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Dupage County, Il - Geocaching Policy


hydee

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We were contacted today with the official policy for the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County.

 

Geocaching.com volunteers will be enforcing this policy with all caches under review.

 

Rules and Regulations for Placing a Geocache on

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County Property

 

 

The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County manages properties under its jurisdiction in a manner consistent with its enabling statute to protect the lands for the purposes of conservation, recreation and education.  Responses to requests for placement shall weigh the relative impact of this use on District preserves.  All requests for placement of Geocaches shall be regulated by the rules and regulations found in the Requirements for Geocache Placement and Requirements for Geocache Owners Sections of these Rules and Regulations.  The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County encourages the use of “virtual” caches.  No Geocaches may be placed on District property without a specific special use permit.

 

I.  General Provisions

 

All Geocache sites on Forest Preserve District of DuPage County properties must be approved and authorized through the Visitor Services Office.

 

II.  Required Information

 

The following information is required to be submitted with each Geocache Permit Application.

 

A.  Proposed Geocache location shown on a map with Longitude and Latitude coordinates.

 

B.  Name and contact information of person(s) or organization requesting authorization for placement of the Geocache.

 

C.  List of items to be initially placed into the Geocache.

 

III.  Criteria for Review of Proposals

 

The following is a list of criteria that will be used to review all Geocache proposals for determining the relative impact to preserves.  Additional site-specific factors may need to be taken into consideration.

 

A.  Impact to Threatened and/or Endangered Species and/or critical habitat.

 

B.  Is the proposed location of the Geocache compatible with the current designated land use?

1.  Nature Preserve

2.  Cultural or Historic Site

3.  Ecosystem Class

4.  Camping, Picnic, other amenities and other high use areas.

5.  Facilities / Nature Centers.

 

IV.  Requirements for Geocache Placement

 

Once approved for placement, the Geocache must meet the following requirements.  Violation of any of these Rules and Regulations will necessitate immediate removal of the Geocache by Forest Preserve District of DuPage County personnel.

 

A.  Container must be a clear (see through), waterproof or sealable container with a size no greater than 4”x8”x12”.

 

B.  The Geocache shall not contain any food items.

 

C.  The Geocache shall not contain any inappropriate, offensive, or hazardous materials.

 

D.  The Geocache shall not be buried.

 

E.  The Geocache shall not be affixed to or disturb any vegetation or natural features.

 

F. The Geocache must have an official Forest Preserve Mylar Sticker placed where it will be visible to DuPage County Forest Preserve staff.

 

NOTE:  Through management procedures in the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, geocaches may be inadvertently burned, mowed, or destroyed.  The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County will not be held liable to damaged Geocaches.

 

V.  Requirements for Geocache Owners

 

Once approved for placement, the Geocache owner shall meet the following requirements.  Violation of any of these Rules and Regulations will necessitate immediate removal of the Geocache by Forest Preserve District of DuPage County personnel.

 

A.  The Geocache owner shall meet with a Designated District Geocache Coordinator at the Geocache site to discuss placement and rules.

 

B.  The Geocache shall be checked at least every 30 days.  Proof of check will be by E-mail, letter, or personal communication of the Geocache owner to the Designated District Geocache Coordinator.

 

C.  Notice on the Geocache web site must state the following information:

1.  This Geocache is placed on DuPage County Forest Preserve property with permission.

 

2. Do not place the following items in the Geocache:  Food items, inappropriate, offensive, or hazardous materials.

 

3. DuPage County Forest Preserve hours are 1 hour after sunrise until 1 hour after sunset.  Preserve users must not be in the preserves after hours.

 

4. It is the visitor’s responsibility to be aware of the policies and rules pertaining to this preserve.  For more information on preserve rules, see the information kiosk in the parking lot of the preserve or contact Visitor Services at (630) 933-7248.

 

5. All Forest Preserve District of DuPage County Ordinances and subsequent policies, rules, and regulations are applicable.

 

If there are any minor edits to this policy this thread will be updated.

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Placing caches is slowly become impossible to do 'by the rules'. While I completely understand the need for the various FPD's to keep tabs and regulate caches, it seems too many of them are adopting standards that make it almost not worth it to place a cache on their land.

 

1) Cache site meeting with a FPD staffer.

 

So now I've got to schedule an appointment to do the final placement of a cache. This may be do able but it's very inconvenient.

 

2) Cache check-up and verification on a monthly basis.

 

There is no need for a cache owner to check up on his cache on a monthly basis if it is getting regular visits by other cachers and no notes about wet logs, missing caches, etc are made. So now, as a cache owner you will have to make a trek out to check a cache monthly during the slow winter months when it would have been found just fine come Spring. Not only that but you have to e-mail the FPD monthly to let them know you have made the required check up.

 

3) Clear cache containers.

 

I think all would agree that ammo boxes make the most waterproof, durable containers. If not ammo boxes, at least let me camo paint the darned tupperware. I sort of understand the issue of ammo boxes and 'security' but it sure is taking alot of the fun out of caching IMHO.

 

I don't want to sound like I'm unthankful for the FPD and its staff... but I am disappointed that some of the regulations almost seem to have been written to purposefully make it so fewer caches will be placed.

Edited by audion64
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I'll go one further ...

 

Look for mine to be archived when contacted and no new ones even attempted. Not a huge deal, I think I only have one actually in a FPD property. Shame too, there are some nice areas in DuPage ... maybe someone will place some nice 1/1 walking tours for the elderly.

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I understand the FPD's concern with sensitive areas. However, it is too bad that they did not create a policy that encourages use of their parks. I could see asking hiders to acquire a map that lists prohibited areas for conservation concerns. As far as other areas of the parks go, they should theoretically enjoy having anyone come use the land. I wonder if they could be moved to reconsider the onerous requirements if we were to show them the level of CITO that cachers perform. I would think that service deserves a little respect or something like that.

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Sounds like this kind of policy is spreading. Here in Winnebago County, the WCFPD up and confiscated all the caches within the Forest Preserves without warning.

 

I notice DuPage county's notice is almost verbatim of the Winnebago County Forest Preserve's policy. Sounds like geocaching on forest preserve property in Northern Illinois is coming to an end. :D

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I wonder where the caches are that percipitate such drastic policy. I've seen 1 cache placed in a grassland restoration area ... it was quickly archived and wasn't in a FPD park. Granted my find count isn't that high, but I just don't see 'problem' caches such that now all caches require a meeting with the County Geocaching Czar and a special government approved mylar sticker.

 

The clear plastic thing is just PC BS ...

 

Unfortunately the horse has left the barn, it's unlikely that our complaining will change anything. It just means that real geocaching in these counties will go covert and the official caches, to the extent they exist will be 1/1s placed by newbie soccer moms with the time and inclination to jump through hoops.

 

DuPage has enough caches that it'll be interesting to see where policy and reality meet ... the big battle and what we need to be proactive on is if the big dog (Cook County) actually wakes up and decides to formulate policy .... that would be *hundreds* of caches effected.

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Here in Winnebago County, the WCFPD up and confiscated all the caches within the Forest Preserves without warning.

 

when did this happen? I've been out for awhile with a broken back and had planed on Geocaching for the exersize like I did the last time I broken my back.

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Well it seems to me that there are already hundreds in DuPage county forest preserves of which none will meet these requirements.

 

Most of the requirements aren't that bad, and in fact are common sense things for all geocachers to follow, except the ones about the container, the permit, the sticker and the preplacement meeting.

 

Especially since they are encouraging "virtual" :( caches that might send people to all sorts of places that defeats the whole purpose of these rules.

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As far as WCFP......we noticed that our caches were confiscated when we checked them about 9 days ago. As far as any notice of change in policy.....we saw it in the Chicago geocaching Assoc. forums link......when Hydee posted it. We thought we would have time to get our caches or be notified if staff found them. NOPE! didn't happen. We also, noted that there was no mention of any geocaching policy on WCFP website. In fact when we went to "register" and get a permit for a cache site.... one of the staff at WCFP headquarters wasn't even aware that there was such requirements or a policy regarding geo-caching. They were as helpful as they could be. We talked to them re: caching, containers, and offered as much info as we could. Ponied up the fee, which they didn't even know they were suppose to collect, and went on our way. :laughing:

Edited by lucy92979
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I went ahead and sent an e-mail to the forest preserve and called the number. It was interesting to hear their side of the story (at least the person I talked with) and I came away being less worried about this. They've been debating about this for a while, and some of the rules are in there to appease one group or another. The person I talked with seemed supportive of our activities and assured me that they would not be collecting caches with no warning. He said the part about meeting at the cache site would actually be meeting a ranger at a parking lot who would have a permit (no cost) and stickers to use, and would go over some of the rules. He though some of the rules might change as time goes on and they are shown to be unnecessary.

 

They plan to contact existing geocache owners and work with them, and there would be 60 days to get it approved. They will also work with geocaching.com to archive sites if necessary.

 

Another thing he mentioned was that they intend to have maps showing areas where geocaches can or should not be placed - probably sensitive wildlife areas, etc.

 

My first impression was that geocaching in the DuPage forest preserves was going to be killed off, but now it seems more like an extra hoop to jump through. No one is going to like it and some might pull their caches or have to make some changes, but it's not as drastic as I first thought. Anyway, I plan on trying to get my caches approved, but it looks like I'll have to change some things. Time will tell.

 

By the way, this is my first post and I'm just paraphrasing what one contact said, so please don't shoot the messenger...

 

-- TrailRun

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This is really not changing the current policies, just puting them to code. If you go t Herrick lake Audio Exchange Cache and it's associated links you will note the DFP has always sought to have Geocachers get their caches approved first.

 

The ranger I spoke with last weekend said that recently they have had a number placed without permission adn that while not in "protected' areas, were still hidden in such a way as to cause concern by hikers, joggers, etc to see people off path not understanding what they were doing.

 

Other than being somewhat inconvient, this doesn't seem unreasonable, well, maybe the container part. Of course, I feel the same way about the stuff going down in South Carolina too.

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Hi all!

 

I have emailed the DuPage County Forest preserve and gotten very encouraging replies. Here is the basic information.

 

The permits are free and the goal is to allow Geocaching in Forest preserves, but to have rules to keep people and the environment safe. They will have maps posted online eventually, but it will take a while becuase its one of many things their IT department is working on.

 

I was given approval to post these messages. that I got back from David at

dandrusyk@dupageforest.com

 

-------------- Original message --------------

 

Thanks for your message. Here is what you will need to do to set up a geocache on Forest Preserve property. You will need to fill out a special use permit which you can get from our Visitor Services Dept. You may call them at (630)933-7248 or pick one up at the Forest Preserve Headquarters in Danada Forest Preserve. With the permit, you will need to include the coordinates and a map showing the location of the cache. A ranger should contact you within a week of submitting your permit. You can contact me if you have any more questions.

 

David Andrusyk

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

Naturalist

Tri-County State Park

(847)429-4670

 

-------------- Original message --------------

 

The permits are free. We are currently working on putting together maps that will eventually be posted online. Right now they are not available. What I suggest is to have an idea of where you would like to place the cache and then fill out a permit. If the location is in an area where we don't want it (ex.: high quality ecosystems, endangered and threatened species locations etc.), the rangers will try to give you an alternate location. Or, you can give me a call (or email is fine) and let me know what preserve you are thinking and I can direct you to an area that would be acceptable.

 

-------------- Original message --------------

 

About posting my name, that's fine. If there are concerns out there I would be happy to address them. DuPage County Forest Preserve wants geocaching to stay here, but in order to keep it here, we have to have some control on where caches are being placed. This is not only for public safety, but also to protect natural areas that may be more sensitive, or have endangered or threatened plants and animals

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It may be worth noting that Magellan placed one of their "Be There" contest caches in the Dupage Country preserves last week near the trail connecting Herrick Lake Forest Preserve to Danada Forest Preserve. Evidently, they obtained permission and even followed the plastic container policy, an exception to the ammo boxes they've been using for their other caches. Maleki was FTF and Corps of Discovery was STF. This appears to concur with BartlettGoonies post that the DCFP is regulating but not discouraging caching.

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What happened to the TBs (if any) that were in the geocaches confiscated by Winnebago County FP district? How big are the official DuPage stickers that are supposed to be on the cache containers? How would you officially mark micros such as an acceptable opaque 35mm film canister? The stickers might be too big. The clear container rule bites, as it would prevent placing the ever-popular black plastic magnetic keyholders. Otherwise, obtaining permission to place a cache is no big deal. That's what you're supposed to do in the first place!

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I am pleased to announce that DuPage County Forest Preserve is VERY easy and helpful to work with on this.

 

I placed our first cache yesterday, and from start to finish, the people are helpful, professional and courteous. The DuPage County Forest Preserves are a wonderful assembly of parks, events and resources that we need to keep wonderful.

DuPage County Forest Preserve Web Site

 

You can find my first cache here...Goonies Goodies

 

I hope to add more regular caches in the area. The only thing I wish they would change is the use of a clear container, since these usually don't hold up as well as the ammo containers through the wide seasonal changes we have here. I found a good one that we had at home, but I need to find a source for good but inexpensive waterproof containers that are large enough and durable enough to hold the usual treasure and log book.

 

So the process goes like this...

You find a spot that looks good, and will likely be OK.

You contact them via email - see my earlier post on this, letting them know where you plan to put it, so that they can say yes or no based on their known areas they don't want people geocaching in.

You fill out the special use form, its a Word doc they sent me. I included a copied and pasted map, and emailed it back to them.

You wait a week or so until they get back with you on it, and talk to a Park Ranger who will be assigned to it.

You get your clear container ready, with a list of your initial goodies, and meet the ranger when they set up a time and location to put it out there.

The ranger OKs it and puts the DCFP sticker on it, and walks out with you to place it. He even helped me cover it up with tree pieces to hide it better.

 

I hope everyone has a fun and safe geocaching experience in DuPage County Forest Preserves.

 

Timm

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How would you officially mark micros such as an acceptable opaque 35mm film canister? The stickers might be too big. The clear container rule bites, as it would prevent placing the ever-popular black plastic magnetic keyholders.

Hmmmm! No more film cannisters micros or magnetic key holders - what a fine idea.

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I hope to add more regular caches in the area.  The only thing I wish they would change is the use of a clear container, since these usually don't hold up as well as the ammo containers through the wide seasonal changes we have here.  I found a good one that we had at home, but I need to find a source for good but inexpensive waterproof containers that are large enough and durable enough to hold the usual treasure and log book.

 

You might check with some restaurants in your area, they buy things like pickles in large containers. I got some gallon size jars from a local restaurant to use in squirrel feeders.

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I have read the rules regarding Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, and it truly seems to me as though they are trying to discourage Geocaching within their boundaries. Sure they say they welcome it, but based on the extensive list of parameters that must be met; I wonder how many Geocachers are really going to be interested in going through with it. Have you really read all of the rules?

I attempted to place 2 caches within the boundaries (prior to being aware of these policies) and was contacted by the ILAdmin about the proper steps necessary to have my caches approved. Having read through them, I declined. I went back out and retrieved my caches. Here is a link (for anyone interested) to the letter that I sent to the ILAdmin: http://my.inil.com/~dcs/DuPageGeocache.htm

 

IV A states: Container must be a clear (see through), waterproof or sealable container with a size no greater than 4”x8”x12”. No Camo, no ammo boxes, not 35mm film canisters, not hide-a-key… Keep reading the regulations. BartlettGoonies, you posted earlier that you had placed a cache recently and the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County crew were professional and helpful. I am truly glad to hear that. Are you getting ready to go visit you cache THIS WEEK? You should be. According to regulations “Section V, part B: B. The Geocache shall be checked at least every 30 days. Proof of check will be by E-mail, letter, or personal communication of the Geocache owner to the Designated District Geocache Coordinator. And mark off you calendar for NEXT MONTH and the FOLLOWING MONTH and EVERY MONTH you plan on keeping that cache active. Heaven forbid a Geocacher place a couple of caches in fairly remote areas. He will not have any time to find new caches, only spend his time uselessly checking his own cache status and reporting back to the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County.

I am open to input, insight, enlightenment, or solutions regarding this issue.

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I am open to input, insight, enlightenment, or solutions regarding this issue.

I think you may be shooting the messenger, or to use another cliche', at least preaching to the choir.

 

I don't think Jeremy or the Admins necessarily like this requirement or even feel that it is a necessity. However it is what it is. You may be better off to get more involved with the DFP and let them know how you feel or attend their meetings, however I don't see this changing.

 

I understand their position, don't agree with it, however see their point of view. On paper or explaining the hobby, it does sound like it could cause a increase in traffic that may not be all that desirable when, in reality, more often the opposite is true.

 

As to the thirty day rule, I do try to get by and check mine quarterly or as needed. This is one reason I think the GC states it needs to be checked periodically and discourage "vacation" type caches. While I apprciate some of the people who have placed hundreds of caches, I do wonder how they maintain them both due to amount and geography. Since very few restrict their caches to only FP property, having to chack the occasional one every month wouldn't be that big an issue for me. Is there a penalty if you miss a month?

 

I really have to think that there was some type of concern that placed this on DFP's radar screen. Possibly a percieved abuse of a given area or an increase in people entering the facilities in off hours. Whatever the case, their rules are preferable to an out and out ban, which is the direction many FP's around the country have gone..

 

If you go to the Herrick Lake Audio Exchange cache you will see that these issues have existed for some time, they just got around to formalizing things.

Edited by baloo&bd
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Is there a penalty if you miss a month?

Couldn't you just forward them the most recent found log?

it says visited, not by who...

 

That and you might want to check with the coordinator or whoever about the best way to message them (and if they even REALLY want extra messages).

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Not really trying to kill the messenger here, just trying to figure how to go about making a change. I realize that the ILAdmin is not the one who instututed these rules, but figured he might have more pull or access to the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County than me, one Geocacher who is frustrated with the regulations. If we all just give in and accept these rules more will probably come. If we unite and work with th FPD maybe we can get the rules changed. Maybe something like a "Certification" for Cachers... once a person is Educated or Certified he/she will be able to place caches without going through all of the steps for each cache that they place. Just thinking out loud here, but I think we need to look for alternatives that work for both groups. Please follow the link to the letter I wrote.

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Hi ALL - we visited our Official DuPage approved Geocache today and found it in fine order. On our way out we met a female Ranger who was very nice, and by stroke of luck was looking for our cache so that she could put the new official numbered sticker on it, replacing the original one which was not numbered. According to her, there are only two official Geocaches in DuPage county forest preserves.

 

The bad news is that they will be going through the Geocaching.com site and asking owners to submit the paperwork, and meet the requirements at some time in the near future.

 

The good news is, that they are easy to work with. Its no big deal - well the clear container is a bit of a pain, but that may change, who knows. The permit is free, the sticker is free, the ranger met me on a weekend when I first placed it, and even helped me hide it. DO NOT BE DISCOURAGED BECAUSE THERE ARE RULES!

 

DuPage is NOT TRYING to discourage GeoCaching - they just want to make rules that make sure its safe for everyone and everything out there.

 

Timm Bottoni

 

P.S. While we were out there we flushed two Woodcock, and a large 8-10 point Buck Whitetail

 

ALSO - regarding the contact every 30 days - ahem, well lets just say its no big deal.

Edited by BartlettGoonies
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Well, not to be too negative, but the numbers seem to prove my point. With only 2 “Official” Geocaches in the entire 24,000+ acres of the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, evidently their policies have greatly discouraged Geocachers.

 

Clearly most people are finding the regulations to be more trouble than they are worth. Even though the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County has some of the best areas for Geocaching in DuPage County (obviously where I live), these areas are being avoided.

 

It seems to me, that maybe the rules could be modified to make things more appealing for the Geocachers.

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By my records there are approximately 7 approved caches (1 virtual) in DuPage County Forest Preserves that were approved under these guidelines. In talking with the Forest Preseve, the biggest problem is that people aren't even trying to apply. I can verify that as well. When cachers are faced with these guidelines, instead of putting forth a little effort and opening up an area to geocaching, they just say "forget it" and walk away.

 

I guess they win :laughing:

 

If you'd like to get the Forest Preserve to change the rules, try talking with the Forest Preserve, or working with your local organization to get them to work with the preserves. I don't think the Forest Preserve people read this thread.

Edited by ILAdmin
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instead of putting forth a little effort and opening up an area to geocaching, they just say "forget it" and walk away.

 

That's because, even tho we live in the freest country on earth, most Americans are constantly plagued with rules and regulations devised by petty control freak bureaucrats on all levels of government, and they don't have the luxury of being able to "walk away." In this case they CAN and DO, rather than submit to a keystone Kops atmosphere that they have no taste for... Whenever a silly childish regulatory system of fees, permits, requirements etc. crops up, geocachers stop hiding... Some government rules provide for regulation of "virtuals"--try and figure that one out! :o

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That is exactly correct SixDogTeam! One of the aspects of Geocaching that attracted me was the freedom that it offered. It was an activity that was self governed and self monitored. An activity not encumbered by a bunch of bureaucratic red tape and “silly, childish” regulations. And as far as I am aware, it is a system that is working quite well, with the exception of a few incidents from misinformed people (both private and law enforcement) and perhaps, the occasional placement of a cache on private land.

 

However, as a whole I would think that Forest Preserve Districts and Parks would welcome Geocachers rather than discourage them. As a group we are probably amongst the few who are truly concerned about the well being of nature and the proper maintenance of the property, hence the Cache In Trash Out (CITO). Again, a self initiated, voluntary program to leave the lands better than we found it.

 

Ok, ILAdmin, maybe there are 6 (less the Virtual) Official Caches in Forest Preserve District of DuPage County… 1 every 4000 acres. Not a very encouraging ratio :o . I have corresponded with you a couple of times regarding this issue. Maybe you could help me understand exactly how I would go about working with the Preserve District of DuPage County.

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ILAdmin can you provide me with any info regarding working with the Forest Preserve District of Duage County (IL)? :)

There is a thread in the DuPage County forum on the Geocachers of Northeastern Illinois (GONIL) Website about what it took to place the Magellan contest cache in a DuPage Forest Preserve. This should help you understand the process.

Edited by Stunod
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I understand THE PROCESS.

Then quit asking. Many suggestions have been made, many opinions offered. Call DFP and start talking with them. gc.com is a listing service, not an advocate. It is up to us to do the leg work on something like this.

 

While none of us are neccessarily happy with the restrictions, they are much more livable then some areas that either charge for the permits (DeKalb) or don't even allow them.

 

Between the homeland security scams and negative press some other caches (albeit well in the minority) have recieved, I personnaly would leave well enough alone rather than risk things getting more restrictive.

 

Before you say it, this is not so much passive as being realistic. A more feasible way would be to work within the guidelines, establish a relationship and try to change it from within.

Edited by baloo&bd
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I understand THE PROCESS. And what a process it is. What I am looking for is what can be done to loosen the constraints set the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County that will encourage geocachers to utilize these areas.

One of the goals of GONIL is to preserve and protect geocaching in our area.

 

We have not yet worked with DuPage FPD, but it is one of our targets.

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Hmmmmm ... I find it interesting ... we cachers often spend a lot of time talking about what good we do for parks. We justify our game with claims of being watchdogs for the parks, the CiTo activities we do regularly, the protection we are providing small cemeteries in developing areas with things like the Indiana Spirit Quest series ... We will work ourselves to a state of apoplexy and pound our breasts about the good we do ... until ...

 

Until somebody places a cache in the midst of a gorgeous, green, ferny hollow deep in a quiet corner of a park ... and the place is trampled by the 20 people who hit it the first week .. and a straight, brown, new path leads right to the ammo box....

 

Until the muddy footprints on the picnic table under the corner eave where a film can has been stashed in the rafters ...

 

Until the 20 year-old abandoned, mouldering woodpile, next to the foundation of the former ranger station, with it's own ecosystem, has been squashed and scattered ...

 

Until the assistant principal wanders over to ask why three hikers are poking around the school's storage shed ...

 

Until the Nature Center's phone junction box lid is broken after being opened improperly by someone looking for an Altoid's tin ...

 

Then we point everywhere else ... We stop arguing about being stewards of the land and start hollering about our rights...

 

Some areas of this country have miles upon miles of land for folks to wander about. Some areas of this country can only set aside miniscule portions. For most areas east of the Mississippi there is very little extensive wilderness. Much of our 'wilderness' is reclaimed from farmers and forestry. Many of those areas are extremely sensitive to any kind of intrusion, even from well-meaning hikers and, yes, geocachers.

 

It looks like several organizations are recognizing that it is damaging to some areas to have 20-50 people a summer going off-trail to track down our caches. Simple experience shows the trails and detritus we leave. The disturbance a well-placed cache can cause is routinely discussed with terms such as "Social trail" or "Geo-trail" or "I looked for signs of the cache..."

 

I love this game. I love the places it has taken me. I want it to be around for a long, long time. I also want the places I visit to be there. I may never again see that beautiful ferny hollow as it was two years ago when I visited it. But I'd like to know it is still there. ... and will be there when, one day, I take my grandchildren to see it, as I saw it. Green, untrodden ...

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Hmmmmm ... I find it interesting ... we cachers often spend a lot of time talking about what good we do for parks. We justify our game with claims of being watchdogs for the parks, the CiTo activities we do regularly, the protection we are providing small cemeteries in developing areas with things like the Indiana Spirit Quest series ... We will work ourselves to a state of apoplexy and pound our breasts about the good we do ... until ...

 

Until somebody places a cache in the midst of a gorgeous, green, ferny hollow deep in a quiet corner of a park ... and the place is trampled by the 20 people who hit it the first week .. and a straight, brown, new path leads right to the ammo box....

 

Until the muddy footprints on the picnic table under the corner eave where a film can has been stashed in the rafters ...

 

Until the 20 year-old abandoned, mouldering woodpile, next to the foundation of the former ranger station, with it's own ecosystem, has been squashed and scattered ...

 

Until the assistant principal wanders over to ask why three hikers are poking around the school's storage shed ...

 

Until the Nature Center's phone junction box lid is broken after being opened improperly by someone looking for an Altoid's tin ...

 

Then we point everywhere else ... We stop arguing about being stewards of the land and start hollering about our rights...

 

Some areas of this country have miles upon miles of land for folks to wander about. Some areas of this country can only set aside miniscule portions. For most areas east of the Mississippi there is very little extensive wilderness. Much of our 'wilderness' is reclaimed from farmers and forestry. Many of those areas are extremely sensitive to any kind of intrusion, even from well-meaning hikers and, yes, geocachers.

 

It looks like several organizations are recognizing that it is damaging to some areas to have 20-50 people a summer going off-trail to track down our caches. Simple experience shows the trails and detritus we leave. The disturbance a well-placed cache can cause is routinely discussed with terms such as "Social trail" or "Geo-trail" or "I looked for signs of the cache..."

 

I love this game. I love the places it has taken me. I want it to be around for a long, long time. I also want the places I visit to be there. I may never again see that beautiful ferny hollow as it was two years ago when I visited it. But I'd like to know it is still there. ... and will be there when, one day, I take my grandchildren to see it, as I saw it. Green, untrodden ...

 

well said...

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I got a call from a nice lady at the DuPage County Forest Preserve asking if I could check our cache and provide and update via phone or email. I checked it yesterday and sent her an email. This is the first time I have actually gotten a call or provided an update, and I am guessing its because they watch the cache log, and if they see activity they know its OK.

 

I realize that the rules are a pain in the posterior for most, but since our cach is minutes from our house its really no big deal to check on it if there has been no activity to it for over 30 days. If you are not willling to check on your cache, then its likely to just become garbage anyway. I want the DuPage County Forest preserves to remain "preserves" so that my kids, and everyones kids can have a place minutes from their homes to see deer, and coyotes, and hawks, and beaver dams (which have all been spotted near our cache by various people)

 

Timm

BartlettGoonies

Edited by BartlettGoonies
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They will have maps posted online eventually, but it will take a while becuase its one of many things their IT department is working on.

 

I've been looking through the policies lately and I haven't seen any maps showing me where I can and can't place a geocache... and this quote is almost five years old! I would love to see more geocaches place in Dupage County Forest Preserves but it just seems like a hassle.

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