[CommanderUSN]

I received the following response from the Dane County Parks director to the e-mail I posted above.

Hi Steve,

Thank you for stopping by today. It was a pleasure to hear about your program and how far it has developed over the years. I also appreciate the opportunity to receive feedback on the Dane County Geocaching Permit program. You are the first person that I can remember that has contacted me related to our Geocache Permit fee and the issues that it has created. I was very interesting to hear about Wisconsin Geocaching Association geocaching rules and the program policing that you provide. I think that this is a great opportunity for you to talk to the Commission related to the permit fee. Generally they provide for a 3-4 minutes for each person to give input at the Public Hearing on Proposed Park Fees. As I mentioned having something in writing is beneficial. Just to review the background points related to the county geocache permit was based on:
1) Appropriateness of the geocache
2) Allows individual to leave personal items on county park lands
3) Location of the geocache (sensitive area or facility)
4) Contact information for the sponsor

You are probably correct that the individual(s) that had the cache that created the first complaints probably did not belong to your organization. I am excited to hear that you and organization volunteers would be willing to help enforce rules for placing geocaches on Dane County Park lands. I also believe the Park Commission would be very encouraged with a partnership for the potential oversight of the program.

Thank you again, I look forward to working with you as we move forward in our discussions.

Darren Marsh
Parks Director

Darren Marsh
Parks Division
Dane County Land and Water Resources Department
Rm. 234
5201 Fen Oak Drive
Madison WI 53718
(608) 224-3766
Fax (608) 224-3745

[CommanderUSN]

[CommanderUSN]

I stopped by to visit June today at the Rehab center and she is in good spirits nearly a month after the incident but still has reconstructive surgery ahead on her left knee. She will be out of commission for sometime with the recovery from surgery but was glad to see the old Commander drop by. I told her that I had just met with the Parks director for Dane County and gave her an update on that…which appears to be going well. Keep her in your thoughts and prayers…but don’t expect to see her out caching anytime in the near future…she still has a LONG ways to go.

The Commander

[CommanderUSN]

@CommanderUSN wrote:

I talked with the Dane County Parks Operation manager today. I discussed many of the things I will be discussing with the director on Monday…knowing full well that the first person the director will call will be the operation manager.

The Parks commission meets at 12:15 next Wednesday and one of the agenda items is changing the fee rates. Since the geocaching fee was NOT going to be changed for 2015, I’m hoping that I can get the fee dropped and work on policy directly with the Parks director after the ‘no fee’ policy is in effect.

We will see what happens…but I am optimistic.

The Commander

And YES…I do plan to attend the 12:15 meeting on Wednesday

The Commander

[CommanderUSN]

I talked with the Dane County Parks Operation manager today. I discussed many of the things I will be discussing with the director on Monday…knowing full well that the first person the director will call will be the operation manager.

The Parks commission meets at 12:15 next Wednesday and one of the agenda items is changing the fee rates. Since the geocaching fee was NOT going to be changed for 2015, I’m hoping that I can get the fee dropped and work on policy directly with the Parks director after the ‘no fee’ policy is in effect.

We will see what happens…but I am optimistic.

The Commander

[CommanderUSN]

@Ostermi wrote:

Hey WGA cachers (especially those in Dane County)! I have decided to make my first new topic on the forums about the fees required to place caches in Dane County parks. I know there was a post about this a while back, but it seems to have trailed out. Anyways, I was thinking about placing a cache near the Chapel at Indian Lake Park in Mazo. However, I now know of the fee of $25 that comes with placing a max of three caches in the county’s parks. What a shame! What really stinks is that the nice wooded trail that goes past our house roughly a mile away is also owned by the county, meaning I would have to fork over that money for a very local, easy to maintain cache (possibly a larger one!). I may send a letter to them about this, as my reasoning is that it attracts people into the parks that may not have come (therefore, cachers are doing a service to the county). I just want to get your input (and maybe some more points to send a good letter 😀 ).

I agree with both you and DeeJay…in fact, one of my goals after I retired is to take this issue to the county and see if it can’t be resolved. I haven’t been retired a month yet…so I’m still sort of on a Vacation schedule but it is high on my todo list.

I think as a board of director of the WGA, my negotiations may have a bit more bite AND I plan to do this all face to face. I hear what everyone is saying and I have the outline of a plan in my head…give me a week more off and I will begin the talks.

Thanks,

The Commander

[CommanderUSN]

@WeekdayHiker wrote:

Anyone interested in hiking during the weekday, show me how to use gps, in finding coordinates? Have never done this, but enjoy hiking.

You might want to contact Zuma who I’m sure will help or at least give you a cacher that is available on weekdays in the Eau Claire area.

On the geocaching page for your profile…scroll down on the right hand side until you see ‘Contact another Geocacher’ and search for Zuma and then send him an e-mail.

Hope this helps!

The Commander 8) 8) 8)

[CommanderUSN]

@hack1of2 wrote:

Kim and I just published today a six-cache series for our 4-year caching anniversary entitled “Meet the WGA.” They highlight various aspects of the WGA:

1. Statewide annual events
2. WGA campouts
3. Board of directors
4. WGA State Park series
5. WGA committees
6. WGA picnics

The caches are not routine containers in the woods; rather they typically involve some type of prop or unique placement. If you’re ever in the Milwaukee area…

Here’s the bookmark list:
http://www.geocaching.com/bookmarks/view.aspx?guid=4fe59f49-7dbb-4e21-9a5c-c8d69bcc269b

😀 😀

Way to go you two…these look great. I have been keeping the Milwaukee area as a ‘cache’ to tap into but it looks like now you have tempted me to go after these. Thanks for putting them out there and for the EXCELLENT invitation to join the WGA in each cache page.

The Commander

[CommanderUSN]

@Walkingadventure wrote:

The DNR publishes a weekly newletter.

This week the WGA State Park series gets talked about. Follow the link for the whole story:

http://dnr.wi.gov/news/Weekly/?id=434#art2

The link should work…but here’s the story if it doesn’t

Geocaching series now offered in nearly 50 Wisconsin State Parks
MADISON – The growing popularity of geocaching – an outdoor recreational activity in which the participants use a Global Positioning System receiver or mobile device to look for hidden containers called geocaches — has led to the placement of new “official” caches at nearly 50 Wisconsin state park properties.
The Wisconsin State Park Geocaches Series is a joint project by the Wisconsin Geocaching Association and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to encourage outdoor activity, exploration and enjoyment of state park properties in all parts of Wisconsin, according to Sherry Wise, chief naturalist for the Wisconsin State Parks program.
“Over the last 12 years, geocaching has become a great way to explore the outdoors using technology,” Wise said. “Families enjoy the time being together and the thrill of using GPS technology adds to the excitement.”
Currently, there are 2 million geocaches and more than 6 million geocachers worldwide, according to Chris Walker, WGA president.
“With little startup cost, geocaching has become the perfect mix of technology and old school exploration,” Walker said. “You can get started with a smartphone or handheld GPS device.”
The Wisconsin State Park Geocaches Series consists of one geocache in each of 47 state parks. The state park geocaches are organized by biomes, which are regions typified by specific plant and animal communities and climate patterns.
All geocaches placed on state property must be approved by the manager of that property through an application process.
For the Wisconsin State Park Geocaches Series, the Wisconsin Geocaching Association worked with the property managers or naturalists to select locations for the geocaches that highlight unique or important natural features of the property.
To participate in the Wisconsin State Park Geocaches Series, people need to join the Wisconsin Geocaching Association, which Walker emphasizes, is free and can be done online through the association website.
Once a member, people can visit the WGA website and click on the link for Wisconsin State Park series. From there participants find a code they use with their GPS device to find coordinates for the geocache along with some additional hints for finding the cache.
People can then visit the park and use their GPS device to guide them to the coordinates and the hints to try and find the hidden cache.
Once they find it, they can add their name to a log stored inside the cache and return it to its hiding spot.
WGA has produced a number of posters for the parks that park managers will post in appropriate locations to alert people that a geocache can be found within the park.
“We hope this is yet another activity that will not only bring visitors to our state park properties, but will get them out to explore areas of the park that they otherwise may never see,” Wise said.
For more information visit the Wisconsin Geocaching Association website at wi-geocaching.com or search the DNR website dnr.wi.gov for keywords “geocache” and “parks.”
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Sherry Wise, DNR, 715-365-8966 or Chris Walker, WGA President, 920-858-5941 or Paul Holtan, DNR, 67-7517

[CommanderUSN]

@yoteecoyote wrote:

Hi everyone! I’m yoteecoyote (Real name: Andrew) from Madison, WI. I’m 28, live on the east side, and work at UW-Madison as a web developer.

I discovered geocaching a couple of weeks ago and have absolutely fell in love with it. I’ve got 14 finds right now, and each and every one of them has been exciting. I love seeing parts of Madison I’d otherwise never go to. Puzzle caches are my favorite.

I often go geocaching with my German shepherd, Heidi. I appreciate that there is a “dog friendly” attribute for geocaches.

I’ve already invested in a GPS (etrex 20), the Android app, and a premium membership. I’m planning on going to the flash mob this Saturday on the square, and look forward to future events! I’m also interested in doing some of the Lonely Cache and Cache Rescue work as well.

What’s with the name Yotee Coyote? I love coyotes! Not a popular critter in Wisconsin, so most people look at me funny (more so than usual). I bought a little coyote toy that I will be attaching a travel bug to. I’m thinking of doing a theme where the Wisconsin coyote wants to see its brethren in New Mexico, or something along those lines.

One question: I think I did the WGA membership correctly. Let me know if I’m missing anything. I tried to view the “Membership Info” link on this page but the link is broken.

Looking forward to a fun summer!

Welcome to the WGA and welcome to caching in Madison. I live on the Far West side but I work on the East side so I do have a few caches placed on the East side as well. Again, welcome and I may meet you this Saturday.

The Commander

[CommanderUSN]

@Timberline Echoes wrote:

We just had a Children's book we wrote and illustrated about Geocaching published. If anyone wants to know more give us a shout. http://www.amazon.com/Were-Gonna-Geocache-Timberline-Echoes/dp/1499280548/ref=sr_1_fkmr2_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1399087118&sr=1-2-fkmr2&keywords=we%27re+going+to+find+a+Geocache

Way to go guys.

The Commander

[CommanderUSN]

@Team Black-Cat wrote:

This is just the CAMPOUT shirts, not the WGA logo stuff.

Mine was a campout hoodie.

The Commander

[CommanderUSN]

I had one XL hoodie but am I the ONLY one?

The Commander

[CommanderUSN]

@Trekkin and Birdin wrote:

I think technology is this….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uk_vV-JRZ6E

Worth the watch if you have a little time. I was laughing pretty hard at times.

That is amazing…I wonder what they would do if they were confronted with “Hi-Fi” and 78, 45, and 33 and a third pressed disks. I didn’t have problems with that technology…but then again NOW IS A VERY DIFFERENT TIME.

The Commander

[CommanderUSN]

@rytanium wrote:

Are there days that people get together to geocache. I would just like to learn some of the “tricks of the trade”.

Thanks for asking that and hopefully we will have a program in place where a Mentor volunteer in your area will be able to help you and go caching with you to get you more familiar with the game. Mr. GreenThumb and I are working on that and I will be sending him my ideas after I post this. If all works out…we should have the program in place by the Spring Campout over Mother’s Day Weekend at Mirror Lake State Park.

Welcome to one of the nicest ‘sports’ around.

The Commander

[Author]

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