Developing swamp earthcache

[+Dr Zagy]

Hello!

I would like to develop an earthcache in my country Croatia. It is a nature park and it is a swamp. I have found some informations about geology on internet, but when I went to the site, there are only info about flora and fauna. The nature park is made between 2 rivers that are confluating and making a swamp. In my country it is a nature park since 1997. There are no earthcaches 50 km around so it would be nice to have one in this area.

My question is: can I make an earthcache although there are only info tables about flora and fauna at the site?

Edited December 11, 2012 by Dr Zagy

[+hzoi]

I think you can. But if the information tables only talk about flora and fauna, you will have to provide the geological lessons in your cache description.

 

You will have to make sure the cache location connects to the geology lesson you want to teach. Say, for example, you want visitors to learn about how swamps develop. What will they see at the location (or locations) you select that will help them apply this lesson and help them answer your questions?

 

You can still ask questions about the information board (including flora and fauna) to confirm that they actually visited your earthcache and did not simply gather the information off the internet. But in order to get your cache published, the focus will have to be on geology.

 

Does that help?

[+GEO WALKER]

The geological approach I would take on this would be…

1. Focus on the clay soils that create the impermeable basin for holding the water.

2. Check for areas that show soil modeling. [looks splotchy]

3. Use the existing flora and illustrate the relationship to hydroponic soils.

 

Take a look at this GC34N38 EC LAND USE GEOLOGY and MAN and see if you might be able to get and additional idea or 2 from it.

 

Hope this helps...

Edited December 12, 2012 by GEO WALKER

[+hzoi]

Just to follow up -- of the eight earthcaches we own, only three of them have any sort of information boards nearby. They can be helpful, but they are by no means required to make an earthcache.

[+GeoawareGSA1]

Hzoi is absolutely correct, info boards are not necessary, and in fact, can sometimes actually detract from an EarthCache. Developing observationally based logging tasks is key. Swamps are tough to make into good EarthCaches, because often there isn't much information available (on site, online, in books, etc.) about the geological setting at the coordinates. It can be done though -- Good luck!

 

(If this is your first EarthCache, I might recommend NOT starting with a swamp one, because they are difficult.)

[+Dr Zagy]

Close to place where I want to make an earthcache is a traditional cache. What is minimal distance for earthcache to be placed from another (traditional) cache? Is it also required minimum 161 m or can it be placed in less distance?

[+terratin]

There's no need to keep the 161m distance between EC and a normal caches. However, I would try to place it such that the icons don't overlap. As a courtesy we once asked a regular cache owner if he'd mind an EarthCache in the neighborhood, just about 50m away.

 

Mrs. Terratin

[+GEO WALKER]

I would also recommend Mrs. Terratin’s approach it has always worked for me. Most geocachers will welcome a nearby EC. It seems one draws the audience from the other. BTW… just curious here, what approach will you be taking with this EC?

[+GeoawareGSA1]

I also concur that Terratin's approach is a very good one. The more space you can put between your EarthCache and the traditional, the better, but it can still be published if it's less than 161m away (and meets the guidelines, of course ).

[+LynnMarieP+BTC]

There are several in the southern part of the US, especially in Louisiana. Look at those for ideas too.

[+Ashallond]

I did a swamp EC in kentucky just after Christmas.

[+markcase]

I have a couple wetland earth caches if you want to look at mine. Feel free to copy word for word what you need

 

Mark Case

Education forum moderator

[+GeoawareGSA1]

Sorry to butt in again, but I wouldn't recommend copying anything "word for word" from any resource (including another EarthCache) into a newly submitted EarthCache. Please refer to updated Guideline #8:

"8. Respect Trademarks and Copyright and only use text, images or logos if you have permission. EarthCaches with information that is copied from other sources, plagiarized, or used without proper attribution will not be published. Limited amounts of text may be quoted, but must be properly attributed. (link to Help Center)" (http://www.geosociety.org/earthcache/guidelines.htm)

Even if permission has been granted, things are attributed, quoted, etc., depending on how it's done, copy-and-pasting rarely makes for a good EarthCache

Best wishes, and thanks for helping out the O.P.

--Matt

GeoawareHQ

[+Manville Possum]

Here is one of mine with another unusual feature nearby. http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=5d0f3866-bee6-4b54-8b1f-e38fec4e07ff

 

http://www.Waymarking.com/waymarks/WM5YV5_Sinking_Waters_Wetlands_Area_Kingsport_TN

Edited January 20, 2013 by Manville Possum Hunters