This type of situation is expected to happen in the game we
play. We have had cachers in city parks put in handcuffs because a police
officer reacted to a soccer mom was screaming child molester. We have had
folks confronted by new-hire security guard in a parking lot where the cache owner
happened to own the business and parking lot. I have seen rent-a-cops
chase people away from areas because they misunderstood the boundaries of the
lands they were supposed to patrol. Just last week a cacher from the Bay
Area confronted by an overzealous BLM Ranger “rather strongly” explained
that geocaches are NOT allowed on BLM land unless they get permission. I
had a short conversation with the District Office they did apologize and that
Ranger was informed of the BLM standing policy.
The issue is that it is easy to point fingers and assume
irresponsibility on somebody’s part. The teacher that reported this
“may” have been told in a staff meeting when the cache was first
placed several years ago and subsequently forgot. Maybe they remembered but
wanted the afternoon off work. The only way to fully prevent this type of
situation is to stop playing the game. Even if we only placed caches in
our own front yards, a well intentioned neighbor will still report the intruder
to the police at 2:00 am.
I will surrender this soapbox to someone else now.
From: az-geocaching-bounces@listserv.azgeocaching.com
[mailto:az-geocaching-bounces@listserv.azgeocaching.com] On Behalf Of Shari
Guida
Sent: Wednesday, April 22, 2009 6:44 AM
To: listserv@azgeocaching.com
Subject: Re: [Az-Geocaching] Yeeehaw!
But
the teacher did get permission, or so it states. It's not the first time a
teacher (or a scout leader) has utilized geocaching as a teaching tool and a
group activity. And that's a very good thing. It would have been more prudent
to have placed a cache further away from the school. However, some school
budgets and the bugaboo with permission slips don't allow for field trips as
much as they used to. Should the teacher then abandon the activity entirely?
And where is the reviewer's responsibility in this? Yes, I know they are very
busy and I do appreciate the work they do. Did the cache say it was on school
property with school permission? The reviewer ought to have at least reminded
the teacher that despite permission this might not be a very good idea. There
used to be a cache in Avondale that was on school property. Not only was it on school
property, the page said where the video camera was and to smile and wave at it.
I searched for it on a Sunday and it still had a major creep factor....just
because it was on school property.
My 1 cent worth.
Shari of Shamik
From: Richard Daines <rjdaines@gmail.com>
To: listserv@azgeocaching.com
Sent: Wednesday, April 22, 2009 5:52:56 AM
Subject: Re: [Az-Geocaching] Yeeehaw!
I can think of a couple of cache right of the top of my head that are at Junior
Colleges.
On Wed, Apr 22, 2009 at 7:45 AM, PATRICK FINLEY <Fastball50@msn.com>
wrote:
Paul hit the nail right on the head. I'm convinced that a lot
of cachers really don't even read the guidelines for placing caches, and
very frequently place caches that don't adhere to those guidelines. Based on
the history of that particular school, I'm not so sure I would have allowed a
cache of this type to be placed there. The fact that the cache owner was a
teacher at that school and that HE didn't read the guidelines makes it even
worse. It would sure be nice if most folks put a little more thought into
the placement of their caches instead of just spewing out cache
containers.................My 1 1/2 cents worth.