How Do You Become A Approver?

[+Ficky]

Any body know how to becoma an approver of caches in an area? i need a little help

[+The Cheeseheads]

Any body know how to becoma an approver of caches in an area? i need a little help

We, first there needs to be a desire to recieve unwarranted abuse from your peers...

[+Johnnie Stalkers]

Approvers are not made, they are born. Well, maybe SPAWNED is a better word.

[+carleenp]

The approvers are volunteers who have a lot of knowledge about caching and any special regulations in their areas. I think many are also quite involved with local organizations. I believe that some were asked to volunteer and that others offered their services and were chosen because they had the knowledge and experience that was needed.

[+flask]

i'm wondering why you WANT to be an approver.

[+Ficky]

I was just wondering and i think it might be fun.

[+mtn-man]

The approvers are volunteers who have a lot of knowledge about caching and any special regulations in their areas. I think many are also quite involved with local organizations.

Your best first step is to get involved in your local organization. They do need enthusiastic people and are always looking for people to lend a hand. That will help you to learn the local regulations and you can work to help cachers in your local areas.

[+The Cheeseheads]

The approvers are volunteers who have a lot of knowledge about caching and any special regulations in their areas. I think many are also quite involved with local organizations.

Your best first step is to get involved in your local organization. They do need enthusiastic people and are always looking for people to lend a hand. That will help you to learn the local regulations and you can work to help cachers in your local areas.

Is there actually a turnover or demand for cache approvers or is the roster pretty much set?

[+Mopar]

Any body know how to becoma an approver of caches in an area? i need a little help

No offense, but I think first you would need to know enough about geocaching to answer your own question.

[Keystone]

Here are some interesting statistics: As a group, the 38 currently active volunteer reviewers have found more than 20,000 geocaches and have hidden more than 1,200, for an average of more than 500 finds and 30 hides each. So for starters, a potential volunteer would need to show very active involvement in the game, in one form or another.

 

Ficky, I too am curious why you are asking. California is blessed with two volunteers who cover the Northern and Southern parts of the state, and also back each other up. Hemlock is your local reviewer. If you are looking for assistance with any local matter, such as your cache that recently was unarchived after it went missing in September, you should send Hemlock an e-mail. I do know that Hemlock is very busy at the moment, so if you wrote previously and haven't heard a response after a reasonable period of time (3 or 4 days) then write to CO Admin who is always willing to back up the other volunteers.

[+Lazyboy & Mitey Mite]

Any body know how to becoma an approver of caches in an area? i need a little help

You might want a little more experience regardless before you jump in.

List of items found 

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Name Count

 

  Multi-caches* 1

 

  Traditional Caches* 8

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

*Total Caches Found 9

   

List of items owned 

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Name Count

 

  Traditional Caches* 2

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

*Total Caches Hidden 2

[+TeamK-9]

And to be more political correct, the approvers aren't volunteers, they're recruitees, most of the people who are approvers never said "hey, let me be an approver" most of the times, it was Groundspeak asking a potential candidate to become a approver...

[Max Cacher]

Ficky, I am taking care of Hemlock’s area for a little while, may I help.

 

Let me know

 

Tennessee Geocacher

TNGeocacher@aol.con

Edited February 11, 2004 by Tennessee Geocacher

[+briansnat]

I've said this before. Anybody who is dumb enough to want to be an approver, is too stupid to have the job.

[+rover-r-us]

why would you? i have enough to do as it is just keeping up with the post.

[+Criminal]

Any body know how to becoma an approver of caches in an area? i need a little help

One word: Lobotomy

[+Criminal]

Any body know how to becoma an approver of caches in an area?  i need a little help

One word: Lobotomy

Get the frontal lobotomy and full castration and you can moderate the forums too!

[+The Cheeseheads]

Any body know how to becoma an approver of caches in an area?  i need a little help

One word: Lobotomy

Get the frontal lobotomy and full castration and you can moderate the forums too!

I'd rather have a bottle in front of me...

[+Geo Ho]

If you want to be an approver then you must have FAR too much time on your hands. Go caching instead. I'm sure it's more fun.

[+Snoogans]

No offense to anyone intended, but I tend to agree with the late, great, Douglas Adams, that those who most want to be in power are usually the least capable of wielding it properly.

 

Sn gans

 

(*cough, coughforiegnpolicy, cough*)

Edited February 11, 2004 by Snoogans

[+wildearth2001]

We are researching an online gaming version of Geocaching. My assignment is to experiment with online games that simulate a cache with a terrain rating of 1. Other members of the Groundspeak team have been asked to try out Rainbow 6, to simulate more extreme geocaching experiences. They don't much like it, but it is all for the good of the website and the community.

 

Now this is what makes being an approver a sweet position to have. You get to play MiniPutt all day.

[+SoCalAdmin]

Ficky,

 

If there are any problems, you can also feel free to contact me. I and several other people have been covering for Northern California while Hemlock has been busy.

[+rusty_tlc]

No offense to CO Admin, but I miss Hemlock. When is Hemlock gonna be back in the game?

[+CO Admin]

No offense to CO Admin, but I miss Hemlock. When is Hemlock gonna be back in the game?

Non taken. He will back to speed soon. Untill then its great that there are other approvers who can help out.

[+Woodbutcher68]

To become an approver send a signed, blank check and two credit cards with PIN #'s to P.O. Box.......

[+9Key]

*Any body know how to becoma an approver of caches in an area?  i need a little help 

 

*One word: Lobotomy 

 

*Get the frontal lobotomy and full castration and you can moderate the forums too!

 

I passed on the castration.

[+Happy Bubbles]

I'm curious about how the approvers are distributed. 38 for the entire world? Do some cover half a state while others cover entire subcontinents?

[+bob393]

Cache approver, what's a Cache approver?

[Keystone]

I'm curious about how the approvers are distributed. 38 for the entire world? Do some cover half a state while others cover entire subcontinents?

Reviewers cover territory based on the volume of caches hidden. It would make no sense for North Dakota or Bolivia to have dedicated cache reviewers, because not very many caches are hidden there each week. When geocaching activity in a particular area gets busy enough, whoever is covering approvals will holler for help and, as a long term solution, a new volunteer will be brought on board. As for distribution of the volunteers worldwide, there are two for the U.K., two for the Nordic Countries, two for Canada, two for Australia, one for New Zealand and one for The Netherlands. Uberapprover Erik covers the rest of the world outside the U.S., such as Asia, Africa, South America, etc. The United States is split up into territories among more than 25 volunteers in an ever-changing mosaic of assignments. Some of us cover multiple states, while in busy states like California there are two volunteers.

[+CO Admin]

I'm curious about how the approvers are distributed. 38 for the entire world? Do some cover half a state while others cover entire subcontinents?

In a word, Yes.

[+Lazyboy & Mitey Mite]

Cache approver, what's a Cache approver?

A cache approver says, cool, great cache, thanks.

 

A cache disapprover is much more common on the forums, they use the word lame a lot.

[dboggny]

nevermind.

insert your own snyde comment here.

Edited February 12, 2004 by dboggny

[+Corp Of Discovery]

Here are some interesting statistics: As a group, the 38 currently active volunteer reviewers have found more than 20,000 geocaches and have hidden more than 1,200, for an average of more than 500 finds and 30 hides each. So for starters, a potential volunteer would need to show very active involvement in the game, in one form or another.

 

Ficky, I too am curious why you are asking. California is blessed with two volunteers who cover the Northern and Southern parts of the state, and also back each other up. Hemlock is your local reviewer. If you are looking for assistance with any local matter, such as your cache that recently was unarchived after it went missing in September, you should send Hemlock an e-mail. I do know that Hemlock is very busy at the moment, so if you wrote previously and haven't heard a response after a reasonable period of time (3 or 4 days) then write to CO Admin who is always willing to back up the other volunteers.

Ahhhh......but you missed the most important statistic: how many posts in total and average per reviewer?

[+CO Admin]

Since only about 8 approvers are active (more than 2 posts a week) on the boards the numbers would be rather low when averaged against all the approvers.

[+Corp Of Discovery]

Since only about 8 approvers are active (more than 2 posts a week) on the boards the numbers would be rather low when averaged against all the approvers.

ummmm.....errrrrr.......that was kind of, sort of my point.......I think.

[+CO Admin]

I understand, but that makes our post to find ratio amazing. The approvers that are active, as approvers, are the ones that are mods in the active forums.

[+Corp Of Discovery]

Oops, to stay on topic: a background such as Mike Tysons sparring partner/punching bag and/or any big league refereee/umpire would be a start.

[+sept1c_tank]

My local approver, Mountain Climber, has made only 6 posts since he started his approver account Feb. 23, 2003.

 

Under his regular account, he has found 888 caches and hidden 51. He has made only 30 posts under that account since he registered with Groundspeak in Dec. 2001.

[+sept1c_tank]

I passed on the castration. 

The lobotomy was obviously successful;

your avatar change rate rivals your post count!

[+Team GPSaxophone]

Since only about 8 approvers are active (more than 2 posts a week) on the boards the numbers would be rather low when averaged against all the approvers.

So you're saying you and Keystone are the moderator versions of me and Sparky?

[+CO Admin]

Since only about 8 approvers are active (more than 2 posts a week) on the boards the numbers would be rather low when averaged against all the approvers.

So you're saying you and Keystone are the moderator versions of me and Sparky?

No, Keystone and I are much cuter.

[+Sparky-Watts]

Since only about 8 approvers are active (more than 2 posts a week) on the boards the numbers would be rather low when averaged against all the approvers.

So you're saying you and Keystone are the moderator versions of me and Sparky?

No, Keystone and I are much cuter.

 

 

 

 

 

My ears were burning, and I knew it wasn't from the blow dryer!

[+Team GPSaxophone]

My ears were burning, and I knew it wasn't from the blow dryer!

Obviously not, you're still a wet cat!

[+hikemeister]

Don't take this the wrong way -- but dude, you only have 9 finds and 2 caches hidden, plus 2 posts on the forum. Do you really think that is the level of experience necessary to have a good handle on what to approve vs. not approve?

[+the england's]

I'm the aussie approver and I have to do it standing on my head...

[+boulist44]

Question.

who approves a prospective approver?

Just a thought!

[Keystone]

Question.

who approves a prospective approver?

Just a thought!

A good question, even if you were just making a play on words.

 

First the need is identified. "Hey! There are so many new caches popping up in Peru that I can't deal with the volume. People are complaining about the delays in getting their caches listed."

 

If the problem cannot be addressed among the existing group of volunteers, then Hydee will coordinate the selection process for a new reviewer. She asks for ideas from the other reviewers about candidates. We discuss the merits of each candidate: their record of hides and finds, their helpfulness in the forums, involvement in any regional geocaching association or in dealings with land managers, etc. Eventually we reach a consensus. The new candidate is then invited to join the frog clan, after one last step.

 

The final test is too terrifying and too secret to disclose here. I am still traumatized and it's nine months later.

[+Team GPSaxophone]

The final test is too terrifying and too secret to disclose here. I am still traumatized and it's nine months later.

I didn't know you were a new Papa!

[+Lazyboy & Mitey Mite]

Don't take this the wrong way -- but dude, you only have 9 finds and 2 caches hidden, plus 2 posts on the forum. Do you really think that is the level of experience necessary to have a good handle on what to approve vs. not approve?

Dude I think they've moved on to letterboxing already.

[+mtn-man]

Question.

who approves a prospective approver?

Just a thought!

A good question, even if you were just making a play on words.

 

First the need is identified. "Hey! There are so many new caches popping up in Peru that I can't deal with the volume. People are complaining about the delays in getting their caches listed."

 

If the problem cannot be addressed among the existing group of volunteers, then Hydee will coordinate the selection process for a new reviewer. She asks for ideas from the other reviewers about candidates. We discuss the merits of each candidate: their record of hides and finds, their helpfulness in the forums, involvement in any regional geocaching association or in dealings with land managers, etc. Eventually we reach a consensus. The new candidate is then invited to join the frog clan, after one last step.

 

The final test is too terrifying and too secret to disclose here. I am still traumatized and it's nine months later.

Paypal worked for me!