Another Boy Scout/Cub Scout Geocache Request

WGA Member Joined: 2007-11-26 Posts: 3258

I sent him another email...we'll see what happens. Shocked

Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2009 9:53 pm

AstroD-Team wrote:

Recruit youth to Scouting and show them how fun it can be! Through "Get in the Game!" geocaching recruitment events, Scouts and non-scouts compete in a fast-paced, high-tech scavenger hunt game.

In geocaching, players use GPS devices to search for buried treasure - or "caches". Scouts invite friends along to join their teams. In each cache, there's information about the value of Scouting along with the clue that points them to the next site. Contents of the caches are customized locally to show off favorite landmarks or share pieces of an area's Scouting history.
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I signed up for this program to assist, but I'm thinking the Boy Scouts don't need assistance as much as they need education!

It does sound like they missed the boat on the geocaching regulations regarding the methods for hiding.
It also looks from the text, that they are looking at this as a big Multi-cache. I, too, do not think that these caches would be approved by GC.com but again, if they are looking to place them on BSA property, they would not be accessible to the general geocaching public anyway.
The caches could, however, as they state, be customized to showcase scouting and the scouting history of the sites.
They would need to be schooled on the general game outside their recruitment caching events.
I wish this project well, but I do have reservations on how it will be received. Main point- education must occur.

WGA Member Joined: 2007-11-26 Posts: 3258

I don't know if someone should bring this to the attention of the BOD. I know gc and WGA are technically different things but WGA is about geocaching in Wisconsin.

I've reached out to the scouting rep as has AstroD apparently but I'm not an official spokesperson or whatnot.

It would be nice to get some preemptive clarity via outreach rather than deal with issues after they occur.

BOD, you out there? Or is this not an issue?

Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2009 10:03 am

Quote:

BOD, you out there? Or is this not an issue?

You guys may want to contact Justin (our "region's" closest BOD rep) or Zuma if you want there attention. They may not read these regional forums.

WGA Member Joined: 2004-05-19 Posts: 730

labrat_wr wrote:

AstroD-Team wrote:

Recruit youth to Scouting and show them how fun it can be! Through "Get in the Game!" geocaching recruitment events, Scouts and non-scouts compete in a fast-paced, high-tech scavenger hunt game.

In geocaching, players use GPS devices to search for buried treasure - or "caches". Scouts invite friends along to join their teams. In each cache, there's information about the value of Scouting along with the clue that points them to the next site. Contents of the caches are customized locally to show off favorite landmarks or share pieces of an area's Scouting history.
-----------

I signed up for this program to assist, but I'm thinking the Boy Scouts don't need assistance as much as they need education!

It does sound like they missed the boat on the geocaching regulations regarding the methods for hiding.
It also looks from the text, that they are looking at this as a big Multi-cache. I, too, do not think that these caches would be approved by GC.com but again, if they are looking to place them on BSA property, they would not be accessible to the general geocaching public anyway.
The caches could, however, as they state, be customized to showcase scouting and the scouting history of the sites.
They would need to be schooled on the general game outside their recruitment caching events.
I wish this project well, but I do have reservations on how it will be received. Main point- education must occur.

Well the article mentions they want to showcase favorite landmarks...does that imply scouting landmarks only or public landmarks (like parks, tourist attractions etc).

WGA Member Joined: 2004-05-19 Posts: 730

I just called Justin and gave him a heads up. He'll look at the thread tonight and go from there.

Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2009 11:28 am

Just so you guys all know, Renee brought this to our attention and I just read through the whole thread. It does sound like a promotional gimmick rather than a true interest in looking at another activity kids could pursue to get out into the world.

I know Renee as a park and rec person is getting TONS of requests like this from all manner of groups all the time. Seems like we get a little press and as Katrina said, it becomes a bandwagon thing. Not to say it couldn't be a great opportunity, though, with the right education.

Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2009 11:36 am

I'm not sure what the BSA has in mind either. I got the catalog yesterday and have similar concerns to those already mentioned.

I will offer this for possibly some help. Our local Council (Chippewa Valley) has set up there own series of caches on a piece of land that the Council owns. There are four or five series of caches (none buried) that take the boys throught out the property to find clues for each series final. There are small caches with BSA questions that the boys have to answer to find the coordinates for the series final which is an ammo box. None of the caches are published on gc.com and some of them are probably closer than GC requlations. They were set up for the sole use by the Scout units in our area. The Council has some printed cards with all of needed coordinates for units to use when going out to the property.

Not sure if this helps, but I thought I'd offer it up.

Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2009 11:48 am

I did not want anyone here to think they were being ignored so I posted a "be sure to check" note in the private board forum.

There is a lot of planning happening right now in the Board and Picnic forums for the upcoming event.

Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2009 5:36 pm

I have to agree, that I think this is a promotional Gimmick. I also dont' feel that it has staying power, and would hate to see a bunch of caches placed and no one to take care of them. I will let you guys know more as I hear it.

Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2009 9:27 pm

I've been taking a look too. If someone is going to be helping out, or even making some educational contact -- yay!

But, this does put me on alert for the possible flood of new, buried geocaches submitted for review following this event. Quite honestly, this happens from time to time -- misinformed folks hold an event who don't fully understand the guidelines of gc.com. Then the kids/families go home and place caches based on what they learned. Typically, it's one cache placement, one cache disabled for guideline issues and then we hear nothing more from them.

Bec

WGA Member Joined: 2004-05-19 Posts: 730

I sent an email to the Bay Lakes Council to assist, but have not heard anything other than they are still in the plannig stages. Sounds like they don't want help until it comes time to actually plant the caches. But if I hear anything, I'll drop a post.

WGA Member Joined: 2007-11-26 Posts: 3258

Well if you noticed in your recent newsletter from groundspeak this program has...maybe?...gotten off the ground. I never heard back from the Bay Lakes Council on this issue but apparently the BSA and groundspeak have worked something out.

The geocaching info at the BSA site is: http://www.geoscouting.com/gitg.html . There seem to be three threads to this program as it relates to things published on gc.com:

1. Travel bugs that relate to scouting values.
2. Caches hid near Eagle Scout projects, though it's unclear how you would search for those, and
3. Caches hid as part of the "Treasures of Scouting" caches that are explained here: http://www.geoscouting.com/pdfs/Treasures_of_Scouting.pdf

I'm not sure how well developed this program is. The only Treasures of Scouting caches that show up is a single series in Oregon.

Anyone else have any more intel? I suppose this could be moved to the "general" boards.

WGA Member Joined: 2006-12-23 Posts: 5954

gotta run wrote:

Well if you noticed in your recent newsletter from groundspeak this program has...maybe?...gotten off the ground. I never heard back from the Bay Lakes Council on this issue but apparently the BSA and groundspeak have worked something out.

The geocaching info at the BSA site is: http://www.geoscouting.com/gitg.html . There seem to be three threads to this program as it relates to things published on gc.com:

1. Travel bugs that relate to scouting values.
2. Caches hid near Eagle Scout projects, though it's unclear how you would search for those, and
3. Caches hid as part of the "Treasures of Scouting" caches that are explained here: http://www.geoscouting.com/pdfs/Treasures_of_Scouting.pdf

I'm not sure how well developed this program is. The only Treasures of Scouting caches that show up is a single series in Oregon.

Anyone else have any more intel? I suppose this could be moved to the "general" boards.

Doesn't seem to be a lot of meat here, on a cursory glance both sites look like they point back at each other.

WGA Member Joined: 2007-11-26 Posts: 3258

Response:

"The material was delayed from national and just received this week. Watch for more information very soon."