GeoawareGSA1

Danie, this is super interesting, thanks so much for "crunching!" --Matt

Since it's relevant to this particular thread, I thought I'd mention that coins from past EarthCache Events are now available for purchase at the EarthCache website. (As of just a couple of days ago.)

By my wonky records, TerryDad2 may be involved in as many as 272 EarthCaches! (That he developed, or developed and adopted out.) --Matt

Looks like someone already posted your event photo on our Facebook page over the weekend. Ah, the beauty of social media! And Geyoda is awesome!!!!!! --Matt (GeoawareHQ)

Sun., Oct. 12, 2014; conveniently, the day after the 3rd International EarthCache Event (www.3iee.com) --Matt

For anybody who would like to post an icon on their profile page (or elsewhere) to mark the 10th Birthday of the EarthCache program, here is the code you can use: <a href='http://www.earthcache.org'><img src='http://www.geosociety.org/earthcache/Images/EC10Icon.jpg' border='0' width=200></a> Best wishes, Matt

The reasons for the limitation are simple: a. Survey respondents must be 18 and over because otherwise, parental permission would be required, and doing that electronically, verifying it, etc., would prove too difficult. In the U.S. (and elsewhere, I imagine), there are rules about "experiments on human subjects", getting proper consent, etc., and the researchers need to follow them. b. Survey respondents must live in the U.S. because the study is part of a broader set of research specifically about STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education in the U.S. Also, the research group is funded by U.S.-based groups (which is likely to include U.S. governmental grant sources as well) that are specifically studying U.S-based educational programs, so the scope must be limited to within the U.S. Oh, and then there's: c. GSA doesn't care what the rest of the world thinks anyway!! ;p (J/K!!!!!!) Anyway, thanks to all who responded to the survey, even if you ARE outside of the U.S.! (We won't tell.) Regarding survey results, I actually don't know when/how they'll be reported, but we'll keep an eye out for that. Excited about tomorrow's birthday! --Matt

EarthCache Survey Please help us to learn more about EarthCachers and EarthCaching by completing our online survey. The survey is part of a study to learn more about who participates in EarthCaching, why they participate, and what they learn. Your answers are confidential. You need to be at least 18 years old and live in the United States to participate. The survey team is interested in receiving responses from a wide variety of people, ranging from highly experienced EarthCache Masters, all the way to EarthCache rookies. The survey is being conducted by researchers from the Center for STEM Research, Education, & Outreach at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Thanks for your help! Here is the link to the survey: https://qtrial.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_5z113NYyeKvxmWp

Dear EarthCaching Friends, The EarthCache team is very excited for the approaching 10th Birthday of the EarthCache program, which is this Friday, January 10, 2014. That day marks 10 years since the first EarthCache was published. For general information about the 10th Birthday, including a map of all known events, please see: http://community.geosociety.org/EarthCache/newitem4/earthcache10thbirthday For a Bookmark list of the 124+ 10th Birthday events taking place this weekend, see: http://www.geocaching.com/bookmarks/view.aspx?guid=ad252755-b6c0-4911-8768-64446fb3be3b For the commemorative 10th Birthday geocoins and tags, developed by our friends at Landsharkz, and available for sale at Geocaching.com (and Landsharkz too, very soon), check out: http://shop.geocaching.com/default/earthcache-10-year-anniversary-coin-and-tag-set.html And for the excellent blog post at Geocaching.com, go to: http://blog.geocaching.com/2013/12/10th-anniversary-of-the-earthcache/ To everyone hosting an event, attending an event, or logging an EarthCache this weekend, we'd love to see your photos shared on our "wall" at www.facebook.com/earthcache Thank you for all the support over the years! Best wishes, GeoawareHQ and the EarthCache Team

Thanks Team Sagefox for bringing up this topic, and thanks to the others for their recommendations. The course of action you plan to take is the best one. PM --> NM --> NA, and then let the reviewers take it from there. Best wishes, Matt

As of now, there is no souvenir. However, it is an option being explored, but for now, I'd say don't plan on it. If one does happen to come about, we'll post about it in here and elsewhere. Best wishes, Matt

My guess is that it's a tablet issue, so please try it on a PC. (Seems to be working fine on my PC at the moment.) If you have problems still, please email earthcache@geosociety.org --Matt GeoawareHQ

1. Awhile back, we did begin the process of a 2013 souvenir. 2. Unfortunately, it was not possible to complete that process, for various technical reasons I won't/can't describe here. 3. Issuing a souvenir for EarthCache Day is not as simple as "clicking a button", unfortunately, but understandably. 4. As in 2012, in 2013, it was not stated anywhere that a souvenir would definitely be available. 5. The fact that some things have souvenirs and others don't is not a reflection of priorities, but is more of a technical matter. 6. I apologize to those who expected a souvenir and did not get one, and thank those who visited EarthCaches and participated in the many events around the world, and had a great time! Best wishes, and happy caching! --Matt GeoawareHQ

We're an independent non-profit, and were not closed for the shutdown (but we were closed a few days due to flooding near our HQ in Boulder, CO.) I'm sorry your cache took so long to publish. As others have stated, sometimes things "slip", and for that, I apologize. I can assure you that EarthCaches are important to both GSA and to Groundspeak. Best wishes, Matt Dawson, GSA GeoawareHQ

Thanks to everyone hosting an event this year! Here is a compilation of all the ones we know of. I hope you get some nice attendance! Best wishes, Matt, GSA GC4p3zy CA USA GC4MNDP VA USA GC4NCRN IL USA GC4NHVD PA, USA GC4G5R4 SC USA GC4NTHN NC USA GC4HPM3 Maine, USA GC4GD1G NS Canada GC4GY9Q, England GC4NJ47 England GC4NQK1 Scotland GC4FJNQ Germany GC4N12E Germany GC4DB5R Germany GC4CYB4 Portugal GC4NXZ4 Spain GC4NY6N Spain GC4NY55 Spain GC4A1XA Finland GC4N1KN New Zealand GC4KWWB Japan

Thanks for the early leads, I'm starting to plan my trip already --Matt, GSA

I can't wait! --Matt, GSA

We have tentative plans for a spot for 2015, but are looking for locations for 2016 and 2017, if any cachers or caching groups want to volunteer to be the "ground team"

Suggested reading: http://blog.geocaching.com/2012/09/tips-on-developing-earthcaches-in-u-s-national-parks/ http://blog.geocaching.com/2010/12/one-womans-journey-brings-physical-geocaches-to-national-park/ http://blog.geocaching.com/2013/04/everglades_national_park_geocache/ Keep in mind: getting the permission should be your first step, otherwise, you may put a lot of time into a cache that will never see the light of day. Your local reviewer will need to see an email or other form of written permission by a park manager. Good luck, and be persistent! Best wishes, Matt

If you think there is a problem with a particular cache, please contact the cache owner and/or the reviewer.

GSA was recently contacted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) regarding a very interesting opportunity, and we are looking for "leads" about people who may potentially be able to help USFWS out. They are on a short timeline, so we'll try to provide some information ASAP. If you or somebody you know through the caching community may be interested, please let me know right away. We are especially seeking out people with experience teaching and/or presenting. Please feel free to pass this on. Here are the details: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is seeking an individual who can visit their National Conservation Training Center (NCTC) in West Virginia on Monday, July 29, 12:30-4:30 p.m. (Eastern Time), to provide a hands-on presentation about geocaching and EarthCaching. The audience for the presentation would be education and outreach staff of the USFWS, and possibly other land management agencies. The presentation would be part of a larger workshop covering other educational topics of interest to the agency. Some key points the presentation would address are: 1. How do geocaching and EarthCaching work. 2. How can geocaching and EarthCaching be used to provide educational opportunities to people visiting lands managed by USFWS (and others). 3. An interactive, hands-on demonstration of geocaching and EarthCaching. The USFWS has a very limited budget for this program, so they may not be able to provide travel reimbursements to the presenter, so somebody who is relatively "local" to the West Virginia area would be preferred. GSA can provide EarthCache-related items and a free registration to the EarthCache Mega Event as a "thank-you" to someone who can do this presentation. The address for the NCTC is 698 Conservation Way, Shepherdstown, West Virginia 25443-4024, (http://nctc.fws.gov/) Interested cachers should contact Matt Dawson at GSA immediately, at earthcache@geosociety.org Thanks! Best wishes, Matt Dawson, GSA "geoawarehq"

10 thumbs way up to hzoi's process!!

Well, the USGS thought it was interesting enough to publish a booklet on it: "Building Stones of our Nation's Capital" - http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/stones/ People seem to enjoy these caches --Matt

Technically, the guideline does say: "EarthCaches must have approval from the Land Manager prior to submission". Also, in our FAQ: "We would suggest however, that you develop EarthCaches in partnership with the land managers, to ensure that sensitive areas are avoided, that multi-cache concepts are used with waypoints to keep people on trails and that cache-in-trash-out is advertised." Creating a cache page, then expecting park staff member X to just rubber stamp it is usually not a recipe for success. Many such caches languish for months waiting for a permission that may never come. At the Grand Canyon, being such a large and busy park, which is especially busy this time of year, they probably simply have so many other priorities. Thanks for caching -- that does some like a neat spot for an EarthCache! Best wishes, GeoawareHQ

You guys are right in line with our thinking on this matter. I'd call logging an EarthCache that you didn't truly visit (after it was published, and after knowing about its existence) "cheesy" as well! Good descriptor. The one part that's a bit off is "even the CO can't reject your find as long as it meets the requirement" -- the CO can reject a find; it's still up to them. I just think they'd be more likely to allow the find if the cache were at least in place already, vs. a find claimed before the cache was even published. But in either case, the person didn't "really do the EarthCache", in the true sense, so the CO can use their discretion. Hopefully I'm not muddying the waters more, and I'll just step back now Thanks for the thoughtful discussion on this. Hopefully, when it's happening out there, people are being reasonable about it, on both sides. --Matt