New Learn-to-Geocache Workshops Scheduled At State Parks

Three new learn-to-geocache workshops have been scheduled at  Saratoga Spa State Park, Saratoga Springs, on September 27 at 5 pm and at Grafton Lakes State Park on September 29 at 1 pm. The cost to participate in the workshops at Saratoga Spa and Grafton Lakes is $3 per person. Please call the parks for more information and to reserve a spot in the class.
These workshops are part of the Saratoga/Capital District Region of New York State Park’s Geocache Challenge.  The region is hosting 44 geocaches in 11 State Parks and State Historic Sites and will be holding a drawing for valuable prizes from among those participants who can successfully complete a geocache challenge by finding any 35 of the 44 geocaches.  The geocaches will be in place and the challenge will extend from Memorial Day weekend through Veteran’s Day. The goal of the extended event is to bring people out to experience State Parks and State Historic Sites this year and to introduce our patrons to the fun and family-oriented sport of geocaching.
Geocaching is an outdoor sporting activity in which the participants use a global positioning system (GPS) or alternative mobile device and basic navigational techniques to find hidden outdoor containers, called geocaches.  A typical cache is a small waterproof container containing a logbook, stamp and small items for trading.  The State Park geocaches will also contain stickers, small prizes and/or other items related to the host park or site for participants to keep.  Geocaching is often described as a game of high-tech hide and seek, sharing many aspects with benchmarking, orienteering, treasure-hunting or letterboxing.
Geocache passports can be picked up at the office of any participating park or site or downloaded from the agency’s webpage at www.nysparks.com.  GPS coordinates for the State Park’s geocaches can be found at www.geocaching.com.  Pick up a passport, get the coordinates, and start geocaching!  Stamp your passport with the stamp found in each geocache.  If you can successfully fill your passport with stamps from 35 of the 44 geocaches before November 11, stop in at any park office for verification and to enter your name in the prize drawing.  Participants 16 years old or younger will also be entered into a drawing just for kids.  First prize for both drawings is an Eastern Mountain Sports Free Range Day Pack, a $100 dollar value.  Second prize for the main drawing is a New York State Parks Empire Passport for 2013, a $65 dollar value, second prize for the kids drawing is a $30 Eastern Mountain Sports gift card.  Third prize for both drawings is a New York State Parks fleece blanket.  Also, all kids who successfully complete the challenge will receive a Ben & Jerry’s coupon for a free ice cream, a geocache button and other souvenirs.  Some parks will also have smaller prizes just for finding all of the geocaches in those individual parks.
For patrons who may not own a GPS there will be at least one hybrid geocache located at each park or site.  Hybrids have coordinates so that they may be found using GPS or by clues that are available at the park or site office so that the geocache may be discovered following the clues, for people who do not have a GPS.  This is a great way to experience what geocaching is like, before deciding to buy a GPS unit.
There is no cost for the geocache passport or to participate in the geocache challenge.  However, standard Vehicle Use Fees are in effect at some of the parks that are included in this event, and those fees will not be waived for participants in the geocache challenge.
The geocache challenge is well underway and you can read the many logs of participants at www.geocaching.com.  Get out and join in the fun!
State Parks and State Historic Sites participating in the Saratoga/Capital District Region Geocache Challenge include:
Cherry Plain State Park, Cherry Plain,  518-733-5400
Grafton Lakes State Park, Grafton,  518-279-1155
John Boyd Thacher State Park, Voorheesville, 518-872-1237
Johnson Hall State Historic Site, Johnstown, 518-762-8712
Peebles Island State Park, Waterford, 518-237-8643 ext. 3295
Max V. Shaul State Park,
Fultonham, 518-827-4711
Mine Kill State Park, North Blenheim, 518-827-6111
Moreau Lake State Park,
Gansevoort, 518-793-0511
Saratoga Spa State Park, Saratoga Springs, 518-584-2000
Schodack Island State Park, Schodack Landing, 518-732-0187
Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site, Fort Hunter, 518-829-7516.