Geocaching Conference/seminar ??

[+GEM's]

South Hill Red Robin

 

Saturday, 2/7/04 Lunch 11:30 - 1:00

 

N47 09.431 W122 18.233

 

 

A few of us are getting together to discuss the possibility of putting together a Geocaching Conference/Convention in the Seattle Tacoma Area. This is not a planning meeting just a discussion about the possibibilty of such an event.

 

 

A possible vision includes a conference where:

 

 

All are welcome to attend

 

Friday Saturday and Sunday Events

 

Workshops would last 1- 3 hours each

 

Participants would pay to attend to pay the costs of the event (this would have to be a break-even event)

 

Vendors would be present to sell geocaching, GPS, hiking and navigation equipment

 

Participants could attend multiple sessions on Geocaching topics like...

 

 

Understanding the Tower of Babel: GPSBabel

 

Watchin the ClayJar Watcher

 

Put a new Spin on your GPX Spinner

 

EasyGPS is Easy

 

LOC vs. GPX

 

Getting the most out of your GPS

 

Microsoft Pocket Street and Trips and Geocaching

 

Using your Palm to Geocache

 

Geocaching with Your PocketPC

 

Laptops & Geocaching

 

Geocaching 101

 

GeoBuddy is your Buddy

 

The Tools of Geocaching

 

 

Volunteer geocachers would teach these classes.

 

 

We maybe getting ahead of ourselves:

 

Here are some of the possible tasks or sub committees as I see it:

 

Registration

 

Publicity

 

Scheduling workshops

 

Call for Proposals

 

Volunteers Organizing (registration, presenters, presiders, Tech Support, supplies)

 

Selection and Securing of a Location

 

Others?

 

 

Please consider coming and sharing your thoughts.

1. Are you planning to attend on Saturday?

 

2. Would you be likely to participate in this type of event if made available?

[+GeoDiver/GeoGrammy]

Just in case you didn't get my email...I will be there Saturday...and I love the idea.

Rick

[+The Jester]

Don't know if I can make it Saturday, still discussing it with the wife.

 

I've been in charge of other confrences so I know what a job is in store. I've taught several classes on GPSr use so wouldn't mind helping there. You might want to label sessions as beginner/intermediate/advanced so people have an idea what is right for them.

 

Other quick thoughts-

 

Other topics:

Hiding a Cache

Cache containers & disguise

Map programs

 

Other tasks:

Housing/motels/hotels

 

Craig (The Jester)

[+The Jester]

Another thought (came just after pushing the Add button): Hands on vs. theory sessions.

 

Craig (The Jester)

[+rusty_tlc]

I'm kind of far away to join in but I love the idea. Let me know if I can be of any assistance.

[+TotemLake]

Up front $$$ will be a necessary evil. You won't be able to rent a facility with a promise of we'll get it at the door.

 

I won't be able to make it. Side job is in the way.

[+Criminal]

Speaking only for myself, I would have zero interest in any of those topics. I'm looking for an ammo can in the woods. Not much else to it really.

 

I think we're making this out to be bigger than it really is. While people will read the site and the forums from the comfort of their homes, this is ultimately a poor-man's game and I doubt many are willing or able to set aside a weekend to fly to Seattle for this.

 

It is certainly an interesting concept though.

[MarcusArelius]

I think it's a great idea! It would need to be done on the cheap though.

 

Maybe the vendors would be willing to share the cost for the main venue. They got advertising $ for that type of thing.

 

I know you'll get lots of volunteers for the sessions. I might try to make lunch.

[+evergreenhiker!]

cheap is the key word here. Yeah, some of those topics listed would definitely interest me. However, I'm not willing to spend a high fee for a such a conference. I can always researcj the info for free on the internet. If the fee is in the 10 dollar range or so...Ok. Not much more than that.

[+Wander Lost]

I'm going to try to make this, but my parents are having a computer crisis and I need to go try and fix it.

 

I'll try to put my ideas into an email to GEM's later today

[+Peanuthead]

Seminar? Sounds like the most boring thing on the planet to me.

[+Zzzoey & illDRIVEuNav]

I must agree with Peanuthead that the word seminar comes painfully close to sounding work related. Seminars, to me, are usually just a chance to skip sessions and go find a cache or two...

[+GEM's]

Thanks to Moun10Bike, TravisL, GeoDiver, Lucyandrickie!

 

We met for lunch today at Red Robin to discuss the idea of a conference/seminar...here are some of my notes from that meeting:

 

1) The main goal is to provide educational/learning opportunities to the geocaching community.

 

2) Moun10bike always orders a Guacamole Burger

It's mean, it's lean, it's got a touch of green - thanks to our zesty guacamole! Topped with melted Swiss cheese, sizzling bacon, onion, lettuce, sliced tomato & mayo.

 

3) Whatever educational opportunity we offer we must do this in an affordable manner.

 

4) I think Jerry of Lucyandrickie always orders a: The Banzai Burger

Marinated in teriyaki & topped with grilled pineapple, Cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato & mayo. Dude, you'll be like, ready to ride the pipeline in Maui after you chomp on this!

 

5) Let's look at ways we can tie the goal of providing educational opportunities to exisitng Geocaching events...cache machines. WSGA meetings, gatherings, etc.

 

6) TravisL only goes to Red Robin for cache machines and geocaching business.

 

7) WSGA is looking at ways to provide learning opportunites through out the State.

 

8) GeoDiver drinks lemonaide.

 

9) Jerry of Lucyandrickie and GEM's are willing to help organize and coordinate learning opportunities like many of those listed on this thread ie. setting up keynote speakers and demonstrations to be presented at a variety of geocaching forums and events.

 

10) Michelle of lucyandrickie always seems to be smiling.

 

11) Michelle of lucyandrickie and Moun10Bike will be discussing our ideas with the WSGA leadership.

 

12) As of now no specific conference/seminar is in the works just an effort to look for ways to provide fun learning/education activities to geocachers.

[+Wander Lost]

Sorry I didn't get my email off as promised. My parents new dsl service isn't working and so never got to the internet.

 

I do look forward to sitting down and putting my ideas down. That will happen. Just not today.