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planning an Event


Schreinerei

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I'm rather new to geocaching and want to get to know the local cachers. The way I see it I could write a lot of notes to the owners of caches near me. But I could also invite them for coffee in an event? Is there a guideline for events? Is there a way to automatically scan through profiles and find the ones living in my town?

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I'm rather new to geocaching and want to get to know the local cachers. The way I see it I could write a lot of notes to the owners of caches near me. But I could also invite them for coffee in an event? Is there a guideline for events? Is there a way to automatically scan through profiles and find the ones living in my town?

 

I wouldn't recommend contacting scads of local cachers. Some might be put off by that.

 

But an event would be a great idea.

 

Guidelines:

https://www.geocaching.com/about/guidelines.aspx

 

6. Event Caches

 

An event is a gathering of geocachers, facilitating the social aspect of geocaching. It is organized by geocachers and is open to other geocachers and those interested in learning about the game.

 

It takes place at the posted coordinates, includes start and end times, and lasts at least 30 minutes.

 

Events with several elements, a sequence of events, or events that are near the same time or location and intended for the same audience should be submitted as a single event. Additional waypoints may be added to the event listing for the locations of event activities.

 

Events must be submitted at least two weeks prior to the event date. Events are usually published no more than three months prior to the event date. Events may be published up to six months prior if an overnight stay is expected by attendees or if the event is designed to attract geocachers from beyond the local area. After an event has occurred, the listing is to be archived by the geocache owner.

 

An Event Cache should not be set up for the purpose of gathering geocachers for a geocache search. If an event is already organized outside of the geocaching community or it will happen without a Geocaching.com listing, it is likely not an Event Cache. Examples include concerts, fairs, sporting and scouting events.

 

Event Caches, like other geocaches, will only be published if they meet the commercial cache guideline. Geocache owners can include basic information about the location on the geocache page, even if it is a commercial location. Event listings may request donations or charge a fee to cover legitimate costs of the event. A list of sponsors, without logos or URLs, may be on an event listing. Event listings may only mention sales of event-related Geocaching.com trackables. Listings may include a link to a non-commercial event landing page. Attendees may be required to register at a separate registration page.

 

Guide to Hosting Event Caches

https://www.geocaching.com/calendar/guide.aspx

 

https://www.geocaching.com/seek/ Click on the "Create an Event" tab.

 

B.

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I kinda agree with Pup Patrol, emails from someone I don't know just to meet up would kinda creep me out.

If I met you at an event, and afterwards you emailed, it'd probably be a lot different. :)

 

Hold your own, or attend one, whichever you feel most comfortable.

 

I haven't held one, figuring no one would show. :D

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Go ahead and plan one ... like maybe a simple meet and greet.

You might be surprised!

A meet and greet is not much work, and you will start getting "will attend" notifications from those that are planning on attending so you will have some idea on the attendance.

Try to hold it at a venue that is flexible as to numbers and that won't mind if there are only a couple, but can handle the numbers if they happen to grow. (and be sure to keep the venue in the loop as the date nears.)

Maybe you won't get a lot of response, but at least you will have tried.

Again, you might be surprised. Cachers around here like any excuse to get together and gab, no matter who holds the event.

Don't get discouraged if it doesn't go off big the first time.

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I'm rather new to geocaching and want to get to know the local cachers. The way I see it I could write a lot of notes to the owners of caches near me. But I could also invite them for coffee in an event? Is there a guideline for events? Is there a way to automatically scan through profiles and find the ones living in my town?

 

An event that I held was a simple "Bring your own lunch" Picnic in a local park. No venue to deal with even. Had good attendance and everyone liked it.

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I'm rather new to geocaching and want to get to know the local cachers. The way I see it I could write a lot of notes to the owners of caches near me. But I could also invite them for coffee in an event? Is there a guideline for events? Is there a way to automatically scan through profiles and find the ones living in my town?

 

An event that I held was a simple "Bring your own lunch" Picnic in a local park. No venue to deal with even. Had good attendance and everyone liked it.

 

I've done a few BYO events in local parks. Try and pick one with a kiddies playground and where dogs are allowed. If there are free BBQs there or nearby food shops/takeaways that's a bonus.

 

Give it a go

 

Tony

 

Picnic tables and trees for shade are also important. Check with your local parks dept to see if you need to reserve the space.

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Last year I attended an event that was scheduled for 6:30 to 7:00 in the morning on a weekday, in the middle of a local supermarket parking lot.

 

The point was to attract cachers on their way to work.

 

The EO had a little table set up with a couple of bottles of apple juice, coffee and cups.

 

About a dozen people showed up, I got to put some faces to some logged names and then we went to work!

 

Great event. Low investment, low risk.

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Last year I attended an event that was scheduled for 6:30 to 7:00 in the morning on a weekday, in the middle of a local supermarket parking lot.

 

The point was to attract cachers on their way to work.

 

The EO had a little table set up with a couple of bottles of apple juice, coffee and cups.

 

About a dozen people showed up, I got to put some faces to some logged names and then we went to work!

 

Great event. Low investment, low risk.

I attended a similar event at the Starbucks down the street. The organizer was going on a trip, leaving from a nearby airport later in the day. So he held an event that morning (before work for most of us) and encouraged us to bring trackables that wanted to move.

 

There have been a number of Saturday morning events on the patio of a local breakfast/lunch/pastry shop. That's another low investment, low risk event.

 

And management is usually happy to let you use the tables, if you're going to bring in a few (or a few dozen) potential customers.

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I'm rather new to geocaching and want to get to know the local cachers. The way I see it I could write a lot of notes to the owners of caches near me. But I could also invite them for coffee in an event? Is there a guideline for events? Is there a way to automatically scan through profiles and find the ones living in my town?

 

Planning an event It's simply a great idea. All the beast!

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A while back, a new geocacher enticed people to attend his event by hosting it at a donut shop, and offering everyone who posted a Will Attend log a donut of their choice. He ended up buying a couple boxes of donuts, but had pretty good attendance.

 

A while back, an experienced puzzle cache owner offered hints to some of his puzzles to everyone who attended his events. He had pretty good attendance too, plus some of his puzzle caches started getting more traffic.

 

And of course, events that qualify for Souvenirs tend to have good attendance. But other event organizers get good attendance with simple Saturday morning meet-n-greets on the patio of a strip mall that features a coffeehouse, a pastry shop, a bagel shop, and a supermarket.

Edited by niraD
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Twice, when we've moved to a new town, we've hosted an event without first getting to know any local cachers.

 

For the first event, we didn't do cold emails to local cachers, but we did post about it in our "found it" logs between event publication and the date. It was a small crowd (8 teams, including us), but it was pouring rain that day, and there were not a lot of cachers in Charlottesville, Virginia, at that time. We still had a good time, and so did the others who showed.

 

For the second event, we just picked a date and a venue in Northeast El Paso and put the event out. It was only the 11th event that had ever been held in El Paso, so I think folks were grateful. (It was also a chance to earn one of the August souvenirs.) Turnout was good, 17 teams (38 folks), and it helped to re-energize the social aspect of geocaching in El Paso.

Edited by hzoi
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