COMMUNITY CELEBRATION EVENT WITH GEO ORGS
The WSGA has teamed up with MIGO (Michigan Geocaching Organization) to host a community celebration. Not familiar with a geo organization? Well, geocaching organizations come in various sizes and configurations and are a legally recognized entity via a formal charter. These organizations have operational guidelines and by-laws and is governed by an executive body for the benefit of the membership. Geo organizations can leverage this organizational status to secure blanket permits and permissions from land managers, provide geocaching education via outreach requests to teach the general public about geocaching and support and host geocaching events.
In North America, there are many geocaching organizations. Most organizations represent a state or province , while others represent a region within a state/province or a region made up of small portions of several states. Regardless of the size and organizational make up of a geocaching organization, there is a common goal found in all geo organizations; a commitment to supporting geocaching and the community it serves.
Now that you know a little more about what a geocaching organization is, lets spotlight the two geocaching organizations that are hosting this event.
MIGO (Michigan Geocaching Organization) consists of 5 chapters encompassing the state of Michigan. MIGO was formed on April 11, 2002 after a group of Michigan Geocachers started talking about forming a club to encourage the growth of the activity of Geocaching and to work with land managers in Michigan. The other host of this event is the Washington State Geocaching Association (WSGA).
The WSGA (Washington State Geocaching Association) consists of 7 chapters representing all corners of Washington state. The WSGA was founded on September 8, 2002 when a group of 19 geocachers in the Puget Sound area met to discuss the formation of a statewide organization. Their initial motivation was to preserve geocaching in Washington State Parks, which were threatening to ban geocaching. Both MIGO and the WSGA turn 20 in 2022 so what better way to celebrate than to host a Community Celebration Event!
With the education portion of the event description out of the way, lets highlight the event info as well as what will be taking place during the event:
EVENT INFO
DATE & TIME: Tuesday August 16, 2022 4:30 PM - 7:00 PM
WHERE: Gene Coulon Park - Creekside Shelter (Listed Coordinates)
ACTIVITIES
PHOTO OP: If you are a member of a geocaching organization or an executive member or a geo org and have a banner or sign from the geo org please bring it for a photo op. We are hoping to get a bunch of cachers represent as many geo orgs as possible.
LETS MAKE A GEOCACHE DEAL: During the event, there will be opportunities to play a geocaching version of "Lets Make A Deal" called "Lets Make A Geocache Deal". To play Lets Make A Geocache Deal, you need to bring with you geocaching related items to the event. These items are your ticket to play the game. We will start the game at 5:30 PM.
WHERE YA FROM?: There will be maps and pins out for cachers to indicate where they are visiting from.
FOOD/EATS: We will not be hosting any food at this event. However, Coulon Park has two restaurants which are located less than 528 feet or so from where the event is located. There's a Kid Valley which is a local hamburger restaurant and an Ivars Seafood Bar. If you fancy something else, the Landing Shopping center which is about a 1/4 of a mile from the park, has several dining and take out options that should fit the bill.
GEOCACHING: Now what's a geocaching event without geocaches? Currently, there are 3 geocaches in the park as well as an adventure. Rumor has it that by the time the event takes place there could be an additional geocache in the park and possibly a second adventure.
WSGA MEMBER DRAWING: If you are a current WSGA member, please bring your WSGA badge and when you show up to the event, you will be handed a ticket for an exclusive drawing just for the WSGA members for a special prize! The drawing will held at the end of the Lets Make A Geocache Deal Game. YOU WILL NEED TO BE PRESENT TO WIN THE PRIZE.
EVENT LOGGING
We ask that when you log your "will attend" that if you ARE a member of a geocaching organization to indicate in your "will attend" post, which geocaching organization you are affiliated with. The event organizers would greatly appreciate that!
LOCATION:
This event is being held at City of Renton's crown jewel of parks, Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park. Gene Coulon was the City Of Renton's second parks director for the city and served in that role from 1948 until his passing in 1977. He was instrumental in a huge expansion of the city's collection of parks during his tenure as parks director as well obtain the land for this beach park. Please note that Coulon park does not allow dogs or bicycles in the park. Please leave your Trek bicycle and Fido at home. This is a walkers park with a huge paved trail that follows the shore of Lake Washington. On Tuesdays from 3PM - 7PM, Renton has its weekly Farmers Market in dowtown Renton at the Piazza Park. The Farmers Market is on every Tuesday from June through September. Piazza Park is just a tad over 2 miles south of Coulon Park.
Community Celebration Events - 2020
This Event is part of a limited release of Community Celebration Events to celebrate 20 years of geocaching. Geocachers hosted events between May 2, 2020 and December 31, 2021. Learn more about Community Celebration Events on the Geocaching Blog