Brat & Testy

Mountains, prairies, owls, cowboys, gophers....(getting a little crowded there) maybe have some good simple ideas and do a new coin every couple of years. Also that way each area of the province can be represented with a simple symbol and an underlying tone (like the ammo can or GPS). Personally I like some of the beautiful river valleys we have in so many parts of the province and nary a mountain to be seen in quite a few of them. Also great places to place/find caches - Testy

Got it. Love the design. Love the place. June? Well maybe the end of June it would sure be a nice place to go. Thanks Testy

April 22 is International CITO (Cache In Trash Out) day. Coincidentally (or not!), it also corresponds with Earth Day. So what do you say we celebrate Earth day, have some fun and clean a park? Details for the Edmonton CITO Event

Well put! As has been noted here and in the other thread, work group members are hearing from a number of geocachers, on a number of issues. Regional commmunity 'cachers have been giving feedback directly to the workgroup members within their communities, moving forward, discussing issues, and moving forward again -- as well, some group members are active on these Groundspeak forums, and are also paying attention to issues. Please, don't let the discussion stop or stall...there is some wheat in the chaff ;-) Yep, that's the way we (Brat&Testy) look at it too. As has been stated here many times, workgroup memebers were invited to participate and we are happy to oblige! We look at it as another way we can give back to this great activity that has given us so much fun. Back to figuring out tomorrow's 'caching plan of attack... [edit -- typo]

Update #1 is posted. Admin, feel free to pin it.

Parks Canada / Geocaching workgroup update #1 The public submissions period ended, Dec. 31, 2005 A lenghtly discussion thread covers the lead-up and history of this issue, and can be found [here]. Since the end of the submission period, Parks Canada engaged in dialogue with Geocachers/Geocaching communities, and contacted a number of 'cachers from many of the regions, asking them to assist in the next phase of their policy development. These are the groups Parks Canada is working with: Maritime Geocaching Association L'Association des Geocacheurs du Quebec Ontario Geocaching Association Manitoba Geocaching Association Saskatchewan Geocachers GeoCachingEdmonton.com Calgary Area Cachers British Columbia Geocaching Association Volunteers from geocaching.com The group is now in the process of collecting and reviewing relevant existing policies (over 50 exist worldwide), reviewing the public comments (anonymously -- personal information has been removed from the documents), and preparing for discussions with a Parks Canada team (selected for their interest in Geocaching). The overall idea is that we're all working from the same broad base of ideas (why re-invent the wheel), all working together to create an outcome that works for everyone. The group members are committed to keeping both the Geocaching community here, and their own local communities, updated regularly.

Gee, what a great history and story. I thought it was well written to give us a good history of what has come before and since. I also heard a rumour that this was the second one in Canada. But maybe I was reading something else. Anyway. Thanks for the write up it looks good.

Could they also be looking for a unified voice? I got the impression, however wrong it may be, that Parks Canada wants to see all geocaching associations and its members (this would include those who cache in the province of choice but have not registered with that association), that we are united in our resovle to respect any possibility of physical geocaching that may remain at the end of the year. However, the more I see in our non parks systems (meaning the opportunity to place a cache vs. the conscientious placement of a cache for education or historical reason) the more I feel that physical geocaching in Parks Canada, for now, is gone unless we can present as one voice a good reason for physical caches to be permitted.

You know that was the same impression I was left with from Claire as well. In fact she almost shut me down by saying she only wanted comments about what we could do and would only answer my questions by phone. But I want this on the record. I advised her I was a long time supporter of Parks Canada, stated that Geocaching was a low-impact activity compared to others who leave trash behind (tour bus anyone?) and that without physical caches the activity was reduced to a hike or walk in the park. I also stated that at one time or another Ontario Geocaching Association tried to work with them BEFORE the interim policy was placed but Parks Canada went ahead and made it without any further input from the Geocaching community at least that's how I've read it on this forum. Although my reply from Parks Canada was disappointing, I fear no matter what we say, or how we say it or how many of us say it with our own words and feelings this is one activity they can control largely due to this website. Unlike other activities like hiking, mtn biking, golfing, skiing, etc we do not have a single voice nor are we really a common activity and not only that, we're easy to find as a group through Geocaching.com by which we can therefore be silenced. What more can we do or say? MP’s? ….don’t waste my time….they’re only after the next vote most of the time and the few that care won’t really bother with a relatively low-key unpopular activity like ours in the long run.

Cool! Looks like it'll be a very good weekend for GeoCaching in Central Alberta - with lots of activities too! Brat&Testy GeoCachingEdmonton.com http://geocachingedmonton.com

Hey I'll contact you by email but thats close for us at N53 22.383 W113 31.587. Just a quick drive down the highway and hopefully somewhere to stop. But I see there's a range road nearby so could park there and walk.

My thanks to goes to the people of the OGA as well your efforts are very much appreciated Please share or post to your site what you did so we can prepare our regions for similar possibilities if provincial or civic parks systems consider similar actions. The main reason we started our website (geocachingedmonton.com) was to educate the local public in general about geocaching as well as provide a forum for discussion for members. Further I believe we all aim to be good community citizens to build up the bank of good will through CITO events and the information we place on our website. I agree there should only be footprints left in our parks but that's because I'm getting tired of the crowds in L. Louse, Jasper and Banff. But I also believe virtuals at the very least, can only bring odd areas of interest to light to draw people away from the more popular areas. I hope Parks Canada considers some of what the OGA said, it would be a shame to lose even small micro caches in these areas. Okay rant off thanks for reading.

I've had excellent service from both. Initial GPSr purchased from GPS City no problems and fast delivery. Recently I had a friend pick up an order from GSP Central in Calgary and they were very friendly. They said they'd make an effort to get one item ready for me as their order from Geocaching was due in the day before he picked the stuff up. Nice service.

The snow is flying outside my window as I write this - but hey, we're planning to have a great spot staked out at one of the local parks. It'll be toasty by the bon-fire: hotdogs, hot chocolate, cache-games, and great conversation are the order of the day! All the details are here: http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_detai...1f-50ed38683863 but here's the quick-and-dirty version: N 53° 32.002 W 113° 32.224 March 12, 2005 1200-1500 (Noon - 3:00 PM) City Park, loads of parking, picnic shelter, fire, food, free. ...and FUN! See you there! Brat&Testy http://bratandtesty.blogspot.com

Hey it keeps me out of the malls! And even though I hate mosquitos (especially with West Nile hanging around) its fun to be outside too