. Of course, you have to buy the duct tape and magic marker…or snag them from a friend.
I do think we should all work together to help educate others and ourselves, both to the unknown potential dangers and to things that help us better enjoy the sport.
I also think everyone is capable of making mistakes. (God knows I make enough of them.) If we beat people down for making a mistake, they’re not going to want to ask for help when they’ve made one. Let’s lend a hand instead, and be responsible when we mess up. (This is not aimed at anyone or any post.)
Thank you Opossum (may I call you Pogo?) for pointing out that my post could verry easily be taken very literaly while my intent was more tongue-in-cheek. My point is to be more proactive… “Let’s get our act together,” let’s do what we can to abate this problem.
Call me anything you want, other than Miata. (I really don’t think he was in that contest picture.) Try to find our caches, and you may be inventing a few new words…
That explains the emails from reporters in the area.
This is a prime example why ammo boxes MUST be painted to cover the scary military markings. I ALWAYS spraypaint my ammo boxes, then use a yellow paint marker and write “www.geocaching.com” all over it. I also like to write “geocache site game piece” or similar type phrases on the ammo boxes.
Better yet, use clear tupperware type containers. Their contents are easily visible from the outside. They don’t hold up to the elements and critters as well as an ammo box, but then again, an ammo box isn’t too waterproof once it’s been neutralized.
[tongue in cheek]
Of course with the amount of micro caches being placed these days, pretty soon we won’t have any ammo boxes to worry about [/tongue in cheek][This message has been edited by GrouseTales (edited 06-23-2005).]
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