Need to Know if the WGA is interested

[Scrappy Scout]

I work for the DNR in the Kettle Moraine Southern Unit. I was approached by a naturalist and the superintendent. I was asked if the WGA would be interested in doing a geocaching 101 course and then take a group of people out to find a cache and explain what it is and show the different types. I already have started to do a MapQuest list of all the caches in the KMSU and they are going to overlay it on a trail map to show people all the different locations of caches and types. This would be like one of those nature walks they advertise for. They would like to try it and do it once and see how much attention it gets if it gets a lot then they would do it more. According to my superintendent we can advertise the WGA and show that this is advertise it as a sponsored by the WGA. I am throwing it out there to see how many people would be willing to help and see who would be willing to run it. I might be able to help depends on what weekend and if the boss lets me lol. Things we might need would be loaner units maybe a pamphlet to hand out to them and then take the people out on a hike to one of the caches one maybe one traditional and then one maybe earth caches. If any is interested or if I need to get more information let me know.

Scout-Kevin

[Averith]

You can count me in to help as needed.

[zuma]

I am sure we can coordinate something with the ed comittee.

z

[kmhiker]

Just let us know where and when.

[SammyClaws]

What defines the southern unit? Is it the one around LaGrange?

[glorkar]

http://www.trailville.com/wiki/WI_Kettle_Moraine_State_Forest

[Scrappy Scout]

This would be in the Kettle Moraine Southern Unit which is located in Eagle. My superintended said we would have to give him some sort of outline of what we would do and a date that we can do it. He said an afternoon time slot will be the best so it would not conflict with the morning naturalist programs. He also said if this works and we get a lot of people than it might grow to be a monthly thing and grow to incorporate both southern and northern units and then grow to include other campgrounds state wide. He did say once we have a program of what is going to be done and a date most likely a Saturday afternoon. We can post flyers out at all the camp grounds which include Pinewoods, Ottawa Lake, horse riders, and Whitewater. So we have to come up with a game plan so if the ED committee would like to look into this and keep me informed that would be great. I wonder if this might fall into a ed committee and a membership committee thing due to the fact that we can advertise this and maybe get people to sign up maybe we can hand out a WGA pamphlet the explains the WGA and everything it has to offer. These are just some ideas. Well lets keep this going I think this is a good thing. I know since this is the first one there will be a couple members of the DNR like the head naturalist and others there to see how it is and if it works they will most likely have us come back and do it again or even have it a monthly event during the camping season.

Scout-Kevin

[sandlanders]

@Scrappy Scout wrote:

Things we might need would be loaner units maybe a pamphlet to hand out to them and then take the people out on a hike to one of the caches one maybe one traditional and then one maybe earth caches.

Are there any GPS units already at Kettle Moraine somewhere? Most of the busier/larger DNR properties should have received at least eight yellow eTrex H units last year for use in the parks. Naturalists, activities people, and other personnel may have even attended training sessions on geocaching and GPS use in 2008 and 2009.

[kmhiker]

There are appx 10 e-trx units at the H. Ruess Ice Aga Center in the Northern Unit of the KM. I’m pretty sure that they belong to the DNR. We used them last Sept on a training session with “should have got him the tie”. If its ok I can pick them up and bring with me, then bring back. Contact [email protected] I’m sure that she can help.

[SammyClaws]

We spend most weekends during the summer near the southern unit. Depending upon the date, you can count us in to help.

[Scrappy Scout]

Ok this is good we have a lot of people interested to help; now we have to come up with a game plan. I know Auntie Nae and the ED committee is working on a plan. I just want to clarify this would be like one of those events posted on like the bathroom door like come look at the stars or take a wild flower walk and see the flowers of Kettle Moraine type of thing. I don’t know how big it will be or how small it will be I need to ask my superintendent if we should do a power point presentation or if he wants to keep it simple and do something smaller I will have to get back to everyone on that issue. I know they did a flower walk this past Saturday and had only 3 people show up but they did a know your flower card game and they had 35 people show up. So this might be a crap shoot and we could get one to 50 people I don’t know. I wonder if should do an event thing and post it on geocaching.com once a date is set and see what happens another idea.

Scout-Kevin

[sandlanders]

For the third year in a row we have been asked to give an intro to geocaching presentation at Roche-A-Cri State Park as part of their weekend activities schedule for campers and park users. Everyone is invited to come, though. The first year it was advertised in the park with flyers and notices. No one came. We grabbed a family coming off the stairway to see if they were interested, and they got one-on-one instruction from us.

The next year we made it a geocaching event, and we had cachers who decided to come to find area caches and to help out, plus we had a couple of families from the park who wanted to learn about geocaching. We gave an informal talk, had some handouts, then the new people got to pair up with willing cachers (if necessary) to find some “practice” caches we had placed near by.

I don’t think a power point presentation would work for this type of thing. A bit of instruction plus some Q & A is necessary at the start, then the hands-on go-find-the-caches stuff was what everyone really enjoyed. Practice caches might be the way to go on this if the park’s regular caches are more difficult in D/T, or if a lot of time will be taken up looking for them.

What is the objective of this activity? Will there be the same type of intro thing every time it is done, or will each session be building on the one before? If it’s the latter, maybe you could look for the regular caches then.

[kungfuhippie]

Myself and the little ones could probably swing out to help, although depending on their behavior we may not be much help. At least I can show any new cachers that it is possible to cache and enjoy it even with little ones or other challenges! 😆 I’m living proof that you make it what you want it to be.

PS. The lil monkeys are closing in on 100 caches found, not bad for 2 & 9 mos! 😛

[SammyClaws]

Why not talk to the DNR guys in the Northern Unit and see how they handle it. We volunteered for one up there a couple years ago. Locals and campers showed up. A ranger talked about using a compass and how to read a topo map. Then Tie did a Geo 101 class. Afterwards we taook people out and helped them find caches. I believe it was pretty well attended.

[Team Deejay]

When I taught this up at the NKMSF, they were supposed to have GPS units for people to use. Unfortunately, they forgot to get them. Oops! Fortunately, we had a bunch of geocachers show up who were willing to let the new folks borrow them to find caches. Note that we placed temporaries around the Ice Age Center to keep people close, which is probably a good idea for any sort of class (rather than sending them off long distances. On the other hand, if you held it at the Ottawa Lake campground, we could just have people find Sweet Smelling Land to get a good feeling for what real geocaching is about.

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