WELCOME TO FAIRMONT STATE UNIVERSITY
Home of the Fighting Falcons
Saturday, July 21st 2018
11:00am - 3:00pm
Fairmont State University - Falcon Center
1201 Locust Avenue, Fairmont, WV 26554
Join us in celebrating the arrival of a longly awaited tour, showcasing all that Fairmont State University has to offer! The day will be filled with general cache talk, instructional breakout sessions moderated by guest speakers, and of course, GEOCACHING! Whether this is your first time hearing about the sport of Geocaching or you have been searching the woods for several years now, this event will have something for everyone!
What Is Geocaching?
Geocaching is a real-world, outdoor treasure hunting game using GPS-enabled devices. Participants navigate to a specific set of GPS coordinates and then attempt to find the geocache (container) hidden at that location. Geocaching promotes getting outdoors and exploring your surroundings. You never know what you might discover, right here in your own town! Geocaches can be easy or difficult to find, depending on their size. Geocache containers can be hidden anywhere, so you may have to look high and low. Once you find a geocache, you can sign the logbook to prove you were there and trade with one of the small items inside. Learn More.
Geocaching at Fairmont State University
We are very excited to bring you an interactive geotrail, like no other. 15 permanent geocaches will be placed around the campus for attendees to find. These caches are designed to showcase all that Fairmont State has to offer while still challenging geocachers with unique caches. The hides will range from traditionals, to gadget caches, to wherigos, and beyond!
In addition to the newly placed caches, everyone that attends this event will be the first to experience Fairmont State's very own "Virtual Reward." This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between August 24, 2017 and August 24, 2018. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. By attending this event, you will get to claim co-FTF on this very rare, and coveted, cache type.
All the geocaches on the trail will be released after the event, around 3:00pm. As you are exiting the Falcon Center you can pick up a small booklet with all the information needed to complete the trail. The trail contains a diverse set of cache types, and this booklet will act as your tour guide, ensuring you have all the information needed to complete the series. You won't want to miss this!
The Day's Events
*Please Note* - This schedule is not final, and is expected to change between now and the event. This is just to give attendees traveling a rough time frame to plan out their day. Some breakout sessions are subject to change based on speakers and attendees.
11:00am - 12:30pm - Registration
The event will be held on the third floor of the Falcon Center in the conference rooms. Parking is available nearby, use the parking coordinates listed and waymarked below. From there, follow the signs. At this time feel free to sign the log book, trade travel bugs, and mingle about with other geocachers before the breakout sessions start.
Directly across from the conference rooms is the campus cafeteria, where you can purchase an all-you-can-eat buffet for only $8 per person! After a long morning of traveling, fuel up before finding the Fighting Falcons Geotrail!
12:30pm - Welcome
The master's behind the Fighting Falcons Geotrail would like to welcome you to Fairmont State University. Introductions will be held, along with a rundown of the day's events so attendees know what to expect throughout the day.
Each attendee will have their choice between two breakout sessions, each running approximately 45 minutes long. Inbetween breakout sessions will be a 15-minute break for geocacher's to regroup, discuss, use the bathroom, get a drink, or anything else they wish to do.
1:00pm - 1:45pm - Breakout Session One
Geocaching 101 - Mark Webb (Troopbiz)
Never heard of geocaching or looking to get into the game? Join us for an introduction to Geocaching. Hands-on demonstrations of how the game works along with tutorials on how to find your first geocache. If you have less than 100 finds, then this class is for you!
Creative Gadget Caches - Kevin Weller (Killlerbee)
Looking for something more than just an ammo can in the woods? Let premiere cache creator Killlerbee show you how to conceptualize, build, and place a gadget cache. Building not your thing? Tips and secrets of how to solve some of these elusive caches will also be shared!
Geocaching Tool Box and Project GC - Eric Van Horn (Leighismine)
In this class, you will learn the details of Geocaching Tool Box along with Project GC and how they can both be used to solve puzzles and track challenges. In addition, statistic tracking will also be covered and tips on how to make geocaching goals, and stick to them!
2:00pm - 2:45pm - Breakout Session Two
Solving Geocaching Puzzles - Mark Webb (Troopbiz)
Is your map littered with blue icons that you don't know how to begin working them? If so, join us as we discuss how to start a puzzle, key elements, tips and tricks, and of course, how to turn your information into coordinates.
Cache Placement and Maintenance - Kevin Weller (Killlerbee)
Each cache is special; whether it provides a fun gadget at ground zero, or a challenging hike to a scenic waterfall. But the cache is only special if you keep it in pristine condition. Join us to learn the dos and don'ts about placing a geocache along with how to maintain your cache for years to come.
Geocache Types - Russ Turner & Veronica Dunbar (WVHunter & Nerd and Jock)
There are over a dozen unique geocaching cache types, with each one offering something different. From traditionals giving treasure seekers an easy adventure, to earth caches teaching geocachers about the world around them, there is something for everyone!
3:00pm - Closing
We've had so much fun already, but the day's fun is just beginning. As we wrap up the Geocaching 101 and Kickoff event, all 15 caches on the Fighting Falcons Geotrail will be made public for you to find. We hope you had a great time!
Log Your Will Attend!
If you are interested in joining us for this monumental celebration, please log a will attend log. Not only will it give us an idea of how many people to expect, but it also alerts you of announcements. As the event date approaches, changes to the schedule may arise, so by logging a will attend, you can stay aware of the latest announcements! To help us plan, please note how many people you are bringing with you and if you plan to purchase a meal ticket.