This topic contains 4 replies, has 5 voices, and was last updated by 
-
Posts
-
So how’d it go at the Deerfield Library educational event?
Numbers, demographics, response, etc?It was great fun and there are a lot of new and very enthusiatic potential new cachers because of it. Alan did a fabulous job (like there was even a question). Mr. WISearcher took a picture or two and I know that they took some pictures for their local paper…I am sure ALan will share that with us when it gets published. Some great temp caches…it was so hard to relinquish control of my GPS and let strangers get the hootie hoo’s, but it was soooo much fun to see the excitement of newbies finding their first one!!! We need more of these!
The Deerfield Clinic went very well with about 30 people attending about half were newbie’s. Thanks for all the regular cachers for lending there GPS’s for the newbie’s to find the three temporary caches and for showing them how to find the caches. There was a good mix of ages represented from the young and the young at heart. The following are two articles that appeared in the local papers one March 11 and the second the March 18, the first was a phone call interview and the second I took the reporter out on a cache find, the coldest and windiest day of the month.
Geocaching at the Deerfield Public Library
By Amy Alder 3-11-04
Managing Editor of the Deerfield Independent/Cambridge News
Those interested in a good treasure hunt might find the next Deerfield Family Fun night presentation to their liking.
Deerfield resident Alan Holtan will be offering the basics in an exciting new game called Geocaching (Geo-cashing), a high tech treasure hunt using Global Positioning Systems (GPS) to find hidden items.
“A person takes a container, fills it with anything from McDonald’s Happy Meal prizes to handmade jewelry and hides it,” Holtan said. “Then they log onto geocaching.com to post it with the coordinates. People who want to play can log into the site get the coordinates and hunt for that item.”
Holtan, who works at a small engineering firm in Madison, found a passion for orienteering (map and compass work). He competes several times a year (mostly in the winter) and was looking for something to do during his off time. That’s when he found a love, or as he said, an obsession, with Geocaching.
“I love to get out and walk,” Holtan said. “This gives me an opportunity to see the back part of parks I never get to see.”
Holtan is ranked #5 in the State of Wisconsin with his 734 total finds over the years claimed in up to eight different states.
The concept of the game is to leave an item in some sort of container to be found by another Geocache contestant. If the cache is found, they take the item and leave something new for future hunters of the cache.
“The containers vary in size,” Holtan said. “I have found everything from pencil lead containers and film canisters to five gallon buckets. The average size is usually a 4X4 Tupperware container that is buried, most of the time, in a public access area such as a park. This is a family oriented activity so the caches are usually filled with items that are suitable for all ages to find and hidden in safe areas.”
Holtan stated there are caches in the area that he has hidden – one at each of the Cam-Rock Parks in Cambridge and one in Deerfield.
Holtan will offer a basic presentation on Geocaching for the novice at the Deerfield Public Library Thursday, March 18 starting at 6:30 p.m. Those interested in attending are asked to call the Deerfield Public Library at 764-8102 by March 15 to reserve their spot.
“This is for everyone and everyone is welcome whether they are an avid searcher or not,” Holtan said. “I will give a presentation that will last about half an hour and then I plan to set up three Geocaching examples for the group.”
Holtan stated there are three different types of Geocaches and he plans to set up one of each type so those interested in trying out Geocaching will have the opportunity to find an item or can go from container to container on a true treasure hunt.
Those with GPS receivers are asked to bring them, but Holtan will have one GPS unit available for the novice. He also encourages visitors to bring a flashlight.
Those interested in learning more about Geocaching are encouraged to visit the website at geocaching.com or join Holtan for a night of Geocaching fun.My very own Geocaching Moment
By Amy Alder 3-18-04
Managing Editor of the Deerfield Independent/Cambridge News
Alan Holtan had agreed to meet me at Cam-Rock I this past Thursday, March 11 to give me some insight on the Geocaching craze. I’ll admit that speaking with him a few days before had piqued my interest in this new treasure hunt style game, but little did I know what I was about to find.
Being one of the coldest and windiest days of the week, my eyes watered as Holtan pulled up beside me. He had a look of excitement on his face as he introduced himself, handed me the information about the cache he took off http://www.geocaching.com and his handheld GPS receiver before giving me a smile and saying, “Go find it.”
I stood shivering, partly from the cold but mostly from fear of the unknown. Holtan had just handed a map and GPS receiver to someone who received lower than average test scores in geography and who was sure she wouldn’t find the prize that day. I had a lot of questions as I listened to Holtan’s explanation of the equipment and Geocaching in general.
We were off to find a single cache that Holtan had hid at Cam-Rock I. He has three different caches at the Cam-Rock parks in Cambridge and another hidden in the Village of Deerfield.
This cache had a difficulty rating of one and a half stars, which was pretty easy. Holtan told me that there are also caches that are considered handicapped accessible, making this an activity for all and a perfect event for families.
“Of course some of the caches are more difficult to find,” Holtan said. “The one I hid at Cam-Rock II is a level two and the one hidden at Cam-Rock III is a level three.”
Throughout our hunt Holtan relayed stories of some of the harder finds he had been on or heard of. One of the finds was hidden high in a tree suspended by a nylon cord and another was underwater. Needless to say, I was happy to be in the middle of a park on my first Geocaching hunt.
Holtan told me to look around and notice my surroundings. He pointed out the trail which he said would be a good starting point. He had programmed the coordinates into the machine (N42 degrees 59.401 W89 degrees 01.383) and showed me an additional clue in decrypt type at the bottom of the page. We were ready for the hunt.
Holtan followed me to the trail showing me that we were .14 miles away from the cache and then proceeded to show me how the numbers changed as we walked further.
As we followed the trail Holtan shared his plans for the Geocaching seminar he was giving Thursday, March 18 at 6:30 p.m. at the Deerfield Public Library. He stated he planned to give some background information and then take interested hunters on a virtual hunt, hunt for a single cache like we were currently on, and then a hunt for a multiple cache.
Holtan stated Geocaching was starting to become a real craze. He had gotten into the game as a way to get out walking and see the parks but many are much more serious. He handed me a list of handle names and showed me the number one Geocacher, The Lil Otter, had found 2,345 caches. He also pointed out he was ranked number five with his 734 finds.
The recent popularity of Geocaching according to Holtan was knowledge that it existed. He also stated that GPS receivers are becoming easier to find (at such places like Wal-mart) and a basic model can be purchased for about $50. Holtan said that the machines have many features that can add to the cost, such as color monitors that run about $500.
Holtan stated the game has changed a little over the past few years. He had to buy a permit to place his caches in the Cam-Rock parks from the Dane County Park system. He also stated that national parks were off limits to the Geocaching game.
At this point the machine started beeping and Holtan stated we were close, about 10 feet away. He offered some advice at this point.
“Go off the beaten path,” Holtan said.
Looking around I saw a tiny hill with a flat area at the top and pointed it out to him. He said that might be a good place to start.
We left the path, climbed the hill and stood catching our breath for a moment.
“Now you want to look around the area and see what a good hiding place might be,” Holtan said. “You also want to see if anything looks out of place.”
I searched for a while, well a few seconds, and found a spot I thought might be a good hiding place. Removing the brush and leaves I saw the treasure.
Holtan pulled out the old Planters peanut container so I could view it. Upon opening it he pulled out a calling card from the Ruby Slippers, a bookmark and a few other odd and end items that had been left. He also pulled out a journal, handed it to me with a smile and said, “You have to sign it.”
I signed it as Geomuggle reporter writing a little note about how great this first experience had been. I noticed that Holtan was checking out the container. An animal of some sort had chewed a dime size hole into one side of the container.
“The animals are a concern from time to time,” Holtan said. “That’s why we never leave food of any kind.”Holtan went on to tell me a story about a cache, a Rubbermaid container, that was torn apart by a bear.
“They found the lid in one spot and the bottom in another,” Holtan said. “When they put it back together they found the claw marks.”
Holtan started to pack up the cache and then pulled what he called a “travel bug” (a small sized Mr. Potato Head) out of his pocket.
“You always want to leave something,” Holtan said. “And if you take something, we like it if you trade up.”
Holtan said he has found a number of items within the caches such as the calling card of other Geocaching members, small trinket items like boxes of chalk or Hot Wheel cars, origami objects and even hand made jewelry. He stated that the finder is free to take something as long as they leave an item in return.
Holtan then explained about the travel bug he put into the container. They are objects that travel from cache to cache. One person finds it and takes it to another location. Holtan stated that one travel bug even made it to Holland before it was stolen.
I took a picture of Holtan with his travel bug then he screwed the top back on the container and told me it was time to hide it again.
“You always want to hide it better than you found it,” Holtan said. “I like to throw twigs over the top in a natural fashion so it looks like the wind blew them over it.”
After we had hidden the cache again we started heading for the parking lot. Holtan told me he checks his caches regularly, but if people are having a hard time finding them, they usually let him know by email. He stated that people used to be able to hide their caches in another state, but they have stopped that now.
Speaking of other states, Holtan said he has been across seven or eight different states and has found caches in many of them. He stated this was a wonderful way to plan a vacation or a day trip while in another state.
All in all, the hunt was fun. There’s always something exciting about finding treasure.
Before he left, Holtan stated that he was excited about his seminar at the library and was hoping more people will check into Geocaching.
“It’s really a lot of fun,” Holtan said.quote:
Originally posted by Natloh2:
The average size is usually a 4X4 Tupperware container that is buried, most of the time, in a public access area such as a park.Nice job, Alan! Thanks for posting the article.
Too bad about the “buried” comment. I’m sure you didn’t tell the reporter it was buried. That’s one of the most frequent mistakes reporters seem to make. Anyway, it was still good coverage of your outstanding efforts.
Great stories!! So is that reporter now calling you and asking for advice on what GPS to buy?? I wonder if she’ll try geocaching out….
You must be logged in to reply to this topic.