The monkeys involved in creating the GeoWoodstock X educational offerings have been busy coming up with a series of sessions and something new for Saturday, May 26th. First of all for those not aware- yes, you can learn something at GeoWoodstock. While it is a big party with lots of fun things to do you can also LEARN something by attending one of the educational sessions that run from 10:30 to 4:00. So what will be offered this year? Trying to break from some tradition and try out some new ideas here is the line up:
- Planning Your Epic Caching Trip – Walk you through planning the ultimate caching trip. Learn how to plan, and how to deal with every contingency. Thinking about hitting the road for a couple days with your caching friends, but don’t know where to start? This session is for you.
- Hiding your First Cache – Placing your first hide can be a daunting task, every cacher wants it to be perfect and memorable. Learn about the steps to placing that first hide.
- How to Geocache & NOT End Up in Jail – “Excuse me? what are you doing?” those and other choice words “Freeze! put your hands in the air!” are not what you want to hear while caching. Learn from real live police officers about what to do and what not to do.
- The Annual Reviewer’s Forum – Held on the Main Stage (with singers, dancers & juggling bears) Reviewers will talk to you about what they have to do day in and day out to keep the geocaching world in order and even answer a few of your questions (except for “Why didn’t you publish my cache?”)
- How to Prepare an Earthcache – Earthcaches have their own set of rules and guidelines. While a wonderful way to learn about the world we live in, they do take a bit of work to set up. Learn about the steps needed to get an Earthcache set up and published.
- Basic SWAG Design on a Budget – You have an idea for your signature item but just don’t know what to do next. While every type of SWAG is a little different learn some tips & tricks to getting a design ready or how to communicate your idea to designer.
- Kaboom! – Is it a bomb? Is it a geocache? Learn from the Indiana State Police how to reduce the chances of having to admit that it was YOUR geocache that caused all the ruckus and ended up getting blown up.
- Podcacher Live! – Join Sonny & Sandy (from Sunny San Diego) on the main stage for some geocaching goodness.
Sessions last between 30 & 45 minutes leaving you time for the many other offerings at GeoWoodstock.
What is being tried for the first time (that I’m aware of) is a series of Meet & Greets around lunchtime. While we all love to Geocache some of us do actually have other interests (no, really… it’s true). So the education team thought it might be neat to give people who share a common interest or are curious about something to meet other cachers and chat. These INFORMAL discussions will cover a number of topics, but then again, if you want to lead your own, sure! The groups set up right now are:
- Cycling Cachers
- Homebrewing Cachers
- HAM Radio Cachers
- Teacher Cachers
Then again if a group of hardcore puzzle cachers want to meet- jr’ir tbg lbh pbirerq. A group of “Knitting Cachers” would like to share patterns- no problem. “Geocaching Browncoats”? We won’t even try to stop the signal. ”Left-handed Cachers Living in Their Parent’s Basement Who Like My Little Pony Friendship is Magic”? I’m sure we have a spot for you too. If you’d like to post on the forum your idea to see about interest the meet & greets start at 11:15 and can go as late as 12:15.
If you want to learn something, hopefully there is a session for you. If not, more time to cache and chat with new friends and old. At this time we are planning on having notes from each session posted on IndianaGeocaching.com sometime after GeoWoodstock.