Brown County Shoots Self In Geocaching Foot

[zuma]

I did not intend to start a new topic, so will move this here:

Hi all,

I also sent a letter to the tourism department, who will logically be most interested in the impact on geotourism. Here is the address:

[email protected]

zuma

[Team Hemisphere Dancer]

That’s a Good Call Zuma get to the folks that are most interested in this.

I will send a letter when I get home and Have chance to word it right.

[Lostby7]

@Team Hemisphere Dancer wrote:

I will send a letter when I get home and Have chance to word it right.

Same here……

[rubeeslpr]

I sent my email letter yesterday.

[DonB]

@Lostby7 wrote:

For a start I won’t be visiting Brown county parks….until they repeal the fee. I still think the Business chambers in the county need to be contacted (perhaps with a form letter sent to each chamber) and informed of how some communities actually encourage and greatly benefit from the money geocachers bring in.

Perhaps we could voice our opinions Here: http://www.co.brown.wi.us/
I’d like to think that 40 or fifty emails from geocachers may sway their opinion or at least give them more to think about.

email sent.

[Lostby7]

[Da Bloodhound]

I believe in all the letters and postings I read I did not see one extolling the benefits of working with local and state geocaching enthusiasts and elected representatives for the benefit of local parks. I believe pointing out history of park and natural area clean up events may be an important tool in changing Park official opinions. It isn’t always about the almighty buck. DB

[Frizz]

Has anyone that sent letters received a reply? I’ve been watching my inbox, but haven’t heard a thing.

[lagrac]

[Lostby7]

A good reply ……

[lagrac]

Did myself a pretty hard core Delorme Run over the weekend. 12 pages in 36 hours. Because of Brown County’s decision regarding geocaching, when I hit page 68 it was in Kewaunee County and I spent Saturday night in Marinette. I own personal form of expression. 😯

[zuma]

Here is the reply that I got from the Brown County tourism chief….Amazing how dense these people are, and how they are missing the point.

Dear Ralph,

Thank you again for sharing your concerns regarding Brown County Parks new Geocaching program.

I have spoken with people from the Parks Dept to learn more about the services offered in regard to geocaching. The $5 fee that will be implemented applies only to the person placing the geocache, not the many folks searching for it. The Park Dept wants to register the cache so they know where it is and can monitor what is placed inside of it. Geocaching, as you know, is a great family activity. Current caches on park property have, at times, had things placed in them (removed by the Park Dept) that are inappropriate. By maintaining a database of this type, they will also be able to contact the owner of the cache if they need to move it when work is being done in the park.

Brown County takes great pride in its park system and works hard to make certain parks are safe, clean and provide good experiences for everyone that visits, including folks enjoying geocaching.

I hope you will reconsider and choose to visit us, Ralph. Thank you again for sharing your concerns with me.

Brad Toll
President/CEO
Packer Country VCB
1901 S Oneida St
Green Bay, WI 54304
(920) 405-1138
http://www.packercountry.com

[Miata]

They need to pay for the bomb squads every time they call one in. Might just consider it a bomb squad tax and leave it at that.

I am surprised that they have been monitoring the cache contents all along and removing inappropriate items, but have blown up several caches. 🙄

The guy sounded genuine to me. However there is no way I would pay to place a cache……ever. 😉

[wikamper]

Hi,

Two points I am a big believer in trying to make the system work for you…first of all all the cachers in Brown County contact the county supervisor. I have seen county Supervisors lose their jobs for smaller issues then this if you know what I mean. Allot of people view fees like this as just another government regulated fee, which is not very well received by the general public. Another idea is don’t hold events in brown county and make sure the cnty board of brown cnty sees the impact of that to the area. maybe by holding a Midwest geocaching event far enough away from brown cnty so they feel no impact.

sorry…just blowing smoke 😆

[Frizz]

I just had a very interesting and helpful face to face meeting with my local alderman/county supervisor. He had read my letter to the parks director, and because he is a geocacher (very part time and not registered) stopped in my store to talk to me about Brown County’s new regulation. I did my best to explain the positive aspects of geocaching in this area, and pointed out that perhaps Brown County should look at policies developed in Milwaukee and elsewhere, and try to keep the forms as standardized as possible, and not to try re-inventing the wheel. He mentioned that there had been no input from outside sources on the development of their policy. I provided him with links to both GC.com and the WI geocache site. Keep an eye out for new (hopefully positive) developments!

[Author]

Posts