Permission In National Parks

[+JohnE5]

Is there anyone that has received the National Parks permission to place an Earth cache? If so, how did you do it? Standard permits? A letter from a park manager? I need some help and would like to follow in the footsteps of others that have succeeded.

[+TerryDad2]

I've got EarthCaches in 9 or 10 National Parks/Monuments. I've had different receptions ranging from looks good e-mail, detailed scientific review of the EarthCache, paper permit, electronic permit, $200 permit fee (not me!), no fee, to a 12 page proposal and 6-month wait. It depends upon the park.

 

I have typically started the process through the e-mail contact on the nps.gov web page and waited for a response. Usually the natural resource officer or interpretive specialist gets back to me.

 

Which park are you looking at. I may already have a contact.

[+OReviewer]

I posted the below in this thread. There are some other interesting ideas there.

 

From the NPS GPS-based Recreational Activities guidelines:

A superintendent may find that a GPS activity is an appropriate use but needs to be managed under the terms and conditions of a permit.

Bolded and underlined for emphasis. In Valley Forge, they didn't require a permit as everything was done on designated trails. As someone said above, try telling them it's a non-profit educational activity.

 

It might also be worth reminding/telling/showing them that the NPS's Geological Resources Division supports EarthCaching activities.

[+wishing_on_a_star]

Check with Cav Scout . He has earthcaches everywhere and lots of experience with permissions .

[+JohnE5]

 

Which park are you looking at. I may already have a contact.

The Sequoia National Park, namely the Crystal Cave area.

[+TerryDad2]

 

Which park are you looking at. I may already have a contact.

The Sequoia National Park, namely the Crystal Cave area.

Nope. I haven't gotten there since I started EarthCaching. That would be a good place. I have the letter I use to introduce EarthCaches on my profile.

[+geodarts]

I sent an email last week asking permission at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. I used the standard email form, but if I do not get a response to that I will try regular mail. Since it is one of the most amazing geological sites in the country without on earthcache, I wonder if anybody else has tried to get one approved there.

 

Of the three earthcaches to my credit, two were quick answers from the chief ranger, one involved a detailed review by the agency's own geological experts. I tried to get permission for a site in Peru, but never got anywhere with it.

[+HistDrew]

 

Of the three earthcaches to my credit, two were quick answers from the chief ranger, one involved a detailed review by the agency's own geological experts. I tried to get permission for a site in Peru, but never got anywhere with it.

 

I, too, have tried to get permission from folks at two different spots in a national park in Peru. I was met with blank stares and "just do it" from employees. But this is not official permission, so I'm a bit at a loss. I'm still writing those up.

 

The other one is in a park there was no access control, and the park has many people living in it, but they are residents, not park employees. When I asked a local where I'd find someone who was a manager I was told there wasn't any such thing.

[+Chutch1035]

Is there anyone that has received the National Parks permission to place an Earth cache? If so, how did you do it? Standard permits? A letter from a park manager? I need some help and would like to follow in the footsteps of others that have succeeded.

Good question. My first Earthcache I developed in Smokey Mountain NP and it was approved EXCEPT I needed the permission. I was told by one of the office people "I have no issue with you doing it, but it needs a permit. I'm the only one who writes permits and I don't have the time to do so" So that EC dream was flushed unfortunately :-(

[+GeoawareGSA1]

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

[+BAMBOOZLE]

I've never spent time in the earthcache forum.

Why do you need permission ? You may be asking someone to estimate the height of a waterfall and get info. from a sign . Nothing " physical " is happening. As long as the requirements keep you in normal tourist areas ????

[+CanadianRockies]

I've never spent time in the earthcache forum.

Why do you need permission ? You may be asking someone to estimate the height of a waterfall and get info. from a sign . Nothing " physical " is happening. As long as the requirements keep you in normal tourist areas ????

The problem is individual geocachers might have widely differing opinions about what is a normal tourist area and whether any important "physical" thing is happening. Most of these opinions probably would coincide with the park manager's opinions, but perhaps not all would.

 

So, to properly protect their park resources, managers require geocachers to obtain their permission before placing any EarthCaches. And EarthCache placement guidelines support this policy.

[+Toecutter1978]

Great ideas thank you. I have an Earthcache I want to set up locally and had no idea how to go about it.