Cleveland Metroparks

Does anyone know of a cache placed in a zoo? If so, could you let me know anything about it and / or which cache it is? Thank you, Cleveland Metroparks geocaching@clevelandmetroparks.com

I just wanted to send an invite out to everyone in the region to the Geocache-Athalon event on July 17th. Cleveland Metroparks will host an event with 8 possible caches, each attainable by finding 3 clues in different modes of transportation. We will have canoe, kayak, hiking, driving, biking and even creek-hiking caches. Canoes and kayaks will be available for loan. Check out waypoint GCJCAB for more info. You can also contact me by e-mail at geocaching@clevelandmetroparks.com. I hope to see some new faces along with great friends at this event. Carly Martin Cleveland Metroparks Geocaching Coordinator

Just a couple of reminders about caches placed in Cleveland Metroparks. Cleveland Metroparks 2003 caches will be archived on January 20. The first of five 2004 caches should appear any day now. You must have a permit to place a cache in Cleveland Metroparks All 2003 permitted caches must be removed by March 1, 2004. New 2004 caches maybe placed as soon as March 1, 2004, if permits are approved. For permit applications or questions, please contact geocaching@clevelandmetroparks.com or (440) 247-7075. Thank you very much. Carly Martin Cleveland Metroparks Geocaching

If you would like anything silkscreened with the Cleveland Metroparks Geocaching design, we will be silk screening on November 22 from 2 - 3 p.m. at Look About Lodge in South Chagrin Reservation. E-mail us with any questions or if you need coordinates. geocaching@clevelandmetroparks.com

For a really cool adventure, check out the "Everyone's Invited: Paddle & Cache" event for this Sunday, June 15. Cleveland Metroparks is setting up this day long event mulit-cache and providing canoes and kayaks for people to borrow. You can e-mail geocaching@clevelandmetroparks.com if you have any questions. Carly Martin Cleveland Metroparks Geocaching Coordinator

I am the Geocaching Coodinator for Cleveland Metroparks. My guess is that this summer or fall is a little ambitious for a national or international conference to happen. You might be better off looking to next spring or summer. I have presented on the topic of geocaching at several professional conferences. (National Association for Interpretation's region IV and National conferences, Ohio Parks and Recreation Association and the Great Lakes Park Training Institute). My presentation includes an over view of geocaching but focuses on parks and public land agencies dealing with the sport happening on thier land, including how to get involved. If time permits I would be glad to present. Also, if I can do anything else that would be helpful, please feel free to contact me. Carly Martin geocaching@clevelandmetroparks.com (440) 247-7075

It was our pleasure.

You can have them contact me at Cleveland Metroparks. I frequently talk to park systems around the country involving Geocaching. Carly Martin geocaching@clevelandmetroparks.com (440) 247-7075

Just a reminder that all caches on Cleveland Metroparks property that do not have a permit for 2003 should be removed by January 1. If you have any questions or would like a 2003 permit application, please contact geocaching@clevelandmetroparks.com. Thank you very much!

If there is a cache on Cleveland Metroparks property that you have been meaning to look for, you should do it sooner than later. All existing caches should be removed by the end of the year. The good news is that there should be a fresh batch of caches to seach for in the coming months. Contact geocaching@clevelandmetroparks.com with any questions. Thank you.

Just a reminder to make sure and RSVP if you got an invitation to the Cleveland Metroparks End of the Year Gathering. If you did not get an invite, but want one, e-mail me your name and mailing address at geocaching@clevelandmetroparks.com. I really hope to see you all at the gathering! Carly Martin (440) 247-7075

I am the Geocaching Manager for Cleveland Metroparks. We have come up with a system that I hope will work well for both Cleveland Metroparks and the local Geocachers. I also hope it will enhance the quality of the game as a whole. You can call me if you have any questions. Carly Martin geocaching@clevelandmetroparks.com (440) 247-7075

Anyone registered for Cleveland Metroparks Geocaching should get an invite to the Summer Pincic this week. There is one mistake. The coordinates for the clue caches appear to be in Degrees Minutes.minutes. They are however in DMS - the decimals are just in the wrong places. When anyone calls (or e-mails) to register for the picnic, we will inform you of the corrected coordinates. Sorry about the confusion - that's what I get for using someone else's GPS. To register, or if you have quesions, you can e-mail me at geocaching@clevelandmetroparks.com. Thank you!

How about Friday May 31st at 6:30 p.m.? Is that time late enough for any interested people to come after work? I want to get the invites off to everyone by mid-June -so this would give me pleanty of time. I don't know exactly what an event cache is, but I'll figure it out and post one if a couple people reply that this time is okay. Carly Martin

The Cleveland Metroparks summer social will be on Sunday, July 21. The clue-caches will be out Friday - Sunday. They won't be too tough - do-able in a day. If people want to help brainstorm - I could really use it! Let me know and we'll have a meeting. Carly Martin (440) 247-7075

The Cleveland Metroparks summer social will be on Sunday, July 21. The clue-caches will be out Friday - Sunday. They won't be too tough - do-able in a day. If people want to help brainstorm - I could really use it! Let me know and we'll have a meeting. Carly Martin (440) 247-7075

In answering how Cleveland Metroparks got involved: I am a naturalist with Cleveland Metroparks. I was hiking with a bunch of kids and looking for salamanders when a child found a rubbermaid container hidden in the rocks. We looked at it and thought it was probably part of a local scavenger hunt, so we put it back without even opening it. A couple weeks later our Chief Naturalist sent out an e-mail to everyone asking if anyone had heard of Geocaching. I replied "No I haven't, but I found one!" It went from there: I had the energy to take on the project and our Parks had the foresight to support it. Carly Martin

In answering how Cleveland Metroparks got involved: I am a naturalist with Cleveland Metroparks. I was hiking with a bunch of kids and looking for salamanders when a child found a rubbermaid container hidden in the rocks. We looked at it and thought it was probably part of a local scavenger hunt, so we put it back without even opening it. A couple weeks later our Chief Naturalist sent out an e-mail to everyone asking if anyone had heard of Geocaching. I replied "No I haven't, but I found one!" It went from there: I had the energy to take on the project and our Parks had the foresight to support it. Carly Martin

Cleveland Metroparks has just put into place a permit system for allowing Geocaches in our reservations. There is no fee and the permit is good through the end of the year in which it is approved. We hope this will enhance Geocaching by making the cache locations safe for park users and the ecology of the surrounding area. Also, the time limit will enhance the game by having a higher turn over of caches. We will also monitor the concentration of caches. If you would like a copy of our permit and permit application, I would be happy to send you one. Just e-mail your request with your mailing address to geocaching@clevelandmetroparks.com. Mention your request is for a permit example so I know you are not applying for a permit or registering for an activity. I hope that Geocaching remains a great activity for both Geocachers and park systems. Carly Martin, Cleveland Metroparks

Cleveland Metroparks has just put into place a permit system for allowing Geocaches in our reservations. There is no fee and the permit is good through the end of the year in which it is approved. We hope this will enhance Geocaching by making the cache locations safe for park users and the ecology of the surrounding area. Also, the time limit will enhance the game by having a higher turn over of caches. We will also monitor the concentration of caches. If you would like a copy of our permit and permit application, I would be happy to send you one. Just e-mail your request with your mailing address to geocaching@clevelandmetroparks.com. Mention your request is for a permit example so I know you are not applying for a permit or registering for an activity. I hope that Geocaching remains a great activity for both Geocachers and park systems. Carly Martin, Cleveland Metroparks

Thank you. Some of our administrative staff just wanted to make sure that no legal issues were overlooked. We haven't had any trouble with our geocaches containing dangerous items. I certainly hope it says that way! Carly Martin, Cleveland Metroparks, Naturalist

Cleveland Metroparks is currently working on creating a permit system for allowing caches within our park system. The permits will ensure that the locations are environmentally suitable for the caches and that there is not an oversaturation of caches within our parks. A question came up of whether or not geocaching.com has any sort of policy or official position on cautioning Geocachers of unlikely dangers. For instance, if someone had placed a dangerous item in a cache and an unsuspecting Geocacher was harmed - what happens? Is there any precident set? I have not noticed an offical warning of any kind posted on the web site that Geocaching is "at your own risk", althougth I understand that it is implied. Cleveland Metroparks maintains 6 caches. In our caches and on our Geocaching brochure the rule is stated that: Absolutely no tobacco, alcohol, drugs, firearms, dangerous items, adult items or food are permitted in the caches. Also, our caches are monitored monthly by volunteers. We know that this is not fool proof, but a good start. Please let me know of any official policies or positions taken by the site. Also, if anyone knows of any localized policies pertaining to this, I would love to hear them. Thank you.

Cleveland Metroparks is planning a Summer Weekend Multi-Cache Picnic. The idea is that 4 clues will need to be found within Cleveland Metroparks(the mulit-cache part) to find the time and location of the picnic on Sunday afternoon. If anyone has any suggestions or ideas on how to make this a fun and exciting activity, I would love the input. This is the first activity of this kind that I am planning. Thank you for your help. I can be reached by e-mail at geocaching@clevelandmetroparks.com. --Carly Martin, Naturalist, Cleveland Metroparks.

Geocaching is relativly new to us as an orgainzation. We are pleased to be supporting Geocaching currently and we certainly apprciate any support we recive from Geocachers in the way of open communications.

Our permits are still in the planning stage. As I see it right now the caches in the parks will be "grandfathered" in for 2002. (There are 5 or so in Rocky River alone). After December, those will need to reapply and the limit will be imposed. Carly Martin, geocaching@clevelandmetroparks.com