Geocaching and the Event cache

Good morning everyone.  Welcome to blog #5.  This week I want to look at the event cache.  It's one of the easiest caches to get.  What makes a successful event?  Is it the number of people who show up?  I don't think so.  Having a good number of people attending is always a good thing, but I think a good event is one where everyone enjoys seeing each other and the conversations that take place.  I have hosted 8 events so far.  The most logged attended is 29 and the fewest is 10.  I enjoyed each and every one of the events I hosted.  In fact, I enjoy every event I attend.  It's not always the same crowd at each event.  We all have lives outside of geocaching (hard to imagine but we do), and not everyone can make it to all the events (but some will try, I know I have).

I've hosted coffee events (even though I don't drink coffee), ice cream events (who doesn't like ice cream in the summer), and just recently a wing night that also announced the winner of a coin race we had (my coin never left my front pocket) and kicked off a year long cachlutions contest that I'll be over seeing since I'm the stats guy for the MBGA (Manitoba Geocaching Association)

My first event was an ice cream event and it almost didn't happen.  I had picked a local Dairy Queen that was inside of a mall.  That would be perfect should it be raining that day.  We can all stand inside and not get wet.  After the event was published, that Dairy Queen closed and would eventually move to a new yet to be built building in the same lot.  Now I'm scrambling.  I chose a different Dairy Queen and hopefully everyone gets the notice that the event has moved.  The event itself turned out good, despite the fact that the new location had a plumbing issue while the event was on and the kitchen was flooding.

There are other types of events that involves more participation, usually in the form of games or challenges.  One geocacher is building a reputation around these parts for his events as they are always fun and cachers look forward to the next one.  Sadly, I have not made it out to any of these events.  They are hosted by Jabbywackyz in the city of Dauphin, Manitoba.  Dauphin is a good three and a half hour drive Northwest of Winnipeg.  It'll take longer if you stop for caches along the way. 

Another event that have become traditional around here is 'Cache the Marsh' at Oak Hammock Marsh, just outside of Winnipeg, and is hosted by OHMIC.  I've been to this one a couple of times.  The last time I attended, I had to go out in hip waders to retrieve co-ordinates that were attached to a tie rod in the middle of the marsh.  Sounds easy, but the bottom was a very soft mud where your feet sunk just enough that you needed to give a tug to lift your foot for the next step.  My big fear was tugging too hard, losing my balance and falling into the water.  What we do just to get coordinates.

I love events because of the people I see and the conversations I've had.  I don't always get to talk to the same people, partly as mentioned already, not everyone makes it out to all events.  When the turnout is good, it's hard to visit with everyone.  It's also meeting new people, either as new geocachers coming to their first event or me travelling out to an event.  I've had the pleasure of attending events in other locations in Manitoba as well as Cochrane, Alberta, Pembina, North Dakota, and Grand Forks, North Dakota.  I'm hoping to add a camping weekend event in North Dakota to my list of places I've gone.

My very first event attended was an educational hiding seminar hosted by the Manitoba Geocaching Association.  It was good that I took in this type of event early as I walked away more informed about the game I was about to play.  I'm a firm believer of education.  I think any new geocacher should attend a Geocaching 101 type workshop/event.  Too many people start but have no idea what they're doing and quit.  My first event outside of Manitoba was hosted by the four ladies from California and it was in Pembina, North Dakota.  10 cachers from Manitoba came down for this.  As we were about to leave, the town siren was sounding.  Oh no!!  Tornado warning!!  The locals didn't seemed fazed by this at all and told us that the siren goes off every night at 10:30.  Phew.  Off we go to grab a couple of nearby caches (one was very close to the border and draws the attention of the border guards) before heading home.

Events with themes are always fun.  To celebrate International Pirate Day, we have had in the past, a pirate themed event, hosted by crackerjackie and tuppergirl.  Everyone shows up wearing pirate gear and solve pirate themed puzzles to gain the coordinates to unpublished caches, which are also pirate themed.  

Everyone is welcome at events.  I look forward to attending plenty more and hosting more.  If I can, I'll attend events in my travels so I can meet the locals there and swap stories of our adventures.  Meeting other cachers is half the fun of this hobby.  If not at events, then out in the field while hunting for that plastic container in the woods.  Maybe someday, I'll meet you if I haven't already.

This coming Saturday is Australia Day.  Are you attending an event and collecting the virtual souvenir?  I hope to be attending one.  That's it for this week.  As I have done so far, quoting my oldest boy Duesenberg 2002, "Peace out".  Enjoy and remember, geocaching is meant to be fun.