How do you prefer your geocaching events?

Question

I'm a big fan of geocaching events, both when it comes to visiting them and arranging them. I'd like to know what others find to be most important for a good event. 

• Meeting other geocachers is a staple of events, obviously. Is that the main drawing point for you? If so, do you prefer to talk to your old caching friends or the new cachers that you haven't met before?
• Is it important that there are new geocaches published in association with an event, or is that even a bad thing?
• Many events involve food in some way: lunch events, coffee gettogethers, dinner gatherings, picknicks, etc. Is this a good thing or just a complication for those who want to eat at home and just meet people?
• Some events are created to let people try something new (rock climbing, ice skating, juggling, etc). Is this a draw or a drag?
• Is it important to place the event at a beautiful site (perhaps far into the woods) or is it more important that the site is easy to get to and accessible for all (public transport, paved paths, etc)?
• Does the size of the event affect if you want to attend or not? Is less more, or bigger better?
• What would make you definitely go to a particular event? What you make you definitely not go to a particular event?

These are just some ideas to get you going on what makes a good event for you. I'm interested in any comments, whether they are directly related to these questions or to something completely different.

Comments

I'm an event junkie, pretty much if its within 50 miles and I'm available to go, I do, especially if there is a souvenir involved.
That being said, I have great respect for a very-planned event. By far, the best event I have ever been to, geocaching or otherwise, was Going Caching, an annual mega event in Georgia. If you ever have a chance to go, its always amazing!

Answer 1

I like events, both the smaller and the bigger ones. :)

Normally, I attend the regular's table in my area, which gives a nice opportunity to chat with other local (and sometimes non-local) cachers, having something to eat and have a nice evening.

Sometimes, I also attend the meet and greet ones, I organised two of them myself. I find it nice to get to know local cachers and get some tips for caches.

I would absolutely try out events which have other outdoor activity like climbing, etc.

If an event suits my timetable and is within reach - I try'll to be there. :)

Answer 2

We like events where we can meet our friends and talk to them. There is no need to have a big program. Sometimes it is good to have some things to learn but that is not neccassary. Mega events are nice to have but small events are great too. If there are new caches around the event there are so many people. To search these caches is not really fun.

In our opinion events are great for talking with our friends and meet new cachers.

Answer 3

I am not generally keen on restaurant based events. I prefer something more family orientated, like picnicks.

Best event I ever held - I hid 100 little rubber ducks in a native forest park for a weekend lunchtime picnick event. The children had a great time, and so did the adults. Each duck had its name written on it, two people found ducks with their own name!

Answer 4

Meet another geocachers somewhere else than over cache is great idea. Especially if some cachers attends on bigger events and come from other regions or countries.

There is just question where is the point beyond them will be event paid or not.... (yes I know that logbook should be public accesible without any payments but everybody knows about some exceptions covered with miscleanous reasons)

Answer 5

I just attended WAGB17 with over 200 other teams. It was great to meet many people, but some may consider it took crowded. There were geocaches published in association with the event, but there were almost always people there searching for them.

Location is very important. This event was in a hall next to a large park with close by public transport options. You could host and event in the wilderness as a challenge for teams to get to, but it may be a very small gathering.

The food at this event was catered for and goodie bags were supplied thanks to an abundance of local sponsors. You could place a cost on food at smaller events, to cover the cost of ingredients.

Every event is unique, so you don't have to follow a certain criteria to have a successful one.

Answer 6

Hi there,

I also like events. As far as I am concerned the most important thing are the people you meet.

I like to host events in places that I visit abroad. Till now those events have allways been a success, as local "event lovers" are comeing by and you learn a lot about the nicest caches arroound. So for me it's definetly both: old caching friends or the new cachers (-:

At my first self organized CITO there was a new publish at the same time. Most of the attending participant found that rather distracting. On the other hand at a "normal" Event -  why not?

Food, if not (semi-)obligatory is allways good for talk (-:

try something new? I think it's a draw, although I haven't tried it jet, except for MEGA

easy to get to and accessible for all is my first choice, but sometimes you have a chance to combine beatuy (-:

Size does not matter (-: Even at a well visited GIFF talk was still happening (-: Comination with Souveniers helps most of the time....

HH

tzweeeen

Answer 7

We really enjoy events, and all kinds!! We have hosted events at sandwich shops and ice cream parlors. We have gone to kayaking events. This year we attended 4 Mega events. We even went to an eclipse event. We love to meet people. See different communities. We hosted an event yesterday and met some new cachers. We were able to answer a lot of questions and make them know that DNFs are also a badge of honor!! It is great to meet new cachers and see how excited they are to learn about this new hobby.

Answer 8

Wish there were more mega events in Australia. I can only dream of a giga.

Answer 9

We enjoy events very much.

We are signed up to attend the first Giga event in the USA next year. We attended 4 Mega events last year. They each had a very different atmosphere and we had a great time at each one. We now go out of our way to attend as many Mega events a reasonable.

We have a fairly active local caching community and we enjoy getting together with the other cachers and meeting new cachers at simple events at local restaurants and ice cream parlors.  We can all spend an hour or so regailing each other about our latest conquests!!

And they are the best way to help teach and encourage new cachers in the area.

We have hosted 8 events ourselves, sometimes even in areas as we travel. Yep, we enjoy the new friends we have made!!

Answer 10

I like all events. However, if I am in a different city I would prefer events without tables, so you better get into the discussion.
Very nice I find events with campfires.

Answer 11

The more folks we know, the better the event.  Our first event, we knew no one.  We were also the only non-Germans, and felt awkward not understanding most of the conversation.   But everyone was very nice and welcoming, so we warmed up.  The next several events we attended went much more comfortably once we knew what to expect.

I think we tried a little too hard as hosts on our first couple events; we had games, new caches, and prizes.  That said, everyone had a really good time, and the games really helped the crowd mingle, since there was a mix of US military geocachers and local German cachers who I'd met at events.

Since we move around every couple of years, I've found events critical to get to know the local community.  It's the best way to break the ice.

All that said, I still think the favorite event we hosted was our 10 Years! event in Charlottesville, Virginia.  Everyone was excited because of the icon and the theme.  We had a special cake, and everyone had fun grilling out and having a picnic at the park.  We had a few new caches hidden for the vent, which people enjoyed.  It was a relaxing day for everyone, and in an area that didn't have many caches or events, I was pleasantly surprised at the turnout.  It seems like geocaching really picked up steam around there after that event, and if we had a little bit to do with that, then I'm proud of that.

Answer 12

I like events of all kinds, I have been to well over a hundred so far (counting all event types).

One thing I really like is that you can catch up with old friends that you might not have seen for a while and meeting new people at the same time.

The smallest I attended was only the EO, me and one other cacher. The biggest was the Giga in Mainz (still the biggest event as far as I know), the official number was 10.123 attendees if my memory serves me right. I liked them both.

Food or no food, that's the queston. I like both. I have been to several events where the food was the main objective. I rather like that, especially when you have the opportunity to try something new.

Speaking of trying new things, events where you can try something new has been illusive to me. There has been a few where you could try/learn climbing with gear (which I really want to try) within reasonable distance from home, but I have missed every one of them due to being on a business trip, being away on holiday or celebrating someones birthday. Maybe there is a new one coming next year...

The easier it is to get to an event, the more prone I am to visiting. That being said, I don't mind travelling to events. I am currently looking into going to the Giga in the United States.

The release of new caches don't really matter to me. It did, a little, when I was chasing FTF:s for a monthly streak, which I don't do any more. If new caches are published it's just a bonus.

To sum this up, all kinds of events have their own charm, attraction and place and there is a lot of really nice people out there, all over the world.