I love geocaching events! I go whenever I can. I am fortunate to live in a geocaching community (Alabama) that holds a lot of events… some are regular Friday lunch get togethers, some are monthly dinners, some are outdoor picnics, weekend campouts or even week-long Mega Events. Some have a stated purpose such as a CITO (Cache In, Trash Out) event to clean up an area, some have a theme, all are great fun.

Geocaching events range from eight or ten people to thousands attending, and include all types of activities. The common bond among attendees is of course an enjoyment of geocaching, but beyond that there is a kindred spirit, a friendship extended to strangers, a welcoming atmosphere to all who attend.

Geocaching events are amazing things… list it and they will come! Reserve a picnic bench at a local park, list an event on geocaching.com and ask everyone to bring something. At the appointed hour people will arrive, introduce themselves, put food and drink on the table, and in just a few minutes you have a great picnic! In an hour a muggle (a non-geocacher watching you) would think y’all had known each other for years!

I have attended events in at least a dozen states, and found that I can arrive as a total stranger and be welcomed. I will be included in the conversation and activities and will leave with new friends. How cool is that?

If you have not attended events, if you have not hosted one, try it! Chances are great that you will discover a whole new aspect of geocaching.

Check the Event Calendar on the front page of http://www.geocaching.com for upcoming events in your area.

By TheAlabamaRambler

TheAlabamaRambler is Ed Manley, husband to GeoRose (Teresa), father of five wonderful humans, grandfather of two more, and an avid geocacher.

Now retired after a decade in the US Navy followed by 28 years of owning and operating Knowledge Management Systems, an IT consultancy specializing in Workflow Analysis and Business Process Improvement, Ed now has the time to pursue his hobbies: Fishing, Geocaching and Ham Radio... the order of importance changes daily!

He is also W4AGA, an Extra-class Amateur Radio Operator with a passion for serving the public through volunteer disaster-relief preparedness and response. Active as a Communicator and Disaster Relief Chaplain in the Southern Baptist Convention Disaster Relief, American Red Cross (Shelter Manager and ARCHIE Team Lead), the Salvation Army Team Emergency Relief Network (SATERN), Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES AEC - Jefferson County Assistant Emergency Coordinator and OES - Operational Emergency Station) and Assisatant Director of the Zamora Shriners Ham Unit, he can be found on HF daily on 3.965 and on VHF on the Birmingham Amateur Radio Club (BARC) repeater on 146.88.

If you have any interest whatsoever in serving and giving back to your community, saving lives and taking part in the wonderful community of amateur radio please visit http://w4aga.com to learn about the many volunteer opportunities.

Ed is the Editor-In-Chief (sounds high-fallutin, don't it?) of the free online geocaching e-zine The Online Geocacher. He can be contacted via email at mailto:TheAlabamaRambler@gmail.com or by phone at 205-914-6814 from 7 a.m. to Midnight CDT.

73 de W4AGA