ExploreWV

Sounds great! Send me an email if you cannot make the meeting, and if you can join via conference call, I will send you the info! robin.j.taylor@wv.gov

Hey everybody! Yes, I am at it again! As I have mentioned to many people, I am currently working on a Civil War Trail Marker Series that is going to be quite an undertaking. Having said that, and not wanting to give too much away, I am posting to ask for volunteers to serve on a planning committee to assist me in the details. Since I lost my right hand man, or should I say woman (Sara), I have come to realize that I cannot do this one alone...it is just too large. The good news is, because it is all about the Civil War, and next year is our state's sesquicentennial, we have until June 2013 to get this thing planned and up and running! If you are interested in serving on this committee, please email me at robin.j.taylor@wv.gov. I am planning a meeting on August 30, 2012, 11:00 - 2:00 at the West Virginia Department of Education and the Arts, State Capitol Complex, Building 5, Room 205. I totally understand that this is a work day, and most of you are far from Charleston, so I will also be offering a conference call option, and lunch will be provided. If you email me, I will send out the conference call information. This is going to be by far the largest and best that you have seen from ExploreWV! I promise you that! ***At this time, this is NOT a callout for volunteer cache placers, it is only for those who wish to assist with planning.

Hello everyone! On the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, ExploreWV had high hopes to begin an annual CITO Service Project that would consist of CITOs scattered through West Virginia each year on September 11th. Due to our busy schedule, we accidently missed the deadline to submit CITOs to Geocaching.com (woops!) but we are still hosting our Service Project with clean-up locations throughout the state if any geocachers are interested in participating. We have partnered with Volunteer West Virginia and WVREAP to host these clean-ups and together, we have chose seven locations that are in desparate need of sprucing up. Those locations are: Rich Mountain Battlefield (Randolph County) N 38° 51.988 W 079° 56.160 Harpers Ferry (Jefferson County) N 39° 19.390 W 077° 43.817 Tucker County Wind Farm (Tucker County) N 39° 08.778 W 079° 34.563 Fountain Place Mall (Logan County) N 37° 51.356 W 082° 02.626 Wine Cellar Park (Kanawha County) N 38° 22.900 W 081° 43.979 Mt. Wood Park (Wood County) N 39° 14.952 W 081° 18.441 Grand Vue Park (Marshall County) N 39° 56.590 W 080° 43.960 Each clean-up project will take place on Sunday, September 11, 2011 and will last from 2:00pm until 4:00pm. Trash bags and gloves have been donated by WVREAP and will be available on-site for all volunteers. Please be cautious and wear proper attire when cleaning up litter. For more information or to volunteer, please contact Robin Taylor at robin.j.taylor@wv.gov. You may also visit our Facebook website at www.facebook.com/ExploreWV

Hello everyone! On the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, ExploreWV had high hopes to begin an annual CITO Service Project that would consist of CITOs scattered through West Virginia each year on September 11th. Due to our busy schedule, we accidently missed the deadline to submit CITOs to Geocaching.com (woops!) but we are still hosting our Service Project with clean-up locations throughout the state if any geocachers are interested in participating. We have partnered with Volunteer West Virginia and WVREAP to host these clean-ups and together, we have chose seven locations that are in desparate need of sprucing up. Those locations are: Rich Mountain Battlefield (Randolph County) N 38° 51.988 W 079° 56.160 Harpers Ferry (Jefferson County) N 39° 19.390 W 077° 43.817 Tucker County Wind Farm (Tucker County) N 39° 08.778 W 079° 34.563 Fountain Place Mall (Logan County) N 37° 51.356 W 082° 02.626 Wine Cellar Park (Kanawha County) N 38° 22.900 W 081° 43.979 Mt. Wood Park (Wood County) N 39° 14.952 W 081° 18.441 Grand Vue Park (Marshall County) N 39° 56.590 W 080° 43.960 Each clean-up project will take place on Sunday, September 11, 2011 and will last from 2:00pm until 4:00pm. Trash bags and gloves have been donated by WVREAP and will be available on-site for all volunteers. Please be cautious and wear proper attire when cleaning up litter. For more information or to volunteer, please contact Robin Taylor at robin.j.taylor@wv.gov. You may also visit our Facebook website at www.facebook.com/ExploreWV

Hello everyone! On the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, ExploreWV had high hopes to begin an annual CITO Service Project that would consist of CITOs scattered through West Virginia each year on September 11th. Due to our busy schedule, we accidently missed the deadline to submit CITOs to Geocaching.com (woops!) but we are still hosting our Service Project with clean-up locations throughout the state if any geocachers are interested in participating. We have partnered with Volunteer West Virginia and WVREAP to host these clean-ups and together, we have chose seven locations that are in desparate need of sprucing up. Those locations are: Rich Mountain Battlefield (Randolph County) N 38° 51.988 W 079° 56.160 Harpers Ferry (Jefferson County) N 39° 19.390 W 077° 43.817 Tucker County Wind Farm (Tucker County) N 39° 08.778 W 079° 34.563 Fountain Place Mall (Logan County) N 37° 51.356 W 082° 02.626 Wine Cellar Park (Kanawha County) N 38° 22.900 W 081° 43.979 Mt. Wood Park (Wood County) N 39° 14.952 W 081° 18.441 Grand Vue Park (Marshall County) N 39° 56.590 W 080° 43.960 Each clean-up project will take place on Sunday, September 11, 2011 and will last from 2:00pm until 4:00pm. Trash bags and gloves have been donated by WVREAP and will be available on-site for all volunteers. Please be cautious and wear proper attire when cleaning up litter. For more information or to volunteer, please contact Robin Taylor at robin.j.taylor@wv.gov. You may also visit our Facebook website at www.facebook.com/ExploreWV

ATTENTION GEOCACHERS: ExploreWV GeoChallenge, the official geocaching enthusiast group in West Virginia, is getting ready to launch our second GeoChallenge and we need your help! In September, we launched our first challenge, the West Virginia Geocoin Challenge and have over 500 registered geocachers and the program is still going strong. In April we will launch our second challenge, Main Street West Virginia, which will take cachers to each of West Virginia’s twelve registered Main Streets. We are asking seasoned hiders in West Virginia and surrounding areas to volunteer to assist with cache placement. Volunteer requirements: Must be located within a close proximity to participating Main Street Responsible for contact with local Main Street volunteers to coordinate geocache placement and maintenance. Must be willing to visit and maintain the geocache at least once or twice a month. Serve as an initial geocaching resource for Main Street volunteers (you will not be solely responsible for all geocaching contact with the volunteers, but you do need to be committed to helping if needed). You will only be responsible for one geocache. To get the Main Street West Virginia challenge started, we will be having a conference call on Friday, February 18th and all those interested in hiding a cache are encouraged to call. During the conference call, details will be given and any questions or concerns will be answered. If you are interested in volunteering to place a cache, please email Robin Taylor at Robin.J.Taylor@wv.gov by WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 16th. Emailing Robin is the ONLY way you will be able to receive the time and number for the conference call, so SERIOUS INQUIRIES ONLY! For more information on ExploreWV, please visit: www.geocachewv.com www.facebook.com/explorewv

ATTENTION GEOCACHERS: ExploreWV GeoChallenge, the official geocaching enthusiast group in West Virginia, is getting ready to launch our second GeoChallenge and we need your help! In September, we launched our first challenge, the West Virginia Geocoin Challenge and have over 500 registered geocachers and the program is still going strong. In April we will launch our second challenge, Main Street West Virginia, which will take cachers to each of West Virginia’s twelve registered Main Streets. We are asking seasoned hiders in West Virginia and surrounding areas to volunteer to assist with cache placement. Volunteer requirements: Must be located within a close proximity to participating Main Street Responsible for contact with local Main Street volunteers to coordinate geocache placement and maintenance. Must be willing to visit and maintain the geocache at least once or twice a month. Serve as an initial geocaching resource for Main Street volunteers (you will not be solely responsible for all geocaching contact with the volunteers, but you do need to be committed to helping if needed). You will only be responsible for one geocache. To get the Main Street West Virginia challenge started, we will be having a conference call on Friday, February 18th and all those interested in hiding a cache are encouraged to call. During the conference call, details will be given and any questions or concerns will be answered. If you are interested in volunteering to place a cache, please email Robin Taylor at Robin.J.Taylor@wv.gov by WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 16th. Emailing Robin is the ONLY way you will be able to receive the time and number for the conference call, so SERIOUS INQUIRIES ONLY! For more information on ExploreWV, please visit: www.geocachewv.com www.facebook.com/explorewv

We are currently working with our county's libraries to set up "Geo Days," our summer geocaching program. The programs will consist of a Geocaching how-to for beginners, a segment where participants can make their own geocache and create a signature swag item, and then the day will end with finding an actual geocache. Nearly all of the libraries we're hosting a program at have geocaches near their facility but we will also be setting up temporary caches for the programs. If you'd to see our sample itinerary, feel free to send me an email at sara.n.price@wv.gov! -Sara Program Assistant, ExploreWV GeoChallenge

Hey everyone! You may have seen our posts last week, and if you did then great! We've had a wonderful response and can't wait to share our ideas with you. However, as much interest as we received, we're still in need of a few more seasoned hiders to place caches for the new ExploreWV Geocoin Challenge. Right now, the areas of the state we still need people for include Southern WV, the Eastern Panhandle, and the mountain counties (Pocahontas, Greenrbier, Randolph, Pendleton, etc.). Our original deadline was for Monday, July 26th, but you may still email Robin Taylor at Robin.J.Taylor@wv.gov for one more week, until TUESDAY, AUGUST 3RD. Details will be given in the return email and if necessary, another conference call will be scheduled. If you didn't see our posts and this is your first time checking us out, then let me explain who/what we are: ExploreWV is a new collaboration between West Virginia’s Department of Education and the Arts and the West Virginia Department of Tourism. Together, ExploreWV will organize various Geocaching challenges throughout the state, offering a unique and adventurous way to see our beautiful Mountain State. Our first official activity is the ExploreWV Geocoin Challenge, set to launch in late September. The challenge will take cachers all over the state to find caches relating to West Virginia history, our museums, and some of our tourism hotspots before finally landing on Capitol grounds with a grand multi-cache at the new West Virginia State Museum in Charleston. The first 250 people to complete the challenge will receive a high-quality ExploreWV Geocoin. To get the ExploreWV Geocoin Challenge started, we need your help. We are asking seasoned hiders in West Virginia and surrounding states to assist with cache placement. All supplies will be provided by ExploreWV and all that we ask is that if you do place a cache, that you remain secretive and keep all information private. Our official webpage will be up soon, so be on the lookout! We can't wait to bring exciting Geocaching challenges to West Virginia, and we want to send a HUGE "thanks" to everyone who has helped us out so far!

You're in luck and we actually need your help for an official Statewide challenge! Below is our information (we're a VERY new organization though, and website is still being developed) for a call out to experienced hiders: ExploreWV is a new collaboration between West Virginia’s Department of Education and the Arts and the West Virginia Department of Tourism. Together, ExploreWV will organize various Geocaching challenges throughout the state, offering a unique and adventurous way to see our beautiful Mountain State. Our first official activity is the ExploreWV Geocoin Challenge, set to launch in late September. The challenge will take cachers all over the state to find caches relating to West Virginia history, our museums, and some of our tourism hotspots before finally landing on Capitol grounds with a grand multi-cache at the new West Virginia State Museum in Charleston. The first 250 people to complete the challenge will receive a high-quality ExploreWV Geocoin. To get the ExploreWV Geocoin Challenge started, we need your help. We are asking seasoned hiders in West Virginia and surrounding states to assist with cache placement. We will be having a conference call next week and all those interested in cache placement are encouraged to call. At the conference, details will be given and any questions or concerns will be answered. If you are interested in volunteering to place a cache, please email Robin Taylor (WV Department of Education and the Arts) at Robin.J.Taylor@wv.gov by MONDAY, JULY 26th. Emailing Robin is the ONLY way you will be able to receive the date and time for the conference call, so SERIOUS INQUIRIES ONLY!

You're in luck and we actually need your help!! The WV Department of Education and the Arts in partnership with the WV Department of Tourism is actually in the process of putting together ExploreWV. This new collaboration will organize various Geocaching challenges throughout the state, offering a unique and adventurous way to see our beautiful Mountain State. Our first official activity is the ExploreWV Geocoin Challenge, set to launch in late September. The challenge will take cachers all over the state to find caches relating to West Virginia history, our museums, and some of our tourism hotspots before finally landing on Capitol grounds with a grand multi-cache at the new West Virginia State Museum in Charleston. The first 250 people to complete the challenge will receive a high-quality ExploreWV Geocoin. To get the ExploreWV Geocoin Challenge started, we need your help. We are asking seasoned hiders in West Virginia and surrounding states to assist with cache placement. We will be having a conference call next week and all those interested in cache placement are encouraged to call. At the conference, details will be given and any questions or concerns will be answered. If you are interested in volunteering to place a cache, please email Robin Taylor (WV Department of Education and the Arts) at Robin.J.Taylor@wv.gov by MONDAY, JULY 26th. Emailing Robin is the ONLY way you will be able to receive the date and time for the conference call, so SERIOUS INQUIRIES ONLY!

Hello Cachers! ExploreWV is a new collaboration between West Virginia’s Department of Education and the Arts and the West Virginia Department of Tourism. Together, ExploreWV will organize various Geocaching challenges throughout the state, offering a unique and adventurous way to see our beautiful Mountain State. Our first official activity is the ExploreWV Geocoin Challenge, set to launch in late September. The challenge will take cachers all over the state to find caches relating to West Virginia history, our museums, and some of our tourism hotspots before finally landing on Capitol grounds with a grand multi-cache at the new West Virginia State Museum in Charleston. The first 250 people to complete the challenge will receive a high-quality ExploreWV Geocoin. To get the ExploreWV Geocoin Challenge started, we need your help. We are asking seasoned hiders in West Virginia and surrounding states to assist with cache placement. We will be having a conference call next week and all those interested in cache placement are encouraged to call. At the conference, details will be given and any questions or concerns will be answered. If you are interested in volunteering to place a cache, please email Robin Taylor (WV Department of Education and the Arts) at Robin.J.Taylor@wv.gov by MONDAY, JULY 26th. Emailing Robin is the ONLY way you will be able to receive the date and time for the conference call, so SERIOUS INQUIRIES ONLY!

Hello Cachers! ExploreWV is a new collaboration between West Virginia’s Department of Education and the Arts and the West Virginia Department of Tourism. Together, ExploreWV will organize various Geocaching challenges throughout the state, offering a unique and adventurous way to see our beautiful Mountain State. Our first official activity is the ExploreWV Geocoin Challenge, set to launch in late September. The challenge will take cachers all over the state to find caches relating to West Virginia history, our museums, and some of our tourism hotspots before finally landing on Capitol grounds with a grand multi-cache at the new West Virginia State Museum in Charleston. The first 250 people to complete the challenge will receive a high-quality ExploreWV Geocoin. To get the ExploreWV Geocoin Challenge started, we need your help. We are asking seasoned hiders in West Virginia and surrounding states to assist with cache placement. We will be having a conference call next week and all those interested in cache placement are encouraged to call. At the conference, details will be given and any questions or concerns will be answered. If you are interested in volunteering to place a cache, please email Robin Taylor (WV Department of Education and the Arts) at Robin.J.Taylor@wv.gov by MONDAY, JULY 26th. Emailing Robin is the ONLY way you will be able to receive the date and time for the conference call, so SERIOUS INQUIRIES ONLY!