The Great Rubber Ducky Escapade Event Cache

Encountering an unexpected fog bank, he became disoriented and soon they were quite lost in the shallow waters of Padilla Bay ... moments later the boat lurched and ground to a halt on a sandbar. Then, ever so slowly, their sleek craft heeled over to starboard and settled into the mudflats.

Somewhat shaken and more than a little frightened, the passengers quickly took stock of their situation. A few lights could be seen flickering through the fog, so they gathered up their valuables and the precious inventory of their best-selling novelty lines and waded towards shore, unaware that dozens of their rubber ducky samples had fallen from the deck and were bobbing around in the gentle swells ....

• 11:30 - 1:00: Bring your favourite potluck item to share and visit with fellow geocachers. There is no charge to attend this portion of the event, and anyone interested in geocaching is welcome -- newcomers, well-seasoned players, families, and kids! Plates, cutlery, and napkins will be furnished, along with bottled water, juice for the kids, and hot cider and coffee. The hall has plenty of electrical outlets so crock pots and hot plates are welcome.
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• The second half of the event will be the hunt for the shipwreck treasure clues, so be sure you bring your GPSr! If you'd like to participate in this part of the fun, there will be a $5.00 per player donation ($3.00 for kids 12 and under) to help offset the cost of supplies and rental of the hall.
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• Each player will choose their own rubber ducky mascot from the assortment recovered from the shipwreck. As well, each player will be issued a detective kit -- a booklet of clues and coordinates to hidden caches placed around the Bay View - Edison area, an official detective pencil, and an evidence box to hold all the clues and game pieces until you return to the Civic Hall.
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• Now, go find the clues, either individually or in teams. Once you've found all the clues, return to the hall to decode the answer to the puzzle, check in with the event staff to verify your answer, and place your number into the entry for the prize draw for the "ship's treasure".
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• This will not be a race! No need to speed or risk life and limb to be the first to return -- all those with the correct answer will be entered into the prize draw, as long as you have returned and provided the correct answer to the judges by the 4:00 p.m. cutoff time.
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• The drawing will be held at 4:00, with things wrapping up around 4:30-5:00.

Update! 200 custom-designed geocoins have been produced by Landsharkz.ca and will be available for sale at the event ... sequentially numbered, and very cool!

For those coming from out of town, you might want to make it a weekend geo-adventure. There are hundreds of geocaches of all types within a 30 minute drive of the event location -- scenic hikes, tricky micros, pleasant strolls, or park 'n grabs. Here's a list of a few of the many accommodations available within five miles or so of the event --

• The Tulip Inn Mount Vernon, $60.00/double, pet-friendly, free continental breakfast and internet.
• Best Western Cottontree Inn Mount Vernon, $88.00/double, pet-friendly, free hot breakfast buffet and high speed internet.
• Holiday Inn Express Burlington, $89.00/double, no pets, free continental breakfast and high speed internet.
• Burlington KOA Kamping Kabins, $40.00 (sleeps 4), pet friendly, indoor pool and hot tub, free high speed internet.
• Bay View State Park Rustic camping cabins, $56.00 (sleeps 4), utility camping sites and tent sites also available, about one mile from event location.

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  Please, please, please post a note to the cache page with your intentions for attending and participating in the treasure hunt so there will be plenty of rubber duckies and detective kits for everyone who wants to play!

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  Sign Up List of Help Needed -- Please post your preferred task(s) so we can fill in the list of volunteers -- that will allow others to see what jobs are still needing to be filled!

  BEFORE EVENT

  INDOORS: 4-5 people, arrive 10:00 - 10:30 a.m.
  Rallymaster
  Tula
  natureowl
  laphamclan
  Peppermintpatti53
  Oma and Opa G
  

  • Unpack and set up tables and chairs
  • Organize potluck and kitchen areas

  OUTDOORS: 6 people, arrive 10:00 - 10:30 a.m.
  Dsvaughn
  troublejv
  mcrt
  Allanon
  globalgirl
  

  • Set up 6-8 "EZ Up" canopies
  • Arrange picnic tables underneath canopies
  • Unroll and fasten plastic sheeting on picnic table seats if wet
  • Set up registration/sign up table, banner, signs, etc.

  DURING EVENT
  

  OUTDOOR REGISTRATION TABLE, 2 PEOPLE, ARRIVE 11:00 A.M.
  MissJenn
  Spoon!
  4summers (new WSGA t-shirt display)
  

  • Hand out nametags, information sheets, greet arriving cachers, answer questions
  • Coordinate shuttle service to overflow parking area

  DUCKY DETECTIVE KIT DISTRIBUTION, 2 PEOPLE, ARRIVE 11:00 A.M.
  Tibby's People (2)

  • Issue detective kits (numbered rubber ducky, evidence box, clue booklet, pencil) to each player
  • Collect donations and update list of player's names and entry numbers

  SHUTTLE DRIVERS TO OVERFLOW PARKING, 2 VEHICLES/DRIVERS, ARRIVE AT 11:00 A.M.
  FluteFace
  jcar
  

  • Provide shuttle service to and from overflow parking lot about 1/4 mile from event location as needed
  • Minivans or SUV's would be best for this job!

  POTLUCK AND KITCHEN AREA, 1-2 PEOPLE, ARRIVE 11:00 A.M.
  4Cools (1)
  Square Bear
  

  • Organize efficient layout of potluck items to conserve space
  • Brew fresh coffee and top off hot cider as needed

  CACHE CONTEST CHECK-IN, 2 PEOPLE, ARRIVE 3:00 P.M.
  FluteFace
  Lajoie 5
  

  • Verify correct puzzle answers and collect entry slips
  • Distribute prize paks to all kid's entries

  PRIZE TABLE, 1 PERSON, ARRIVE 4:00 P.M.
  shop99er
  

  • Hand out prizes to award winners.

  AFTER EVENT

  
  INDOORS: 6 people, arrive 4:30 P.M.
  911turbos
  brewermd
  grafinator
  Sassy and Gordy
  Cache Dance
  
  
  
  • Wipe down and put tables and chairs back in their racks
  • Clean restrooms and kitchen area, empty trash and set outside
  • Bag up and set all trash outside
  • Sweep or mop floor

  OUTDOORS: 4 people, arrive 4:30 P.M.
  4FunCampers
  The Gigabytes
  lucyandrickie
  

  • Knock down and pack up shelter canopies
  • Collect any stray litter, cigarette butts, etc from outside areas

  SHUTTLE DRIVERS TO OVERFLOW PARKING, 2 VEHICLES/DRIVERS, ARRIVE APPROX. 4:30 P.M.
  grossi
  Cache Dance
  

  • Provide return shuttle service to overflow parking lot about 1/4 mile from event location as needed
  • Minivans or SUV's would be best for this job!

  TRASH REMOVAL: ? people, 4:30 P.M.
  FluteFace
  lucyandrickie
  grossi
  Cache Dance
  

  • Take one or more bags of trash home for disposal (all trash must be removed from facility before leaving)

  Thank you again all for offers of help!

  Scooter and I can't wait to see everyone there!

  If you are a geocacher in the state of Washington, please join the Washington State Geocaching Association. This is a great way to get the most out of geocaching in our region. Simply go to geocachingwa.org for details!