a travel bug t-shirt for events?

[+The Chaos Crew]

Hi all

 

Myself and my 8 year old son are going to a local event in about a month’s time, it will be our third one and we still haven’t quite gotten the hang of these things, both being fairly shy people we tend to skulk in the corner and talk to each other

 

My other half might be able to make it to this one, for once, which will probably mean I’ll just skulk in the corner and talk to him

 

In an attempt therefore to get my son to talk to other cachers and not be a wallflower like me, I thought I might make him a Travel Bug t-shirt, like the one Erika Jean made on her (excellent) blog: http://www.erikajean.com/2010/05/tb-tee.html

 

I figured if people come up to him to “discover” his t-shirt then he’ll get chatting and we’ll slowly as a family get the hang of this socialising malarkey.

 

A few questions though – how exactly would this work? I presume I would need to paint/stamp the public tracking number from one of my unused sets of “real” dogtags on the back of the t-shirt? And shall I put his geocaching name/handle on there too? Or the name of the bug?

 

Also – do you think people will actually respond to the t shirt and “discover” the travel bug? He might get a little disappointed if nobody does I know that these kinds of mobile travel bugs (cars, shirts, tattoos even) are popular in the States, but have they caught on in the UK? I don’t think I’ve seen anything like this at the two events I’ve been to so far.

 

all input is welcome

 

Sarah (Mrs Chaos)

[+The Slaughter Family]

we have a trackable in the car, and will be doing one on our flag this year. Go for it........I know the cachers around here would discover him at an event.....it is all a good bit of fun at the end of the day

[+Dorsetgal & GeoDog]

I think a t shirt is a good idea, but over time, when your lad grows or it fades?

 

We tend to use these at events where we don't know anyone - very effective and successful ice breakers.

 

Discoverable Name Badges

[+The Chaos Crew]

I think a t shirt is a good idea, but over time, when your lad grows or it fades?

 

We tend to use these at events where we don't know anyone - very effective and successful ice breakers.

 

Discoverable Name Badges

 

I was going to make it fairly big - and it would only get worn at events so hopefully wouldn't fade too much... I could always make a new one with the same number going forward if need be.

 

Still not sure how it works though - can I just use the tracking number from a set of unused dogtags? or will I need to purchase a "special" number, does anyone know?

 

those badges are neat I'd kind of like to make something myself, though, I like my arts and crafts projects

[+speakers-corner]

Hi Sarah,

Top idea. A friend of mine sew a TB onto the arm of a "hoody" and if you wanted to discover the TB you had to sign the hoody, no siggy, no log entry. I have a T-Shirt with my first name on the front and my Caching name on the back. I wear it during the summer months when caching / going to events and it helps when cachers ask who you are.

[+purple_pineapple]

Hi Sarah,

Top idea. A friend of mine sew a TB onto the arm of a "hoody" and if you wanted to discover the TB you had to sign the hoody, no siggy, no log entry. I have a T-Shirt with my first name on the front and my Caching name on the back. I wear it during the summer months when caching / going to events and it helps when cachers ask who you are.

 

myself and Mrs Pineapple both have tracking numbers on our T-shirts! It sounds like you hve the general idea of using a number from an unused set of dogtags - beyond that, you can do what you like with it! The number is yours to put wherever you want.

 

For example, our T shirts have a small purple pineapple logo over the heart, with our name (eg Dave) under it, and the tracking number under that. on the back of the T shirt is Purple Pineapple, written large! We're going to make a few more T shirts, possibly with the tracking number on the back, where people don't have to stare at bits of my wife they shouldn't be staring at! But its entirely up to you what and where you put things on a t shirt. Ours generally gets logged, although it is discrete - I'd probably recommend either the number on the back, or maybe the words "I'm trackable - PTO for number!"

 

HTH

 

Dave

[+The Chaos Crew]

myself and Mrs Pineapple both have tracking numbers on our T-shirts! It sounds like you hve the general idea of using a number from an unused set of dogtags - beyond that, you can do what you like with it! The number is yours to put wherever you want.

 

Excellent

 

Then that is what I shall do

 

I was thinking the stripey bug logo and maybe “I’m trackable!” or “discover me!” or the like on the front

 

And his caching name (“a little bit of chaos”) and the tracking number on the back

[+Bear and Ragged]

Number on the front.

He can see -and talk to- the person taking the number!

[+*mouse*]

Lots of cachers have these and you're right - they can be an easy way to break the ice. Some have t-shirts, some have badges, and I know there is one who has a tattoo of a trackable!!! (although I've yet to meet them!)

 

They can be bought ready printed from various caching shops, although I personally think a handmade one is nicer.

 

Linky..

 

UK Geocachers Trackable T-Shirt

[+abanazar]

We went as a family to our first local event the other week. Like you, we were a bit timid, as there were a number of (I'll use this word but I don't mean it disparagingly ) cliques who clearly were well-established friends catching up on all their news. Fortunately there was a great event host who was brilliant at introducing people.

 

But we also found that the whole "discovering trackables" thing was a great ice-breaker. We found one couple who had a couple of tubs full of magnificent GCs. While discovering these, someone else came up and we started discovering various trackable items attached to his clothing etc, someone else had a trackable necklace that we logged, there were trackable mobility scooters, and it went on ... ! My two young sons loved handling the GCs and trackable teddies. Plus, if you can get excited about it (and we're a bit sad, so we can!), we ended up with a whole new stack of icons on our Trackables profile. The only downside was that it took me about three evenings, on and off, to log them all afterwards

 

If we were at your event (hmmm, Swindon's not far for us actually), we would definitely discover your son's t-shirt

 

Go for it!

[+FuzzyBears]

We have a "track-me" geocoin which has the necessary holes for it to be sewn on a t-shirt/ banner/ coat or wherever. It also comes as a pin-badge variation. These are from geocoinshop.de. We have one where we have copied the number to a t-shirt sleeve as it's easier to read than the coin/pin itself which is pinned to the front.

As for trackables as ice-breakers...I've got earrings and a necklace that are trackable but you have to know what the numbers are or you get lots of people staring at your ears or........

 

Sue FuzzyBears

[+*mouse*]

As for trackables as ice-breakers...I've got earrings and a necklace that are trackable but you have to know what the numbers are or you get lots of people staring at your ears or........

 

Sue FuzzyBears

 

Sue, hope you realise that next time I bump into you I will be peering very closely at your earlobes! LOL

[+Bear and Ragged]

Was wondering about a trackable Prince Albert...

 

 

 

Edited July 21, 2010 by Bear and Ragged

[+redsox_mark]

 

Excellent

 

Then that is what I shall do

 

I was thinking the stripey bug logo and maybe “I’m trackable!” or “discover me!” or the like on the front

 

And his caching name (“a little bit of chaos”) and the tracking number on the back

 

Great idea. I hope I can come and discover him too (and talk to you!).

 

Mark

[+The Chaos Crew]

B&R - I'm glad you fixed that picture, when it was a link I was a little nervous to click it!

 

RedSoxMark - always happy to chat to a fellow American sports fan

 

Did I tell you I've got tickets to see the Bruins play in Belfast in October, by the way???? Excited is an understatment! can't wait!

[+rosipullin]

 

We have just spent the weekend at the Mega Scotland event and lots of people had T-Shirts with tracking numbers on them, it was a good way of speaking to other cachers, there were some teddy bears with tracking numbers too. Our kids wanted trackable sew on badges to put on their backpacks. We also made big name tags with our caching names on them and a few people came up to us and introduced themselves as they had seen our names on logs.

 

.

[+cooper troopers]

we went to our 1st event piratemania and didn't know anyone but some of the caching teams had names and caching names on t-shirts so we are going with this at our next event

[+The Chaos Crew]

woohoo the t-shirts are finished :D

 

just in time for the event which is tomorrow evening

 

had to make 2 in the end as my stepson is coming now too

 

I'm pleased with how they turned out, and am looking forward to seeing who gets FTF (or would it be FTD?) on the boys

 

front :

 

 

(the swirly bit is where the tracking # is, I've distorted it just for the photo)

 

back :

 

 

("a little bit of chaos" is their caching team name)

[+Jacaru & Wemnog]

There is a new company just set up called Geotogs. They are doing embroidered clothing. They have just got official Groundspeak distributor status as well. We are going to order some stuff off them in the next few days.

[+Matrix]

Flags are a good idea as well

 

 

Handmade by the same person who calls us saddo's

[+FuzzyBears]

We saw a clever idea at this years mega and came up with a twist on it....

just a mock up but coming soon to an event near you... For those who don't know... look up QR Code

[+*mouse*]

We saw a clever idea at this years mega and came up with a twist on it....

just a mock up but coming soon to an event near you... For those who don't know... look up QR Code

 

Or this page..... feel free to log.

Despite us driving Perth around with a huge version in the window for over a week during mega, so far only one person managed to log the find.....

 

QR

 

Hey you should do a kite version!!!!

 

Edited to add I was gonna try and log you from the image above but failed!! Will have to keep an eye out for the real thing

Edited August 19, 2010 by *mouse*

[+FuzzyBears]

Edited to add I was gonna try and log you from the image above but failed!! Will have to keep an eye out for the real thing

 

As I said just a mock up but it should work......