It is time for the Holiday Micro Container Exchange again! Every year this event just keeps getting better! I hope to see lots of creative micro caches again this year - some cachers really went above and beyond last year! Due to COVID-19, I have had to make some changes to the event. If we all follow the procedure, we should still be able to hold this event and keep everyone safe. So please read the rules below and I hope to see everyone there!
Date: Sunday, December 13, 2020
Place: Hannah Park - Marion, Iowa
Time: Event starts at 2:00 PM - The micro exchange will start at 2:15 PM
This is a Micro Container Exchange Holiday Event with a twist... it is also a Gift Exchange! You do not have to participate in the gift exchange to log the event as a find but if you do wish to participate in the gift exchange you must follow these rules. Please read the following instructions carefully so that no one is disappointed...
MICRO CONTAINER EXCHANGE RULES-PLEASE READ CAREFULLY
1) Prior to coming to the event, you must hide a gift to be exchanged with another Geocacher somewhere within 10 miles of the event. (Hannah Park in Marion) The gift can be whatever you like... gift card, unactivated geocoins, TB dog tags, swag items, cache containers... etc. Gifts should be a $15 value. Please use your own judgement when picking out gifts - try to pick out something that you would like to receive. You may place your gift items in a secure cache container (i.e. Tupperware, Lock and Lock, Christmas tin, etc.) and hide it to be found later that day. Please make sure your gift container is weather resistant and critter-proof. Don't forget to mark a waypoint for the gift that you hid for step 2. For those families with multiple cachers, you may bring more than one Micro Container but there must be one Christmas Cache hidden for each Micro Container that is submitted or someone will be disappointed.
2) Bring your Micro Container to the event. This can be a bison, a matchstick container, or even a pill bottle - feel free to decorate the container! Inside the Micro Container will be a slip of paper with the coordinates of the Christmas Cache you hid for another cacher to find. In addition, it would be a good idea to write your geocaching name and cell phone number on the paper just in case the Christmas seeker needs a phone-a-friend to find their Christmas Cache.
3) When you arrive at the event, I will be standing by the curb. (I will be wearing a mask) Pull up and hand me your micro gift. I will give you a raffle ticket which you will sign and give back to me. Then you can go park your car and wait for the exchange to start. At 2:15 we will start the Micro Container Exchange. I will draw raffle tickets and make an announcement on the cache listing of the order that you can come up and pick a micro container. (Remember that you must contribute a micro in order to draw one) Only one person will be allowed to approach the micros at a time - so please wait your turn. When it is your turn, approach the table and pick out a Micro Container. Once you have selected your micro, please walk away from the table so that the next cacher can safely approach the table.
4) After the event is over, you may disperse to go find your Christmas Cache. Remember... the entire cache is yours to keep including the container so make sure you take everything with you after the hunt. These containers are not to be left behind or published as a regular cache.
5) When you log the event as attended, please thank the cacher who hid your Christmas Cache for the gift. You may share what your Christmas Cache contained if you like and feel free to post pictures of the Christmas Cache too. You can even post a picture of the hiding spot since this is not a regular cache hide.
Additional Thoughts...
- I am trying to make this event covid friendly - please practice social distancing (this is a big area, so this should not be a problem) and masks are encouraged. But since the event is outdoors, I won't have control of the weather...please dress for the weather!
- You can be as creative as you want in hiding your Christmas Cache. You can make it a traditional type cache, or you can make it a puzzle-cache or multi-cache to make the hunt more fun. Use your imagination!
- Feel free to wear an ugly sweater, wear reindeer antlers, santa clause hats, etc!
- You do not have to bring an exchange gift to participate in this event!
Email me if you have any questions concerning the rules.
