Mount Vernon Parks and Rec
2016 Day and Night Geocoin Challenge
June 17-19
This is the artists rendition of the new two part Day/Night Coin
Our third year promises to be better than ever. Three days of events awaits you. Continuing with the 126th Birthday of Mount Vernon, and the Summer Solstice celebration.
Update: 6/30/16 We are out of coins. Thanks to everybody who participated this year. We had no idea how big the turnout was going to be. Next year will be better than ever!
Update: 6/22/16 We have ordered 25 more coins which should leave 10 or so for those that might want to do the challenge. Please contact the Mount Vernon Parks Admin office at 360-336-6215 to let them know you'll want a coin, and when you expect you will complete the geocaches.
Update: 6/19/16 Wow! We are very pleased, and overwhelmed with the response this year. We had way more people that we anticipated. Even up to the day of the event, we only had 118 'Will Attends'. So we may be out of coins. We started with 150. We have a few left, and are waiting to see how many are claimed. We are exploring our options to order a small amount for those that want to still complete the challenge. For the time being, we are leaving the caches in place with the stamps. The log sheets are listed below. Feel free to download them and complete the challenge. We cannot guarentee we'll have coins just yet. We hope to have a definitive answer Monday 6/20/16. Stay tuned!
Click Here for the Day Logsheet
Click Here for the Night Logsheet
The weekend starts with a Friday night social at Roundtable Pizza 115 E College Way, from 5-7pm. We have reserved a room, and obtained special deals on food and drink. There will be an alternate caching adventure discussed with a collectable tag being the prize for completing. Click here to view event on GeoCaching.COM
In addition to clicking 'Will attend' Please visit the Mount Vernon Parks and Recreation website to register online. Although not required, it assists us in preparing for the weekends events. Or Register Here.
The Main Event: (Note: Completing the Geocoin Challenge is not a requirement to attend the event, only to obtain the coin)
Day Challenge: Saturday Morning starts the Day and Night Geocoin challenge. We will meet at the Vaux Retreat Center (3011 E Fir St N 48° 25.712 W 122° 18.121). Sign in and registration starts at 8am till 10am. Pre-registration is requested. Cachers will be provided a log book with details about the 10 brand new caches placed throughout the city. Come explore our expansive Parks and Trail systems. Computer work stations will again be available. Wifi (free) is also available for those with notebooks, laptops etc. Upon completion of the log book, bring it back to registration to claim the Daytime piece of your two part coin. You can find the bookmark of geocaches here.
Note: You can claim your coin at any point during the day’s events in each place that the headquarters moves.
At 10:00am, the headquarters will move to the Skagit Riverwalk in Historic Downtown Mount Vernon. From 11:00 am to 2:00pm, we will open at ‘The Front Gallery and Event Room’ located at 420 Myrtle Street. This is time for Cachers to meet and socialize. Compare stories and share secrets. Mount Vernon Birthday cake will be shared, and Mayor Jill will greet the group.
And as if that wasn't enough! The boys from Caching NW will be hosting a social at The Front at 1pm. If you don't follow their podcasts, you should. Come join them for a meet and greet. LanMonkey, The Bad Cop, and witzend were here for last years event, and can't wait for this one. You can check out the video featuring this event. We'll post the event as soon as it's published.
The Skagit Farmers Market will be in full swing at the Plaza (right next to The Front). For those that didn’t attend last years event, the Historic Downtown Mount Vernon Bug Hunt is still in place (Archived). 10 TB’s are spread around the downtown area. It's a walking event. Obtain your log book (click here to download), record all 10 TB’s and also receive a collectable tag from last years event.
Night Challenge: Starting at 8pm will be registration for the night portion of the Day and Night challenge. At the Vaux Retreat Center (3011 E Fir St N 48° 25.712 W 122° 18.121) you can receive your night caching log book. There are 5 night caches located throughout the parks system. Complete all 5 to receive the second piece of your two part coin. TOTT will be needed for this event. You will need a UV Flashlight (available at most big box stores for under $10.00), a regular flashlight (brighter the better) and anything else you can think of to walk around in the dark. We recomment cachers team up.
Note: The Night coin is a companion piece to the Day coin and is not trackable.
For travelers:
Hotel: Check our website for information on Geo-Friendly Hotels
Camping/RV'ing: There are several State Campgrounds within a short drive of Mount Vernon, as well as a couple private camping/RVing companies. We are opening North Edgewater Park for free dry camping (no services). RV’s and tents are welcome. As this is not a secured campground, we would recommend that tents be taken down when not being used. A porta-potty will be provided. The Edgewater Park Restroom is a short walk away (N48 25.235 W122 20.559).
Sunday Events: The weekend continues with a breakfast social at Denny’s (100 E College Way 7:30a-9:30a). Coins can still be claimed for those that didn’t receive them the day before. Following the breakfast, a CITO Ivy Pull will be held at Hillcrest Park at 10am. Tools and equipment will be available.
As the partner events come on line, they will be added to this page, or you can visit www.mountvernonwa.gov/geocaching for further information.
Main Event Timeline: Saturday June 18th
8:00am Registration at Vaux Retreat Center for the Day coin challenge
10:00am Vaux closes and registration moves to The Front
11:00am The Front opens for cake, raffle, and socialization
12:30pm Raffle
1:00pm The Front Closes
1:00pm Meet and Greet Social with Caching NW. LanMonkey, witzend, and The Bad Cop
8:00pm Registration for the Night Coin at the Vaux Retreat Center for the Night coin challenge
11:00pm Vaux closes.
The Mount Vernon Parks and Recreation Department would like to thank our partners in helping put on this event.
Washington State Geocaching Association: MizDirection 48 North Rep and Milos People Mount Vernon Parks Liaison
Downtown Mount Vernon Association
Mount Vernon Chamber of Commerce
Mount Vernon Parks Foundation