2012 calhoun county visitors bureau geocache brochure

www.CacheCalhoun.org

What is geocaching?“Geocaching (pronounced geo-cashing) is a worldwide game of hiding and seeking treasure. A geocacher can place a geocache in the world, pinpoint its loca on using GPS technology and then share the geocache’s existence and loca on online. Anyone with a GPS device can then try to locate the geocache.” - Geocaching.com

Getting Started:

• You’ll need a Global Posi oning System (GPS) device: a handheld GPS, your car GPS (set in ‘Walking Mode’) or a smart phone. (For smart phones, a variety of applica ons are available for GPS coordinates.)• Log onto www.Geocaching.com and create your free account.• Use the given coordinates to fi nd the area of the hidden cache. • Once found, a cache will contain a log book, write down your account name and the date you found the cache. • If there is an object in the cache, and you take it, you must replace it with some thing of equal or greater value. • Place the cache back exactly as you found it. • Report your fi ndings online.

As you go:• Respect the environment and be mindful of your surroundings.• When you fi nd a cache, be sure to put it back just as you found it.• Geocaches are meant to blend into the environment and will never be buried; so look very closely.

Terms: BYOP: Bring your own pencil so that you can sign the log book.DNF: Did not fi nd. This is used when logging the cache online if you are unable to fi nd the cache. FTF: First to Find. Wri en in the logbook or online when being the fi rst person to discover the cache. Muggle: A non-geocacher. Usually used if a non geocacher looks puzzled a er befriending a geocacher searching for a cache, or when one unexpectedly fi nds a cache. Travel Bug: A dogtag a ached to an object; moved from cache to cache, its travels are logged on Geocaching.comTFTC: Thanks for the cache.(More available online at Geocaching.com.)

800.397.2240 • 77 East Michigan Avenue Ste. 100, Battle Creek 49017

Individuals paricipa ng in geocaching do so at their own risk. The Calhoun County Visitors Bureau, its affi liates and cache owners are not responsible for accidents or

injury. Please obey all appropriate laws and exercise extreme cau on.

Calhoun County Course:

Ten caches are placed throughout Calhoun County and are wai ng for you to fi nd them! Each cache, a li le diff erent from the other, and each with a diff erent owner, adds a new element of adventure to the course!

Each cache has its own special code on the physical cache. Be sure to keep track of that code on the back of this guide. Then, bring the guide to 77 E. Michigan Avenue, for your prizes! Each sec on, has it’s own reward, with a grand prize to be given away in November, 2012.

Each par cipa ng cache has an interes ng and informa ve descrip on. However, not everything could be listed in this guide. For complete lis ngs visit www.Geocaching.com to learn more about each loca on and cache!

Many of the geocaches provide a code for you to crack. Use the following decryp on key for these codes. The le er above equals the le er below and vice versa.

A|B |C|D|E|F|G|H| I| J |K |L |M--------------------------------------------N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X| Y | Z

Level 1

Arcadia Creek Cache

Located in a quaint li le park in Downtown Ba le Creek. Enjoy your stay; watch li le cachers near the water’s edge! Hint:

Michigan Craft Brewing: Black Beauty II

ZNTARGVP, BE VG HFRQ GB OR JURA V CYNPRQ VG GURER


Celebra ng Michigan cra brewing. This is a favorite brewpub in Michigan. BYOP. Parking is located next to cache.

Hint: WHFG UNATVAT NEBHAQ

N 42 ° 19.372 W 85 ° 11.459

N 42 ° 16.009 W 84° 57.782

GC1V3AV - RXWranglers

GC26XY5 - Ypsi Gizmo

Irving Park: Duck Duck Goose

Just off the train near the pond. Small silver pill container.

N 42 ° 20.071 W 85 ° 10.866GC36QZN - BBMFB

Decryp on Code:A|B |C|D|E|F|G|H| I| J |K |L |M--------------------------------------------N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X| Y | Z

While you are here, check out this cache! DGS Opera on Black Gnome - GC35P47

While you are here, check out this cache! Irving Park not in my Backyard- GC35EXQ

Hint: FGRC HC NAQ TRG N ORGGRE IVRJ


John Wilson Park is located in Athens, MI. If you want to have a picnic, it has two nice pavillions with picnic tables. Equipment for the kids to play on and a nice stream. There is a Farmer’s Market from 2-6 PM on Friday’s from June - October. Mosquitos and muggles. Have fun! No hints.

John Wilson Park, Athens MIN 42 ° 05.565 W 85 ° 13.975GC2ZZ8F - HIKAMTN

Level 2

The One that BelongsN: 42 ° 08.782 W: 84° 48.102

Homer was se led in 1832 by Milton Barney, who originally named it Barneyville. In 1834, Barneyville was renamed Homer a er the city in Courtland County, NY.

GC2ZRRP - Drummy3

Hint: YHZORE WNPX

While you are here, check out this cache! Gator Zoo - GC1WTY8

While you are here, check out this cache! Barneyville Boardwalk - GCQGAF


Grever’s Nature Center Part 2N: 42 ° 18.594 W: 85° 02.987

Grever’s Nature Center is a gem to visit and about 90 acres in size. The western por on of Mud Lake lies within the center. All areas except the narrow strip of swamp land at the north end are accesible by trail. A very informa ve brochure can be picked up at the parking lot; it provides a map of the trail system and a commentary on the habitat. The cache is located down a well maintained trail about .16 miles from the parking lot. It is only 50’ off the trail. It’s a camo’d pill bo le bigger than a matchs ck container.

GC29T4N - HIKAMTN

Hint: ABG GUVF GVZRWhile you are here, there are many in the center! Visit www.Geocaching.com to see them all!


Level 2


Michigan Spirit Quest #17: Circle of HonorOak Hill Cemetery - 255 South Avenue - Closed a er dark

While you are here, check out this cache! Michigan Spirit Quest #18 ‘A Sojourn to History’ GCYN4X

GCYN4C - PairOMedicChick - A Genuine Spirit Quest Cache

Hint:JUVYR NYSERQ BE WBUA PNA’G TVIR LBH N YRT HC, GURL

JVYY CBVAG LBH VA GUR EVTUG DHNEGRE. V GUVAX

GURL’ER FNLVAT GB YBBX HC.

The cache is not located near a grave... If you fi nd a fallen US fl ag, please s ck it back in the ground or replace it. As always, please be respec ul, & cache in, trash out. Say a prayer for our brave troops. The cache container is a camoed matchs ck; started with a pencil, but be safe & BYOP.


LEVEL 3 Linear Trail 2: Verona Dam

Located along the linear trail, small stop by the water. On this spot stood the Verona Mill and a boat rental place. It is now a dam along the Ba le Creek River. Cache is a nano. Bring pencil. Bring a pick.

Hint: 1.YBBX NG GNOYR

2. YBBX NG EBNQ

3. YBBX HC

N: 42° 19.874 W: 85° 09.199GC20KDA - Tootentot

Rice Creek Series #4

This is a natural cache located in Ketchum Park (Marshall). The cache is located with the permission of the City of Marshall Parks Department. Caching only during daylight hours. Rice Creek fl ows on both sides of this area. This is a series totaling 7 caches. Round trip from the parking area is approximately 2 miles but is well worth the trip. This cache is made of natural components and contains just a log. Bring your own pen. Enjoy the area.

N: 42° 16.200 W: 84° 56.758GC3EMG6 DucksLanding

Hint: ABAR


Thank you to the local geocachers who par cipated and included their cache in the 2012 Cache Calhoun challenge!

(Geocaching.com user names)

Parking Miss Daisy

Orange and black container.

Hint: RAWBL GUR IVRJ ...

*jvax jvax*

N: 42 ° 19.293 W: 85° 11.074 GC2P9ZJ - The Irishman0523

• BBMFB • THEIRISHMAN0523• DRUMMY3 • PAIROMEDICCHIC• DUCKSLANDING • RX WRANGLERS• TOOTENTOT • YPSI GIZMO• HIKAMTN

WIN! CACHE COLLECTION REPORT

Level 1:

Linear Trail 2:Verona Dam

Parking Miss Daisy

Rice Creek Series #4

Arcadia Creek Cache

MI Cra Brewing

Irving Park Duck Duck GooseLevel 2:

The one that belongs

Grever’s Nature Center #3

Level 3:

On each hidden cache is a special code. Write down each code, and then bring this sheet into the Visitors Bureau for your prize!

Each completed series will earn you a prize! Complete all three series

and be registered to win a grand prize of a weekend getaway to Ba le Creek/Calhoun County!

Cache collection giveaway ends 10/31/12. Only one prize per person and per code sheet.


John Wilson Park, Athens

MI Spirit Quest #17

2012 calhoun county visitors bureau geocache brochure

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