This topic contains 6 replies, has 7 voices, and was last updated by 
graphicsgirl19 4 years, 9 months ago.
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The WGA state park has been in place since 2013/2014. Are you in favor of updating the hides where possible for a new series of State Park caches to start in 2022?
Thanks.
zuma
Another great question! I absolutely loved the WGA State Park Series that was put out in 2013/14. It motivated me to visit all 47 or Wisconsin’s State Parks, something that I probably would not have done otherwise. I would definitely be in favor of taking a look at the current State Park Series and see if it could be updated to regenerate interest for those cachers who have already completed the initial series. If elected, I would also like to look at perhaps establishing additional Wisconsin State series to include State Trails and/or other State Properties. I would also love to look at a WGA Ice Age Trail Series – perhaps a geocache hidden either in every county the IAT runs through or on each segement. Wisconsin has so many treasures in the way of lands to spotlight! The possibilities are endless.
The views expressed here are that of myself only and do not necessarily represent that of the WGA board.
I love the WGA State Park Series! I’ve been slowly working on adding to my number of caches in this series and have thoroughly enjoyed exploring parts of the state I would not have otherwise gone to (that is the geocaching way, is it not?)! I’m hopeful that I can add many more to my find list in 2021. So selfishly, I want to get the initial series first! But in all seriousness, I think the conversation is always worthwhile. Especially since there will be new members to the board, fresh perspectives and ideas are valuable and are all done with the improvement of the game in mind. Can the State Park Series be expanded? I can absolutely see that happening!
I also really enjoy series of caches along the Ice Age Trail and Glacial Drumlin Trails. I would love to see this expanded and see the potential for related challenge caches. The cache game in Wisconsin is nothing but a slate of opportunity and the possibilities are truly endless. State Natural Areas, County Parks, roadside attractions! I’m excited just thinking about it!
The views expressed here are that of myself only and do not necessarily represent that of the WGA Board of Directors
The WGA State Park series has been in place since 2013/2014 however, the planning for it started well before that. I know that a few of the hides could use a refresh but really feel the series should stay as it is knowing there are people still pursuing them. How about a new idea such as a series of EarthCaches in state parks that have unique features? How about a focus on hiding geocaches in state parks that perhaps only have the 1 WGA geocache in them to draw people to that particular area?
I did see a potential idea of promoting hiding geocaches along the Ice Age Trail and to that I do need to comment. The Ice Age Trail Alliance would not support this. The Ice Age Trail consists of both public and private lands with many easements. In some places, going off the trail is not permitted. In a few other places, going off trail has promoted the spread of invasive species. Years ago, I was approached and was asked to guide them with the development of what is now the Ice Age Trail ColdCache EarthCache program. The Alliance had made the determination that they did not want to promote geocaches but rather EarthCaches that point out the geological features of the trail which is what the trail is all about.
https://www.iceagetrail.org/coldcaching/
In 2019, I spoke at their Annual conference about the ColdCache program with Dolly McNulty who developed the program but has since retired. https://www.iceagetrail.org/2019-annual-conference-resources/ If anything, I personally would love to see Dolly’s vision of EarthCaches along the trail grow, she did share her final notes before she retired with me in hopes it would. Perhaps, with the Ice Age Trail Alliances blessings, the WGA could get involved in this.
Definitely! I would like to see the current original State Park series continue and a new series of caches placed in state parks, forests, trails, other state owned lands where caches are allowed. Like the original series, this will take a lot of help from membership across the state. There may be a few original state park caches that need to be moved or replaced. I would like to enlist board members and members-at-large to be part of a committee to work with the Wisconsin DNR and create a new expanded series. If the funds are available, I would like to see the WGA supply ammo boxes with a WGA state park series logo sticker and logbook. These could be used for the current and proposed new series. I think it is doable to have this in place by 2022 if its agreed to early this year. I’d be willing to lead this committee if elected.
Please note: my comments are mine alone and may not necessarily reflect an official stance of the WGA Board of Directors.
The WGA SPS caches are some of our family favorites. Every summer we plan multiple camping trips to state parks, with one of the goals of our stay to find the WGA’s cache that is in this series. We are currently at the halfway mark in the series and surely will work on more this summer.
The question is worded, by asking if we would be in favor of updating the hide where possible for hopes of starting a new series. I would have to say that I am not in favor of updating the caches in the series to start a new series. For those of us that have not collected all 47 SP finds, a move such as that would be disappointing. Do some of the cache containers and there contents need freshening up, because there is a lack of frequent owner visit? Yes, some could use some TLC.
I would not be opposed to a completely new series, but only after some of the issues with the current game are cleaned up. The game on the WGA’s website needs to be updated. The map of the state park caches does not work properly. Our number of SP finds is stuck at 2, when we currently actually sit at 24 finds. Is there a designee for administration of the game? So, my vote would be to improve the current game and keep it going before initiating another.
There are so many great state parks but why limit ourselves there? As stated by others, the Ice Age trail, the state and national forests, there are so many others great features to our state that we can highlight. Some of the state park caches do need to be altered due to certain changes but I think being that there are still many cachers going for this series, that there are so many other options to explore.
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