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Pokagon Nature Center

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  1. Seems SOMEONE left themselves signed in again! Will repost under MY account!
  2. How the heck did you nail it dead on! The answer is exactly 3777 registered cemeteries in the DHPA database! Congrats 501 Gang. We'll make arrangements to get your coin.
  3. I originally asked for physical geocaches at NPS properties here, and found old ones. That discussion was a month ago here: Original NPS Thread I have been given the ok to get a cache in place on an NPS property. I will be working with them shortly on getting the special use permit. I will post the GC number as soon as it's up. In the meantime, from the original discussion, here are two that are physical containers: Wolf Trap National Park Grand Canyon National Park Apparently put out by NPS staff. I don't think they write it out to regulate all GPS activities. Yeah, that would be impossible. The top of the document says recreational activities using GPS units, then goes on to define which activities this document covers. I agree it reads like an internal guidance document. The NPS is too varied to be applied straight forward, without deviations, and adaptations for each individual property. P.S. Thanks for the note RK.
  4. Last guess was the closest yet. You don't have to right on, within 10 on either side.
  5. Foks are getting closer. Emurock's guess is still to high. Next report I will tell who's the closest
  6. That's how I read it. While I agree there are some misconceptions, but it does reflect a much different view than the previous, "No caches allowed!" standpoint. They seem to be recognizing the potential for education and recreation in appropriate areas. A policy set forth by them lets them protect sensitive areas like cyrptobiotic soils and endangered species that geocachers may not know about. Many of these types of areas are not released to the public for the species protection. What I do know from my conversations with them is they have approved my desire to place a geocache by using a special use permit, and they have asked me to help coordinate a geocache/earthcache program for school groups between the NPS and my govt agency. Comes off as positive in my eyes. I'm for DocDitto's suggestion for having Groundspeak take it from here, and work with them on clearing misconceptions and coming to a nationwide agreement with them.
  7. If we were exploring all believed cemeteries, burial grounds, mounds, and graveyards in Indiana, then it would actually be over 100,000. In fact our cemetery happy caching friend from Bippus would be correct at 125,000! 125,000 boggles my mind; that's over 1300 per county! Searching "how many cemeteries in Indiana" online will bring the Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology site to the top of the search engine. A brief synopsis of the registry program, in which the GIS data was produced, is mentioned there. For those really interested in the details of the program and what information has been collected from these sites you can go to: Creating a Spatial Database for Indiana’s Cemetery and Burial Ground Registry From this data set, began in 2000, This magic number has been identified and recognized on the DHPA registry.... CYBret was too low, but emurock was too high today. No one has been been within a couple hundred of the number registered. Makes for interesting discussion of large and diverse subject of our Hoosier heritage.
  8. The NPS property I have been working recently sent me the new official policy for GPS related activities. I have put the link below. They have given the ok for a geocache by applying for a special use permit. Here's the whole policy for those that are interested. http://www.nps.gov/policy/GPSguidance.pdf
  9. I guess. It may take awhile so I suppose you all can take two guesses a day. BTW, no one is even near it yet.
  10. clear the screens... everyone's too low now. Hey Daryl, there' more than 501 ISQs out there!
  11. Those who know me know I'm a big GIS geek. While exploring some new layers that have become available, I saw the cemetery layer. I've been playing with how many were in each county, in case anyone's curious. A lot of dead people around Bloomington. For a new geocoin, anyone want to guess how many state recognized official cemeteries are located in the state of Indiana. Guess within 10, only one guess per day, my word is final. No counting dots on the map!
  12. Over the years I have become quite familiar with local and state geocaching policies, and have had a hand in a few myself. The IDNR (Illinois not Indiana) listed above does not seem too restrictive. Indiana's has a provision for checking on the status every 30 days, but this is through the online logs. Actual physical inspection of cache is required every 6 months.
  13. Thanks! I ended up finding several also in other national parks, both east coast and west coast. I found some where park staff set them up, and others that park staff assisted or provided guidance. A google earth pan to each national park shows more than one might think. Too many to entertain ...<edited>
  14. Largely true, but not totally true... I have found actual (regular sized traditional) geocaches in National Parks, and in fact, I just checked and that one a couple of years ago is still active. There is no mystery or ambiguity about the placement of this cache, as ANY and ALL online maps and paper maps show that it is clearly located within the boundaries of a National Park. There have also been a number of credible reports in these forums from experienced geocachers who have found caches in National Parks. So, it really does appear to be the case that local NP managers have quite a bit of discretion when it comes to allowing placement of geocaches, but, overall, approval for such placements is quite rare. Can you give a GC number, or email it to me, so we know what park has one?
  15. I have no ambitions to open up all the national parks! I work with some national park staff here who are interested in it, but need to see how one particular park has written their rules. We could check each and every park, but it would be easier to just check a park that has allowed one. Definitely an exception to the rule. Since the NPS has pretty much left it open to each individual park, there surely must be a park that has allowed one? It's been mentioned before, but there is no actual document saying NPS caches are prohibited, that has ever been public to my knowledge. It is more word of mouth, and thus Groundspeak posts it, as do other geocaching policy sites.
  16. I am in the process of working with a national park within the system to possibly allow geocaches, if not, definately earthcaches. Some preliminary checking about NPS policy seems to indicate that each park specifies whether they will allow geo-caching or not We are looking to check each parks compendiums (superintendent's discretionary policies) and see how they word them. I can find plenty of parks with earthcaches (and old virtuals), but am looking for specific caches located inside a national park, national lakeshore, or national grassland. I am not looking for national forest, they are under a completely different administration. I am looking for actual traditional caches with a container. There are a few multis listed but are actually virtuals. Anyone know of one?
  17. I would love to have the html you used to create that disclaimer. As well as the html to create the dropdown box for your other caches! PNC
  18. Shydog and other geocachers are featured in the latest issue of Outdoor Indiana. Outdoor Indiana is the DNR magazine publication that features things to do in Indiana, historical sites, and fishing/hunting info. The Sept/Oct issue found it's way to my desk today, and features a 7 page article with interviews and pictures from many Indiana Geocachers, including Team Shydog, 501 Gang, The Herd, "Paws"itraction, Mr. Incredible, and others. You can find it at most large bookstores (usually not Wal-mart) and any DNR park gift shop. You can also find it online. The magazine can be seen here: Outdoor Indiana The article can be found online here: Geocaching Article Enjoy!
  19. Bump? Are there no moderators that can comment. Maybe the geocachers get to pick the date next year!
  20. Planning 2008 CITO events, and need to know the date for the 2008 day. Anyone know it?
  21. I think this is what I was thinking of when I said Reverse Closest to the Pin, where you provide the pin, they give you the coordinates. My thought would be you average the lat's, and score the closest winner in that half of the coordinates. Score the long's with the closest guess from the average, then add the scores, and whomever has the lowest score wins. That make sense?! Now that's funny! Might have to try that too! I should probably purchase some sling shots.
  22. I have tried to do some searching for other ideas to use at geocaching events, but keep coming up empty. Perhaps some folks can recommend easy games to do at a geocaching event, or list some links to threads mentioning them. We have used Closest to the pin for a while now, and would like to explore some other short, fun ones. I have heard of a reverse closest to the pin, but don't know the logisitics of averaging everyone's lat and long coords to get an official winner. Any ideas or thoughts? Thanks,
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