The Oliver Tourism Association is launching its Geocaching Campaign and we would like to highlight your business! Here is some information about geocaching and our campaign:
What is Geocaching?
Geocaching is a high-tech treasure hunting game played throughout the world by adventure seekers equipped with GPS devices and GPS-enabled mobile phones. The basic Idea is to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, outdoors and then share your experiences online. Anyone can use coordinates found on Geocaching.com to locate geocaches.
Who Geocaches and why?
People from all age groups can participate in geocaching including individuals, families, and children to retirees. Over 5 million people worldwide participate in geocaching because it is a great way to explore locations near and far; people often hide geocaches in places of historical interest or great natural beauty. Geocaching brings friends and family together to enjoy the outdoors and makes other outdoor activities such as hiking and biking more enjoyable.
Where to find Geocaches?
There are geocaches on every continent from Antarctica to North America. Even in outer space! The may be in a local park, the end of a long hike, underwater or on the side of a street. There are currently over one million geocaches worldwide. Oliver is currently home to around 20 geocaches.
Why does the Oliver Tourism Association want to start a Geocache campaign?
The Oliver Tourism Association (OTA) is starting an ongoing geocaching campaign to increase awareness of our community and surrounding rural area taping into the millions of people who take part in this activity. Our goal for the launch of this campaign is 20 new caches by the end of July this year and continue on from there. OTA will create, manage and maintain geocaches under the ‘Wine Capital’ name for its stakeholders and members. We will also educate and support other members of the geocache community to also create geocaches in the Oliver area. OTA is approaching the Town of Oliver at its July council meeting for permission to place geocaches on town property featuring its parks, walking paths, play grounds and trail heads.
What do we need from you and how we will measure our achievements and? We are looking for permission to place a geocache on your property highlighting the great features, views, attractions, etc. of our community. Examples would be at your winery, store front, lamp post, etc. We set it up, monitor it and maintain it. There is nothing you need to do except enjoy the visitors the geocache will bring.
The Geocaching system has built in tracking systems in its normal operation. As people visit a cache they record their visit in the log book and record their visit on the website. This information is not only recorded as metric data but also with a social component to share comments and photos of their experience with which we can interact. Each new cache created by OTA will also have a travel bug in it which will be tracked as it travels from cache to cache on its way to its final destination spreading awareness of Oliver BC. OTA will track all of the information from the campaign and report back to its members how the campaign and the individual caches on their properties are doing.
For more detailed information please see the attached PDF slide show presentation and watch the following introductory video link . http://www.geocaching.com/videos/#cat=cat:newbies&vid=-4VFeYZTTYs
To set up having a geocache on your property or to get more information please contact:
Tony Munday
Vice Chair, Oliver Tourism Association
250-485-7000