[Az-Geocaching] Yeeehaw!

[Moose Mob]

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 at listserv.azgeocaching.com
[mailto:az-geocaching-bounces at listserv.azgeocaching.com] On Behalf Of Shari
Guida
Sent: Wednesday, April 22, 2009 6:44 AM
To: listserv at 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 at gmail.com>
To: listserv at 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 at 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.

----- Original Message ----- 

From: AZPAUL <mailto:azpaul1 at cox.net>  

To: listserv at azgeocaching.com 

Sent: Wednesday, April 22, 2009 5:13 AM

Subject: Re: [Az-Geocaching] Yeeehaw!

 

It seems that the teacher did have permission of the school district, as the
teachers quote in the article indicates  "My administration knew; I also got
a district grant for it,". Unfortunately it didn't get passed on to the rest
of the teaching staff.

The main problem was the following guideline was ignored by the teacher and
his class.