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Very cool map and bookmark lists Barry.
z
@LDove wrote:
😀 Anybody on the forums that would be interested in a geocaching cruise? It would be mid July, location either Alaska or Caribbean. I know there is one to Alaska in late May this year, but the dates don’t work for me.
If you think you might be interested – list your preference for destination and I can check into some preliminary group rates. :pirate:
Alaska in July sounds great. Keep us posted.
z
Last post, and then I will shut up. Here is how MN did their challenge cache on their first series.
Here is an example of one of the state park challenge caches in MN. When you look at, scroll down and notice what kind of cacher is finding it. There are a few veteran cachers sprinkled in, but it is mostly people with less than 200 finds.
http://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC3JXYY_william-obrien-state-park-avian-adventure
New York found a third way to do the challenge, and one that I would not advocate, but they did have people stamp a passport at each state park. They also gave away large prizes, with $100 for the FTF. I am not advocating that either, just pointing out that other states have found ways to have a challenge cache published and pointing out that generally decent prizes are involved.
In case my point was missed, the prizes are there not for us veteran geocachers, who I agree dont need them, so much as an incentive to new players in the game.
z
Alabama gives away a special geocoin also. And here is how they set up their challenge:
SC used a different approach than WA to get their State Park Challenge approved, so there is more than one way to do this.
z
Here are the prizes given away in Texas for their state park challenge:
10 caches found – Entry Level Pathtag, Keychain, and Sticker
20 caches found – Bronze Level Pathtag, Medal Challenge Sticker, and Promotion for 50% Off State Park Entry Fees
30 caches found – Silver Level Pathtag and Promotion for 50% Off 1 Night of Camping
50 caches found – Gold Level Pathtag and Promotion for 20% Off State Park Store Purchase (limit 5 items)
80 caches found – Platinum Level Pathtag and Promotion for 1 Free Night of Campinghttp://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/activities/outdoor_recreation/geocache/coordinates.phtml
Washington had a challenge cache for 50 of 100 state parks, and a challenge for all 100. People who found half of the state park caches, received a geocoin. More info here:
http://www.wsgaonline.org/forums/lofiversion/index.php?t918.html
z
As to issues getting a state park challenge published, here is how Washington did it, which is fully within the rules.
z
One of the things to remember is that the intention of the State Park Challenge is to introduce new people who enjoy exploring the outdoor to geocaching. In Minnesota, many of the people who found the state park challenge caches were not the people in this forum or veteran geocachers. Rather, they were new people to caching who enjoyed visiting the state parks.
That is one reason that I would like to see this done first class. We should give new people a good impression of the game and the WGA.
Here is how Washington does it:
http://www.parks.wa.gov/geocaching/passportgeochallenge/
z
@JimandLinda wrote:
Walkingadventure and others have carried the load from that point. If we make some coin off the SP challenge, well…
I agree that kudos are in order for WA and the rest of BOD for working on this. I am just trying to offer some suggestions on how to make it a first class program. That said, I do see the pragmatic issues that WA pointed out in knowing how many shirts and hoodies to make, but then you would have the same issue with something chintzy like pins. That issue could be worked around in lots of ways, including limiting it to the first 50 people (or whatever number you want) to complete the challenge.
I do wonder why you think that the WGA needs to “make coin off the SP challenge?” It seems to me that the WGA should take the opposite approach, and spend a few coins to make it first class in all ways.
z
@sandlanders wrote:
Everyone seem seems to enjoy electronic art (like the souvenirs), so maybe the WGA could issue links that cachers can put on their profile pages when they complete a level of SP finds, like the EarthCache medals or the WGA blue ribbons for COTM. No pick-ups or mailings or sizes to worry about, and even those who are less than honorable in their logging would not be getting anything of physical value for their non-efforts.
Good idea on the electronic art.
This is an idea that has never caught on in the United States, but is a big deal in Europe. They often have electronic art for series and challenges, and people display it on their profile pages.
You can see an example here:
http://www.geocaching.com/profile/?guid=86d3e612-d2fd-44bf-8c17-2f269432280f
z
@Walkingadventure wrote:
I was all in for an actual, physical cache challenge until I read the rules again:
“Additional points to consider when creating a challenge geocache:
1. Challenge geocaches must contain the word “challenge” in the geocache name.
2. Challenge geocaches are listed as the Mystery/Unknown geocache type.
a. A Challenge geocache must avoid undue restrictions. Specifically:
b. Challenge geocaches based on a specific list of geocaches, such as those placed by a specific person or group, will generally not be published.”All of the SP caches are owned by the WGA.
That of course would be at the discretion of the reviewers. I should note though that other states have had challenge caches for partial completion and full completion of their state park series. I know that just because other states do it, does not mean we can do it, due to the precedent guideline, but I do not see this as big obstacle.
z
@JimandLinda wrote:
This is my copy/paste post from December 7, 2013.
[Alright, how ’bout this:
Any WGA member can buy a WGA SP hat with a patch on it, for (x) amount of dollars.
If a member finds 15 SP caches, they get a bronze star pin for the hat; 30 SP caches gets a silver star pin, 45 gets a gold star pin. Any cacher that finds ALL the SP caches gets a State of Wisconsin pin for the hat. Pins can be awarded at WGA Events or sent by request.
The stars should be inexpensive; the flag pin should be available somewhere and we’ll need less of those anyway.
The price of the hat should fund the whole shebank.
Just having a star on the hat should stimulate some conversation with cachers that are unaware of the SP Challenge levels. Our “hat wearers” will be good advertising for the SPs and the WGA, whether worn locally or outside the state, at other events.
We just need a patch design that is simple, with some eye appeal, that mentions the “WGA State Park Challenge”.]
A hat is adjustable, so “one size fits all”.
If someone wants to arm chair log, fine! It’s still ($x) to buy a hat. Thanks for the support and wear it while in your arm chair!
The hat and pins strike me as being kind of chintzy. The WGA has plenty of funds to award decent prizes for this like patchs, T-shirts and hoodies, as I outlined above.
If you want to do the hat and pins in addition to decent prizes, that is one thing. If you are thinking that a project of this magnitude warrants just a cheap hat and stick pins, then we are on a little different wavelength.
z
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