This event will be held outside in the back-parking lot of WildCountry Outfitters for Adventure (203 S. Linden Street Normal, IL 61761) at the above coordinates. There is plenty of parking nearby. IF the weather is questionable there will be shelters set up out back and/or an area cleared in the store. This even will on Sunday, October 20, 2019 and will have a Meet & Greet event that starts at 12:00pm and an optional Wild Geocaching Fall Adventure that will start at 1pm in which special registration will be required.
Meet & Greet (FREE!)
What Fun to Have:
So, this meet and greet will have some of the typical things you may expect like visiting with fellow geocachers. We’ll also have the following:
1) Travel Bug/Coin Swap
2) Swag Exchange
3) Short video of Dave Ulmer who placed the first geocache in 2000.
4) Photo Opportunity on the Beautifully Beach with actual white sand. (imagine yourself in paradise). Feel free to post a picture to this Geocahing.com event for others to see.
Meet and Greet Times:
• Start at 12:00pm and go until 1pm
Registration:
• At any time post a "Will Attend the Meet & Greet” message on this Geocaching event site.
What to Bring:
• Yourself and Friends.
• Travel Bugs/Coins and Swag to Trade/Exchange
• Your camera for selfies
Wild Geocaching Fall Adventure
(OPTIONAL, Registration Required)
Summary of Wild Geocaching Fall Adventure:
Pre-event registration required by October 15th, 2019 of $2 per person. Check in will be at 12:30pm on Sunday, October 20, 2019. Beat the check-in crowd by arriving early. The Wild Geocaching Fall Adventure will begin after checked-in at approx. 1pm with details of each geocache that will be part of the adventure. Refreshments available upon return from your caching adventure. Approx. 4pm we'll have the fun game and award a variety of nice prizes. Read on for more details…..
How Did This WILD Event Come to Be?
Dick Smith (a.k.a. Scuba Dick) from WildCountry Outfitters for Adventure contacted me (Steve; geocaching name “GYOI”) about creating a geocaching competition/adventure given my background in teaching GPS and setting up geocaches. Dick expressed that he wanted a geocaching event that would get friends and families outdoors and discover some new areas around Bloomington and Normal Illinois. After some detailed discussion we came up with a really good plan.
Key Points About the Geocaching Adventure:
• The event will start at the coordinate listed above. Plenty of nearby parking.
• Any attending will have an opportunity at the approximately a dozen new geocaches hidden and available for The First To Find (TFTF). All of the small, regular, and large geocaches will be loaded with new swag for all to trade.
• Details about each of the geocaches and the game will be provided.
• Key items or special information will be found in each of these new geocaches that will be needed for each person to participate in a fun game at the end of the Wild Adventure around Bloomington/Normal.
• Individuals, friends, and families may choose to work together to find the geocaches. We can help team people up at check in if you would like.
• You will NOT have to find all of the geocaches to participate for the Wildly Fun game at the end.
• The goal will be to find as many geocaches as you can. You will NOT be Racing against other people. The focus will be to find at least 5-7 geocaches of the dozen or more place new in the Bloomington/Normal area by the time designated to return. The more caches found may provide a little additional advantage in the final game but will not be necessary. Find as many as you can and be back to the start at the designated time.
Back at WildCountry:
• Provided will be some Fall food, refreshments, and fellowship while sharing about the day’s adventures.
• The game will start at the designated time expressed at check-in.
• Game with nice prizes will be awarded solely based on the key items or special information you find in the geocaches. More details will be provided at the start time on the event day.
Preparation:
• A GPS unit or GPS enabled phone for which you can enter in latitude and longitude cached locations that will be provided in decimal minutes format. Don't forget extra batteries or phone charger. Consider some of the latest GPS apps for your phone if you don't have a GPS.
• Also know how to use your GPS or have someone else along if you are new at the sport that can help you. If you don't, we will try to team you up with others who is more experienced.
• Water for the road. Wild Country encourages you to bring reusable water bottles. If needed you'll be able to fill up your bottles at the start.
• Enough gas in vehicle to drive to different points around Bloomington/Normal.
• Optional trade items for many of the small, regular, and large container will be initially loaded with Swag appealing to boys and girls of all ages. Small toys like found in fast food meals are at the dollar stores are great items to trade. Having trade items are not required, but for the kids and even us big kids they do add a little extra to the fun. Look around the house you may have items you can trade without going out to buy anything. Best size of trade items is usually something that will easily fit in a peanut butter jar.
• Dress for the weather of the day for this event will be held rain or shine.
Cost/Registration/Check-In:
• Register by October 15th, 2019.
• Posting a "Will Attend the Wild Geocaching Fall Adventure " message on this Geocaching event site is highly encouraged, BUT also <read further>....
• To help offset some of the cost of the event, each person will be charged $2.
• Registration is required for two reason: 1) to assure the geocaching event game is scaled to the number participating; and 2) we have enough food and drinks at the end for all attending.
• To register call (309-452-0222) or even feel free to stop by WildCountry Outfitters for Adventure (203 S. Linden Street Normal, IL 61761). You can use the coordinates above to help find parking at WildCountry.
• When you check at 12:30 on the event day at WildCountry, you will be given printed details about each of the Geocaches for you or your group to use for your wild adventure.
Side Note: If interested ask at WildCountry about a GPS class held on September 15th and 22nd from 1 to 4:30pm. You can also email me and I'll forward to you a flyer. Great to help your friends get introduce to using a GPS or fine tuning your own GPS skills.