OGPSTH

April 20 To all, As an update Ontario Parks has a policy in place for geocaching. Only "virtual" caches are allowed at the Park Superintendent's discretion. This then would only be suitable for the Waymarking site. Your best bet is to write letters supporting geocaching as an "active" lifestyle choice, also copy the tourism, rec. minister - as there is a mandate there - in support of geocaching. If you want to see virtual geocaching at work in a park consider the National Cache event on Sunday, July23. See the geocachingontario website - new details within the next two weeks. Parks Canada has a policy and in essence - is the same. Bill Steer bill@canadianecology.ca

Hey cachers, mark your calendars for the first ever National Cache event. We hope to see many old and new friends at this exciting event. To help us plan please share any event style activities you like to see. We have some plans but we would like to hear from you. Remember National Cache Event! Sunday, July 23 2006 the first National “Geocaching” event will be held in the Mattawa-Bonfield area as part of the region’s Adventure Week – an outdoor celebration! CEC

Due to lack of interest and registration "Hop Into Geocaching" has been cancelled. There is still an area caching event on Saturday march 26th see www.geocachingontario.com for more details. But no event will be held Sunday March 27th at the Canadian Ecology Centre.

Just a note to all those who have said they're going to come or going to "try" to come. You need to register online at www.geocachingonatario.com or by calling the Canadian Ecology Centre 1-888-747-7577. They need to know how many are coming. There needs to be a minimum number of people registered to run the event. If that number of people does not register by the 15th of March, then the event will be canceled. So if you are planning on attending please register soon!

Well, folks, all prize winner's have been contacted. If you received an email from NOGPSTH then congradulations! If you did not receive an email, then get out there and find those caches this spring/summer/fall and it could be you who receives an email next year. Thank you everyone who searched, saw, learned, and stayed a while with the Northern Ontario GPS Treasure Hunt!

Your wish is my command! Not the canoe part....but there is now a message on the front page of the Northern Ontario GPS Treasure Hunting website explaining where we are at in the draw process and when and how people will know if they have won a prize. So please be patient with us and we will get you guys your prizes a quickly as humanly possible.

We have completed the draw but as there are well over 300 prizes it is taking us a while to compile the names and to contact the winner's. Once we have contacted the winner's....and if we recieve their permission we will post the names of the winner's who have given us permission to do this. I ask for your patience as these things take time and as many of you know (b/c you were here for "Cache In"). There aren't many of us working on this rather large project. Thanks for your patience and we will post something as soon as we have gotten permission from the winner's. Amanda DesJardine Northern Ontario GPS Treasure Hunting Project Assistant.

There is one gas station on the corner of 17 and 94 (Corbeil Corners to locals) and there are two more along the road before you get to Samuel De Champlain Provincial Park. Mattawa is only 10 min away and there are gas stations there as well. There are also restaurants in Mattawa for those arriving early on Friday night. Unless camping in the park there is no need to register with the park at all when you enter. Simply follow the signs in the park directly to the Canadian Ecology Centre. Only Two more days 'till things get rolling!

Does the $9.50 per vehicle for "day only" apply to anyone staying at a CEC cabin? Would we have to pay $9.50 again for Saturday and then for Sunday? Olar Day vehicle costs do not apply to anyone coming to cache In. You are coming to the Canadian Ecology Centre for an event being held there, therefore you are not required to pay the day pass fee. Only those camping in the park are subject to park fees. That is only for your campsite. Any more questions about fees or other details email me at amanda@canadianecology.ca

FYI 1. Samuel De Champlain Park is operating on "self-serve"; envelopes are provided at the fee station (exterior wall of gatehouse) and campers can place their fee in the envelope; then place in the deposit box; Babawase side only is open to camping at this time of year. Permits are required for all visitors utilizing park facilities 2. Fees are: Day Only - $9.50 per vehicle Regular Campsite - $20.00 per night Electrical Campsite - $24.00 per night 3. Comfort station will be operational barring any unforeseen problems. 4. Unfortunately, the museum will not be open. All NHE staff have left for the summer and they do not man the office on weekends. 5. The store will be open: The hours are posted, I believe it is open 10 am to 6 pm.

We are sold out! All cabins at the CEC have been sold. There is still time to book a meal plan if you haven't yet done so and want to not have to worry about food that weekend. If you would still like to come and need help finding accomodations in the Mattawa area you can email me at amanda@candianecology.ca and I will do my best to help you find suitable accomodations. We're in the process of renovating the "Travel Bug Motel" so be sure to bring a travel bug friend.

Two Weeks and counting! Make sure you have called or emailed the CEC to say whether or not you are coming. It does not matter if you are not staying at the CEC and it does not matter if you aren't eating at the CEC you still need to let the CEC know you are coming so all activities can be planned for the right number of people. Lots of new challenges and lots of prizes that can only be won at this event! Hope to see all of you there!

We have gotten permission from the staff at Samuel De Champlain Provincial park to place "TEMPORARY" caches in park for that day only. So please don't start trying to place caches in provincial parks it is still not allowed.

As promise here it is Agenda for “Cache In” Oct 2nd 2004 (keep an eye out for the Northern Ontario “One horned” Sasquatch while you’re caching...he might be out and about) Friday Arrivals throughout the day; early arrivals can geocache in the area 7pm-9pm – Informal welcome reception (welcome to Mattawa! Munchies, conversation, fill out a ballot for a great door prize!) 9-11pm –Maple/Oak conference rooms available for card playing and “hanging out” Saturday 7am-8am – Breakfast-maple/oak room 8am – Official welcome to “Cache In!” -mix & mingle games (get to know your fellow cachers)-maple/oak room 9am – Geocaching Bingo? What’s that? (instructions, rules) 9:30am-10:30am – What do those numbers mean anyway? The relationship between the map, compass and GPS. – optional workshop-maple/oak room 10:30am –11:30am– Geocaching Software – “What works!?” -optional information/discussion session-oak room/computer lab 11:30am – 12:30pm – Lunch-maple/oak room 12:30-4:30pm – geocache to your hearts content, do some geocaching bingo…if your finished try some of our local caches in the Mattawa/Bonfield area.-in Samuel de Champlain Prov. Park 4:30pm-5:30pm – OGA annual general meeting in oak/maple room at CEC.-maple/oak conference room 5:30pm-6:30pm – Dinner-maple/oak room 7pm-7:30pm – “What are we doing tonight?” Caching activity (find out what activities we’ll be doing this evening through a quick geocaching game)-meet in the maple/oak room 7:30pm[/b]- ‘till you want to go to bed – Night Program Sunday 8am-9am – Breakfast-maple/oak room 9am-rest of day until you leave – Geocache in Bonfield/Mattawa area – have fun go hunt!

We will be having an information/discussion session Saturday morning for those interested in GPS software. I have emailed some of you who said you know about GPS software and asked you to share a bit about what you use. IF there is anyone who did not receive an email from the CEC who has some gps software info they want to share in a 5min blurp let me know and I can schedule you in. We will also have a Q & A period after people share about their gps software. Our computer lab will also be available for use at that time. A data projector can also be available for those presenting gps software info.

You have to call and book meals at least a week in advance, otherwise no food for you There won't be enough food prepared ahead of time for people to show up and order food.

Just some info from the "Cache In" source on what is going on Oct 2nd weekend. The agenda for the weekend has not yet been outlined in detail...there will be good food....lots of fun....campfire + night activities.....lots of geocaching....special new never before done geocaching activity (shhhh it's a secret).....saturday night supper will be lasagna, corn on the cob, apple crisp w/ ice cream, coffee tea juice. Samuel de Champlain Park is not booked up Oct 2nd still lots of room in the park...the park is self serve registration that time of year therefore they do not take reservations...it does not mean they are full.... Glad to hear so many are excited I will continue to post details as they become available when you register make sure you give your email address so we can update you on any changes that may come.. See you in Oct!!!!!

Parks in Ontario, I am not sure of Quebed.

www.geocachingontaro.com would like to be part of the Ontario Geocaching Association. I think there has been some comments on www.geocachingontario.com It is a tourism application of "geocaching." There are no fees. Yes, there are prizes, many offered by community hospitality suppliers and retailers. Finding an cache is an "experience." In essence, every time a "geocacher" leaves their home community they become a tourist - something to think about. You are invited to come north and find caches... This is a project of FedNor (Industry Canada). I am offering and inviting you the Ontario Geocaching Association to hold an event and meeting here at the CEC www.canadianecology.ca, near North Bay, I can subsidize accommodation and food etc...we would like to help the association.

www.geocachingontario.com has sent letters to the Minister, David Ramsay, the Environmental Commissioner of Ontario, Gord Miller, (who is a "geocacher"), and to the specific MNR officials working on policy or guidelines for Ontario Parks. No Park Superintendent will allow caches in their parks and they are awaiting the above. We have suggested "virtual" caches because there are enough signs and plaques to attachem clues. At the same time you may wish to venture north to find our caches - www.geocachingontario.com is a tourism application of "geocaching." It will be featured in Todays Cacher.