Geocaching Skills Competition Event

[+Weber_and_Sons]

This summer I am planning on creating a geocaching skills competition event cache, it would be an unofficial multicache with five stages (unofficial cause our small town doesn't have enough room and most of the places I'm planning on putting stages are too close to other caches.)  other geocachers would race against each other to win! The stages would be themed around geocaching skills such as terrain, difficulty, night caching etc. the other details of this event don't matter though, my questions is: if I can't require geocachers to start at point A and go to point B and also have to host the event at posted coordinates, how do I host the Event so that I start a point A and tell them how to do the multicache then while they are doing the multi I go to point B/ the finish line and wait for them there? 

[+GeoTrekker26]

13 minutes ago, Weber_and_Sons said:

This summer I am planning on creating a geocaching skills competition event cache,

Why?

[+Weber_and_Sons]

47 minutes ago, GeoTrekker26 said:

Why?

Because I had a lot of fun last summer geocaching and I wanted to give back to the geocaching community in a fun way and I would enjoy finding a multicache like this and I think other geocachers would as well!

Edited April 4 by Weber_and_Sons
spelling and grammar mistakes

[+GeoElmo6000]

1 hour ago, Weber_and_Sons said:

how do I host the Event so that I start a point A and tell them how to do the multicache then while they are doing the multi I go to point B/ the finish line and wait for them there? 

 

Make the end near the beginning.  

[+cerberus1]

2 hours ago, Weber_and_Sons said:

if I can't require geocachers to start at point A and go to point B and also have to host the event at posted coordinates, how do I host the Event so that I start a point A and tell them how to do the multicache then while they are doing the multi I go to point B/ the finish line and wait for them there? 

We used to do events by Unimoggers called "shotgun Events".  Ten caches in game lands mostly. 

 - Ten 'teams', first ten signing up participated.  Each was a separate cache that stayed after the Event.. 

Taking up most of the day, they weren't 'cache n dashes'...     Prizes were based on first in to last.

Everyone met at Event GZ, participants and onlookers. Each team started at a different cache so no one was bumping into another.

We were handed a puzzle backing, and each cache had an envelope with the team name with a puzzle piece inside, and the next cache headed to.

The puzzle pieces were for the location of where all prizes were stashed, bags of goodies, #1 (the good stuff) to #10 (the fun stuff).

Everyone returned to Event GZ afterwards for a cookout.  Some of the onlookers were still there...

[Keystone]

This design isn't an event cache; it's a bunch of temporary caches that cannot be listed on the website.

 

Your event cache would be a kickoff meeting for at least a half an hour, for geocachers to socialize, or a post-event recap meeting for at least a half an hour, for geocachers to socialize.  The event takes place at the posted coordinates, and participation in the skills competition must be optional - not a requirement in order to log "Attended" for the event cache.  You can make a brief mention of the skills competition in the event description, but it cannot be the focal point of the cache page.  Event caches are for socializing.

[+Weber_and_Sons]

3 hours ago, Keystone said:

This design isn't an event cache; it's a bunch of temporary caches that cannot be listed on the website.

I was not planning on listing these on the website I was gonna find the spots the week before then hide them and then once everyone leaves I would take the containers and probably reuse them for future geocaches. The multicache was not gonna be the focal point rather an activity during or after a bonfire or a potluck. The reason it probably seems like the focal point is cause that is the only part of the event that I needed help with (which is why that part of the event is all I talk about.) I have realized since posting this that its is flawed and needs some work.

[Keystone]

Mentioning the bonfire or potluck was pretty key to analyzing your idea.  This is why many Reviewers will say "please show me a draft cache page" when we get asked "can I do this?"

[+thebruce0]

A tradition (save for a few years) around here is a car rally event. OF course, the car rally itself is not a geocaching Event, but there are start and end events (not near each other) for people to attend if they wish. After the start event is done the car rally happens; friendly competition to follow instructions, answer questions, do a scavenger hunt, with staggered departures, and then during or after the end event the score tallies are announced for winners. All of the stages and things to find are not listed or real geocaches (though there may be new ones published that are made use of within the rally), and anything placed for the rally specifically are retrieved afterwards.

Obviously the content of the car rally can vary greatly, with options (like a tree climbing task might have an alternate to allow for non-tree climbers/teams).

 

There are many ways you can run a 'geocaching competition' like this within the rules of geocache listed and events. Don't try to push any buttons or convince reviewers otherwise, it's not a new concept and it's pretty common depending on the area and local community. Use what works, your content and themes are what will make your event fun!

 

The short of it is: Geocache proper should never be a competition. But you can host geocaching-themed games and competitions, just not using official channels. Events are social and as accessible as allowable by/within event placement guidelines, which means at least a certain length at one single location and not directly promoting an external event that wouldn't be allowable as an official posted Event.

[+GeoElmo6000]

On 4/7/2025 at 9:45 AM, thebruce0 said:

Geocache proper should never be a competition.

 

FTF?

Find count?

Adventure lab clusters?

[+Smitherington]

Well, obviously some of us are improper, or maybe less proper than others. 

[+thebruce0]

21 hours ago, GeoElmo6000 said:

On 4/7/2025 at 9:45 AM, thebruce0 said:

Geocache proper should never be a competition.

 

FTF?

Find count?

Adventure lab clusters?

 

Extra emphasis added.

FTF is not official. Players choose to compete.

Find count is informational. Players choose to compare and imbue relative value.

AL clusters are a side effect of rule-pushing, just like power trails. Players choose to push the limitations for their own enjoyment.

None of those are promoted in a competitive way.

I'll throw another one in - challenges are even additive accomplishment based, not relative either to your own stats or someone else's (you can't unqualify yourself by geocaching normally)

Anything 'competitive' will be effectively opt in - whether led by community or promo'd by hq.

 

Okay - I'll add one thing that counters my point. One thing in 25 years - the leaderboard. It's an official feature, and it compares your 'points' with your friends. But, there' no 'prize' for being at the top but bragging rights; and only insofar as you haven't added a friend who has more points

[+barefootjeff]

Something I've seen done at a few Geocaching NSW events recently (GCAD885, GCAV31Q and GCAXTM2) is the event organisers placing tags or small objects at half a dozen or so locations within a few hundred metres of the event proper, with coordinates for them handed out on paper and also listed as reference points on the cache page just prior to the event. Each object has a letter on it, which then have to be unscrambled to form a word. Successful participants get a small prize (usually a chocolate bar). Participation is entirely optional and typically takes about half an hour to complete.