Cache Bash 2009 – suggestions?

[Lostby7]

@Mister Greenthumb wrote:

I too would like to see the elimination of $$$ prizes and maybe an increase in the amount of prizes such as gift cards from merchants.

Last year at Chocolate fest my team won first place and a boatload of gift cards and such for local merchants. I used exactly zilch from those prizes. None of my team members nor I live near there and had little use for those items. That said I do believe that the other team members may have used one of the items and left the rest in local caches for others to have….I think tangible prizes are much better than gift cards when you are away from home with limited time. A large event like this draws people from further away and the usefulness of gift cards would be minimal at best. The event wraps up late in the day and stores are closing at that time and lots of folks would not be around the next day. $100 rolls up nicely in one’s pocket.

[jerrys dad]

@Lostby7 wrote:

@Mister Greenthumb wrote:

I too would like to see the elimination of $$$ prizes and maybe an increase in the amount of prizes such as gift cards from merchants.

Last year at Chocolate fest my team won first place and a boatload of gift cards and such for local merchants. I used exactly zilch from those prizes. None of my team members nor I live near there and had little use for those items. That said I do believe that the other team members may have used one of the items and left the rest in local caches for others to have….I think tangible prizes are much better than gift cards when you are away from home with limited time. A large event like this draws people from further away and the usefulness of gift cards would be minimal at best. The event wraps up late in the day and stores are closing at that time and lots of folks would not be around the next day. $100 rolls up nicely in one’s pocket.

But lets say you add some WGA t-shirts, some TB dogtags, a couple of WGA geocoins from last year, etc… Add some extra little prizes so more people can win something. I know personally I would be willing to pay a $10 or $20 entry fee per team too help offset the cost of those extra prizes. I didn’t feel like it was woth my time to run all over West Bend just for those with such a small chance of winning something.

[LDove]

We had a gazillion (is that a word?) prizes for the prize box, hopefully you all had a chance at that, so there was a lot of extra stuff you could win. Unfortunately, Craig the Chamber director found more prizes after some had left from the big drawing – stuff from geocaching.com and coins so you may have missed that. The focus if I speak for myself should be this:
1. Socializing at a fun event.
2. Fun things to do and see while getting some caching done.
3. Possibly win something.

We had people from as far away as Florida and California so local merchant prizes we stayed away from this year and went more generic. I think all in fun, some people put in the competition of this just to see if they can get it all done in one day. (I had to tease a few of you and you know who you are, about this because I knew this year it would be tougher and it was in good fun). If they want to roll that way, ok. We will not make any sort of competition of it ever, because of the fact that it causes too many problems. Keep in mind, the folks that won the money – I know 2 of them had very few tickets. It’s all in the luck of the draw baby!

I could suggest to Craig that rather than dividing the prizes up to bigger levels, how about 10 – 100 dollar prizes instead?

[Lostby7]

@LDove wrote:

I could suggest to Craig that rather than dividing the prizes up to bigger levels, how about 10 – 100 dollar prizes instead?

I’d be cool with that…..anything to better my odds.

[zuma]

@LDove wrote:

We had a gazillion (is that a word?) prizes for the prize box, hopefully you all had a chance at that, so there was a lot of extra stuff you could win. Unfortunately, Craig the Chamber director found more prizes after some had left from the big drawing – stuff from geocaching.com and coins so you may have missed that. The focus if I speak for myself should be this:
1. Socializing at a fun event.
2. Fun things to do and see while getting some caching done.
3. Possibly win something.

Sounds like you have the priorties in the right order. Anybody that thinks that they are going to make money caching should cionsider taking up golf. It is not about the cash. It is about the fun of looking around, exploring new places and talking with friends.

That said, at the KB 2K event this summer there were enough door prizes that nearly everyone won something, and that went over well. Also, at the WGA CITO event in Wausau, there were enough door prizes that almost everyone won something. Personally, I dont care if I win a prize or not, but I know that if folks are going to be there for 2 hours waiting and chatting, they are gonna feel better about it if they walk away with something maybe.

Anyway, I think it is a wonderful event, and am looking forward to next year.

z

[Cachelovskys]

I absolutely LOVED the event. Geocharger and I were able to get ALL of the caches in the time allowed. I would offer these few suggestions…

1)No Code Words – it seemed to me like there was a bunch of cell phone activity going on. I didn’t hear of any exchanging of code words, but I think we should remove the temptation.

2)Bonus Tickets for Water Caches or More Difficult Caches – Make it worth the effort.

3)I agree that more prizes would be nice. But I like the bigger cash prizes. Also, maybe for the “smaller prizes” just postig some numbers on a board for people to check. It could save time?

4)I LOVE THE NIGHT CACHES!!! Please keep this!

[The Crippler]

Personally, for me and my daughter, it is all about finding all the new caches posted for the event. We do this as a personal challenge to us and not because we are in a race, although that is what it tends to be with the time. We know that the odds are against us winning a big prize and we enjoy the satisfaction of getting them all done in the “time allowed.”

Having said this here are our personal observations and feelings:
1. We drive 1 and 1/2 hours to get there. This is too close to spend the night in my opinion. We will probably never participate in Friday or Sunday activities. So if there are raffle tickets to be had during those days we would likely not come for any of the weekend.

2. We were really looking forward to all the water caches but just did not have the time to get them all in the time allowed. We started right at 6:30 and finished at 4:20. We did not stop for lunch, we did not stop for our free ice cream (the shop was not open when we were there) and only stopped once for the free water at Walgreens but mostly because it was where a bathroom was when we needed it. Afterwards we went straight home because we were too tired to stop for dinner. We really were much more prepared than last year, bringing along bikes and preplanning routes and still got all 50 last year. This goes to show how much more challenging it was this year. If it is to get more challenging we might not be as eager either. This event is about the numbers for us, this is how we like to play this game.

3. There is plenty of time for socialization so we do not need to do it all day. I have been to events all across the state and I find the regional cacher groups to be a little “clicky” and resistant to letting in “outsiders”. I tried having conversations with several individuals I have met but mostly spent the time waiting with those in my area that I already knew.

4. I gave all my coupons to people who lived in the area.

5. It would have been nice to know in advance that most of the trails that caches were placed did not allow for bicycles, even though we saw plenty of cachers ignore those signs. In my area the IAT encourages bicycle use.

Overall we had a great time and hope that if any future changes are made that it will not affect the ability for the teams who strive to locate all 50 caches in the time allowed. In terms of a race, making it more difficult will only encourage those groups that try for all fifty to “race” (against time)and increase the danger. As I have seen that you have no intention on creating a race, which is a good thing, you will be increasing the danger if you make it more challenging to get all 50.

[Lostby7]

I find myself agreeing with many of Cripplers statements and observations. The event is different things to different folks and expecting that everyone’s #1 priority at a geocaching event should be socializing is unrealistic. Some people are just not that interpersonally skilled. I agree there was plenty of time for socializing before, during (on trail) and after the event.

I would also agree that as a safety precaution (after all there are those who will attempt all 50), that the difficulty or travel times be reduced. I know of at least one geocacher who was pulled over by the authorities. I would have loved a bit more spare time during the day to grab some water and lunch but to get all 50 as per my personal goal, time was against me.

[LDove]

Holey moley, Pharmgirl and I went today – started out at 9:30 and ended at 1:30 and got…. drum roll please…. 14, yeah… I totally can’t imagine getting all 50, wow. I think I would have probably slept for days after if by some miracle I did do that! 😛

[marc_54140]

I did not cache. I stayed at the park all day, and bummed around. Visited with others teams that were coming and going. Met alot of cachers.

1. Have fewer caches for the 2010 event. Would make it easier for everyone to find all of them. And there are plenty of other caches for everyone to find.

2. Following up on 2. This would give more time for Teams to socialize.

3. Another follow up on 2. Have more activities to do at the park. A second bingo card with Team Names, perhaps a 3rd with faces. Selected cachers have an item to turn over if someone introduces themselves. A Team bingo card – which team has completed the most objectives. Etc ……..

Weigh the socializing with the caching – give lots of tickets for that as well.

4. Concentration? Well, the bad would mean everyone running into each other. The good, cachers would not have to travel so far.

5. Activities – a lot of kids this year. More activities for them.

6. Vendors. Had a couple of people ask me where the coin dealers were located.

[Mister Greenthumb]

@marc_54140 wrote:

I did not cache. I stayed at the park all day, and bummed around. Visited with others teams that were coming and going. Met alot of cachers.

1. Have fewer caches for the 2010 event. Would make it easier for everyone to find all of them. And there are plenty of other caches for everyone to find.

2. Following up on 2. This would give more time for Teams to socialize.

3. Another follow up on 2. Have more activities to do at the park. A second bingo card with Team Names, perhaps a 3rd with faces. Selected cachers have an item to turn over if someone introduces themselves. A Team bingo card – which team has completed the most objectives. Etc ……..

Weigh the socializing with the caching – give lots of tickets for that as well.

4. Concentration? Well, the bad would mean everyone running into each other. The good, cachers would not have to travel so far.

5. Activities – a lot of kids this year. More activities for them.

6. Vendors. Had a couple of people ask me where the coin dealers were located.

That just goes to show that here’s a cacher with more finds than most of us and he came for the socializing. If I would have known Marc was that much fun I would have stayed in the park and hung out with him all day. I like all of Marc’s ideas for a little something more for thsse who choose to spend more time in the park. In the three years that we’ve been geocaching we’ve been to 30+ events. Socializing is a big part of geocaching for us. In between we’ve also had time to find nearly 2000 hides and place 120+ of our own. From all of the comments so far I think most of what went on this year was a good blend of something for everyone. Some of the suggestions for a little tweaking here and there will undoubtedly make for a 2010 Event to satisfy everyone.

[thepharmgirl]

Thoughts…

“You can please some of the people all of the time and all of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time.”

I guess the big question … is it really about the prizes?? Is that the most important aspect to make this event truly successful to everyone? …Or are the 5 cash prizes just a bonus? A fun extra lottery chance on a day when you can get together with a LOT of other geocachers to find a LOT of caches and socialize with a lot of different people from all over the state and country who share your same hobby/sport/obsession before,during, and after your caching. Maybe it’s just a day or weekend when you aim to set a personal goal and that is its own reward. What is the event to you?

@zuma wrote:

…. if folks are going to be there for 2 hours waiting and chatting, they are gonna feel better about it if they walk away with something maybe.

250 teams walked away with a Cache Ba$h pathtag. Most teams also walked away with an official bag, a free water from Walgreens, free breakfast/lunch from George Webb, free $2 ice cream from Chocolate Factory, and free McCafe coffee from McDonalds. It’s not much, but it’s something. Do you think we’d be better off handing these out at the END of the day so people feel like they’re a winner instead of throwing it all in the bag/envelope at the beginning which now almost seems like an entitlement?

@Cachelovskys wrote:

1)No Code Words – it seemed to me like there was a bunch of cell phone activity going on. I didn’t hear of any exchanging of code words, but I think we should remove the temptation.

This is tricky. I’d love to eliminate code words(!), but then we’d also have to eliminate certain types of containers such as “Stick-y Situation” and “How Do You Measure Up?” I’d hate to throw micros and unique hides out the window because of a small number of people who abuse the codeword. It’s nice to have a variety, don’t you think? If you can think of a way around this, I’d love to hear it!

@-cheeto- wrote:

– For the longer hikes and water caches, perhaps give 2 stamps/tickets to reward those who target the harder caches

I’ve heard this comment a few times now… Would anyone OPPOSE this?

@Lostby7 wrote:

… I’d work really hard to make the caches a bit more accessible. If the chamber wants folks to spend more time spending money in town then a few less caches or shorter walks are in order so that we have time to stop and spend some $….

How does everyone else feel about this? Did we spread them out TOO much this year? TOO long or too many long hikes? Would you rather decrease the terrain/difficulty? Keep in mind that the number of teams you encounter at each cache would significantly increase. Are you okay with this trade-off?

@jerrys dad wrote:

Maybe next year you could get businesses to donate smaller items for the raffle on top of the money.

Heh. We tried. Tough economy right now I guess. But many restaurants were willing to provide small discounts for the weekend. On this note… Do you think it would be better to scratch the Treasure Box activity and give those prizes away in the raffle instead?

@marc_54140 wrote:

…Have more activities to do at the park. A second bingo card with Team Names, perhaps a 3rd with faces. Selected cachers have an item to turn over if someone introduces themselves. A Team bingo card – which team has completed the most objectives. Etc ….
Weigh the socializing with the caching – give lots of tickets for that as well.

Would anyone OPPOSE giving out more tickets for the socializing aspect?
Does anyone have additional ideas for park activities throughout the day?

@marc_54140 wrote:

6. Vendors. Had a couple of people ask me where the coin dealers were located.

Yes, I will definitely bring this up and hope to get some vendors involved next year. We had asked a couple vendors this year and they declined, but I think they were weary of a first time Mega event, and it was somewhat late notice.

Any other comments, concerns, suggestions?? The event itself.. the caches…anything. Things you liked? Keep all comments coming. Not everyone will agree on everything, but the comments are all very useful, and the committee is keeping a close eye on this thread!!

[Team Vaughan]

Not to stray from the topic but many of you have said next year is already on your calendar. What is the date for next years event?

Thanks
Chris

[thepharmgirl]

@Team Vaughan wrote:

Not to stray from the topic but many of you have said next year is already on your calendar. What is the date for next years event?

Thanks
Chris

Aug 13-15, 2010

[Northern Lightz]

We enjoyed the caching part of it the most. The socializing was fun when we were out at the caches. Had lots of laughs at caches. I’ll be honest I’m actually kinda shy with new people, my husband is not. For me the pre and post bash were hard for me, so many people. A little over whelming. But at the caches we would talk and laugh with everyone there. Smaller groups of people. To each their own. We probably wouldn’t have gone if it was only for socializing. West Bend is the Midwest Geocaching Capitol, were not going to go there for just socializing. What other opportunity to we have to be in an area like that. We both work long hours and crazy hours that when we have time to cache. That what we would rather be doing. I think the event was run very well. Not much line standing the main thing we would like to see different is the drawings to be a half hour after turn in time instead of 1 1/2 hours.

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