How to get permission to place a cache?

[millenniumtree]

I’m interested in placing two caches in a Dane County Park, in Madison, and would like some information about getting permission to place a cache.

Some questions I have include:

Who would I contact to get permission?
What sorts of details about the cache or geocaching would the person be interested in?
Who makes the decision whether or not to allow it, and on what basis? Is it a panel of people, or an individual, and are they going by laws/rules, or is it more of a judgement call?

Also, what have other people done to get permission; have you been successful, or am I just wasting my time?

–Tree

[kbraband]

Tree,
It’s great that you are going to ask permission. All geocachers should be doing this. Your best bet is to talk with the park manager and explain what you wish to do. If he or she has not heard of geocaching, you may wish to have your geocache container to show him/her. If you want to take an article along to leave with the park manager, here’s one written especially for park managers: (2 pages here) http://www.rocketink.com/WPRAarticlepage1.jpg
http://www.rocketink.com/WPRAarticlepage2.jpg

[OuttaHand]

For my most recent cache, “The Trail’s Gone Cold”, I checked with ‘The Man’. That cache is in the Southern Unit of the Kettle Moraine so I started with a search on the ‘net. I looked for, and found, a page about the Kettle Moraine forest that had the names of the supervisors. I then e-mailed the supervisor of that particular unit. I sent him a link to geocaching.com, a brief description of what geocaching is, the description of what I was planning to hide and where. I got no replies for a few days. So then I called him. I explained who I was and that I had e-mailed. He seemed to remember my e-mail but gave no reason for not answering. I again explained what I was doing and where I was thinking of placing a cache. He pointed out that I could not place it in the area across the road as that is a state Natural Area; but that my other choice should be fine. I thanked him and went ahead with the cache. I also stated in the cache write-up that I had the permission of the supervisor of that unit and to please treat the area kindly. I think if you work with the correct authorities, in the correct WAY, you’re much better off in the long run — as is geocaching in general.

[kbraband]

quote:

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Originally posted by OuttaHand:
For my most recent cache, “The Trail’s Gone Cold”, I checked with ‘The Man’.

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This is terrific, OuttaHand. You’re a great example of what we should all be doing. It just goes to show that communicating with land managers is not hard to do, and we shouldn’t be intimidated at the thought.

[Author]

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