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UW-Milwaukee is planning to hold a geocaching class. I have exchanged a couple of emails with the instructor to ask a few questions and offer WGA’s support and assistance. Here’s some information:
Learn the basic operation of hand-held Global Positioning System units
to enable you to navigate a route. The GPS uses satellites to pinpoint
your location to within 15 feet anyplace on earth. Learn geocaching
games, “hiding” caches all over the world, publishing locations on the
internet, and finding the caches. Includes one classroom session and two
sessions in the field navigating routes. Students should have a small
handheld GPS unit such as a Garmin Etrex or Magellan 310.
3 Wed., July 9-23, 6:30-8:30pm
UWM School of Continuing Education
Instructor: Jim SernovitzI am not sure that I know who Jim Sernovitz is. I don’t know the real names that go with every local cacher. I understand that he is a professional photographer, ornithologist and lecturer. But I know nothing of his geocaching credits; his finds, his placements.
As a student, I would be interested in my teachers’ credentials. Professional recognition or amateur achievement are essential to establishing the level of authority I expect my instructors to have. Will Mr. Sernovitz and his program be sanctioned or approved by the WGA or Groundspeak? Will it be worth my investment to enroll in his class?
tb
quote:
Originally posted by Trudy & the beast:
I am not sure that I know who Jim Sernovitz is. I don’t know the real names that go with every local cacher. I understand that he is a professional photographer, ornithologist and lecturer. But I know nothing of his geocaching credits; his finds, his placements.As a student, I would be interested in my teachers’ credentials. Professional recognition or amateur achievement are essential to establishing the level of authority I expect my instructors to have. Will Mr. Sernovitz and his program be sanctioned or approved by the WGA or Groundspeak? Will it be worth my investment to enroll in his class?
tb
I asked Jim what his geocaching.com ID is, but he didn’t answer that question. He assured me that this is basic beginner’s class, so I would say that anyone who has already found even a few geocaches might not get much out of this class. I do think it’s a worthy attempt to get timid people off their butts and out for a walk. And I can’t blame him for being one of the first to offer a college class in geocaching. Everyone’s got a right to try to make a buck.
Internet research has yielded a probable background (not confirmed by the person in question):
From http://www.backyard-birds.com/speakers.html
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Jim Sernovitz
Mequon, WIJIM is a professional photographer, writer and computer consultant. He also teaches photography at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and at Mt. Mary College. He gives photography seminars to photo clubs and various colleges and adult-ed schools such as UW-Waukesha and Hope College in Michigan. He has had articles and photos published locally, nationally and internationally; has won several awards for his photo work, and had some photos purchased for private collections and displays.
Jim is the owner of Traveling Camera Productions, which presents live narrated travelogues to schools, senior centers and nature groups. He formerly owned The Enlargement Works, a professional-quality custom photo lab, and was a partner in Big Systems, a dealer and distributor of large format digital imaging equipment.
=============================I believe I know his handle but I am not sure. If correct, he’s done over 100 caches, although nothing since March, hidden none but has done over 30 benchmarks.
Perhaps his name could be checked with geocaching.com as he is promoting their web site (probably others too)
Since the description includes the term geocaching instead of Orienteering by GPSR, I would think that his credentials would be important to them.
Ken seems to have the right idea. It sounds like Jim is going to teach people how to operate a GPS, and in the process introduce them to Geocaching. Given his love of nature that is evident by his pictures, I’m sure he will no doubt be an asset in teaching newbies about our sport.
As far as spending your money on the class Ray, why not take your Trudy out on the town instead. I’m sure you know enough about the sport to teach a class on your own.
One of these days I will have to make it down your way for a breakfast meeting. Take care!
Wow! This thread got ahead of me here…
Kbraband said….
I can’t blame him for being one of the first to offer a college class in geocaching. Everyone’s got a right to try to make a buck.I am in total agreement. Jim Sernovitz will only be doing what he normally does for a living. There is nothing wrong with this.
Jthorson said….
I believe I know his handle but I am not sure. If correct, he’s done over 100 caches, although nothing since March, hidden none but has done over 30 benchmarks.This profile doesn’t fit anyone I know of.
Miata said….
As far as spending your money on the class Ray, why not take your Trudy out on the town instead. I’m sure you know enough about the sport to teach a class on your own.Miata, I take your comment as a complement. I was trying to play the devil’s advocate… Would it be worth the investment if I had no finds at all?
I was just thinking, how about if we offer informal help to all newbies on a regular basis. I think the breakfast caches could be an ideal forum to start with. I don’t want to step on the Beast’s toes, but if we could invite interested newbies to the breakfast, they could then be paired with an experienced volunteer for a couple of caches. Obviously UWM believes there are enough people interested in it to fill a class so some may show up for the breakfast. We could even post a flyer at REI or Gander Mountain to spread the word. Of course I would help out in any way needed.
Mikequote:
Originally posted by Geotrippers:
I was just thinking, how about if we offer informal help to all newbies on a regular basis. I think the breakfast caches could be an ideal forum to start with. I don’t want to step on the Beast’s toes, but if we could invite interested newbies to the breakfast, they could then be paired with an experienced volunteer for a couple of caches. MikeYou’re not stepping on my toes at all…
all are welcome at the breakfasts regardless of experience. and any of our seasoned veterans would be delighted to have a newbie at their side. We did lunch and four caches in the rain with a group of newbies today.
tb[This message has been edited by Trudy & the beast (edited 06-08-2003).]
[This message has been edited by Trudy & the beast (edited 06-08-2003).]
BTW the next breakfast is here: http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?ID=73045
Yall come!
quote:
Originally posted by Geotrippers:
I was just thinking, how about if we offer informal help to all newbies on a regular basis.My wife and I have on occasion announced ‘newbie’ classes that we hold in our area on local Internet message boards. We’ve had as few as 5 and as many as 20, and they have always been well received. There appears to be a need for these types of introductory get togethers.
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