Geocaching Skills Day (Auckland) Army Bay, North Island, New Zealand
By Tramper Ted & Sp8sm8 on 29-Apr-07. Waypoint GC11C97

Hello all watchers. One of my geocoins seems to have stopped off at the event.... anyone picked it up? Generic Geocoin. Cheers.
Thanks all - coin back on track 20 Sept

[This entry was edited by Butterfly_lady on Wednesday, September 19, 2007 at 8:37:51 PM.]

Great day been and gone! Time for archiving.

Thank you all for the kind comments. It was great organising this day with Sp8s and rewarding to see the outcomes.

so I'm finally home... thanks everybody for a great first geocaching event!

at the event, people asked me what was harder, geocaching in the states or in nz. at the time, i hadn't found any caches really in nz, so i couldn't fairly answer the question.

now... my answer is... it is easier geocaching at home (wherever you may live) because
1. you're familiar with the roads, and probably have a car, so you dont have to rely on public transportation
2. you are familiar with the woods, which surprisingly makes a huge difference (i didn't know what a punga tree was or what a flax bush was until i would get to the cache, it would have made finding the caches a lot easier knowing what those were)
3. you have a second chance... many times in nz, i was only going to an area once, so there was not a chance to go back if i didn't find it
4. internet access, this costs money at hostels, and i could never print, meaning that i was always hand writing the coordinates and parts of the description

so i hope this helps in both hiding caches and finding caches overseas, good luck to you all

Jesus I nearly forgot to log this cache.

A throughly enjoyable day, thanks to everyone that ran the workshops.
And thanks to TT and sp8m8s for putting it all together
Hope everyone learnt justa little more to make their caching a little easier.

Cheers M+S [:O)] (465)
P.S I'm doing another TB tag order, if you want to be added in please let me know.

IF I'VE MISSED SENDING ANYONE THE USEFUL PUZZLE LINKS JUST SEND ME AN E-MAIL AND I'LL FORWARD THEM TO YOU.
CHEERS
ST. OUENS

This is an event that will always be remembered for the excellence of the preparation by the organisers, the camaraderie at the event and the wealth of knowledge gained from participation. We certainly look forward with eager anticipation of a repeat performance twelve months hence.

Just wanted to say thank you again. We put our new skills, and new GPS, to the test today, and found two caches, in less than 10 minutes each. We appreciate all of the suggestions on finding a cache given during the day.

Thanks to T.T. and Sp8sm8 for organizing a most enjoyable event.Look forward to the next one.

Thanks to Tramper Ted & sp8sm8 for organising such a great event and to all the presenters for their hard work too. We learnt such a lot and it was great finally putting faces to all those names.

Well done.

I have sent out the list of Travel Bugs & Coins with numbers to those who left their email addresses. There is also a list of Zorks Coins available. If anyone else wants these lists, just let us know.

Throughly enjoyed this one and appreciate the effort put in for your fellow geocacher. Now have a few more ideas and understand the limitations of my GPS. Happy geocaching in the future. Outdoor Annie

Thanks Sp8sm8 and Tramper Ted for organising this event. A most enjoyable and informative way to spend a day. Was good to catch up with some old faces and meet some new.

Please feel free to contact us if more info is needed on paperless caching with an ipod or putting caches on a Navman... etc etc

Monumental effort by Tramper Ted and sp8sm8 in laying on this very successful event! Good session presentations (paperless caching now somewhat less mysterious) and the event cache was a lot of fun. Nice to meet other addicts! Cheers and more.

Thanks guys for organising such a great day. Had a really great day today. Really enjoyed meeting a few of the other cachers.
Learnt some really handy hints and good to see some of the caches we have visited featuring today.
Dropped off TB to the group.
Cheers:-)

Sure was a great day, always good to catch up with the new and old cachers. Was good to learn a few skills.
Cheers for organising the event Tramper Ted & Sp8sm8, an enjoyable day was had.

Really enjoyed the day. Great to meet all the people involved. Thanks for organising this, Tramper Ted and Gr8Sm8. Learned quite a bit.

Thanks Tramper Ted, Sp8sm8 and everyone else who organised this event. It was great to meet everyone and it was great to hear the experiences of the other geocachers. The venue was brilliant and lots of prizes were given out on the day. Thanks to all.

Wow! what a turnout, and a great event!! Really enjoyed it! Many thanks to Sp8smate and Tramper Ted for organizing it!
Cheers!

Thanks for a great day! We learned a lot and can't wait to get out and find a few more caches!

Enjoyed the day,thanks to the organizers & thanks for the privelige to be asked to take of of the sessions.
Good to see a lot of new faces that have been into my caches,sorry i couldnt meet you all--till next time then.

4.30pm. Great day. Our thanks to organisers Tramper Ted & sp8sm8. Enjoyed it all and especially the event cache. Learned a lot. Many thanks.
M&P.

This was a great experience. Thanks for the good work and I am looking forward to doing such a thing again (this time together with Rala).

Didn't meet any old faces - as this was our first event all faces were new. Great meeting the people behind so many of the names we have come across in our first +/- 3 months of geocaching.
Really enjoyed doing the event cache as part of a team, learnt a lot and met some great people.
Thanks to the sp8sm8, Tramper Ted teams and all others that made the day a success.

Thank you for the wonderful event!

It was great and thank you all who helped organising it!

Well its now in the history books! Have to say we enjoy organising days such as this (yes, thats true!!). Theres lots of satisfaction putting on a day for people get exposed to a whole lot of information about something they enjoy, and meet other people. Caching is often a solitary activity.

For the record we issued 69 raffle tickets and at the end we had called out every number for spot prizes (although some people either had left or had misplaced their tickets).

We kept the cost low ($2 per adult), and even then made money after paying for the venue hire, so have decided to buy some caching prizes for the next event.

A big thank you to all the presenters for the great effort, some at short notice! And finally a big thank you to everyone who came along to make the day such a success.

Many thanks to Tramper Ted & Sp8sm8 for all hard work they put in before and on the day. Every one enjoyred themselves and it will be remembered as great success.

Salutations to all who organized and volunteered for the event! It was a most excellent adventure! Shall we do it again sometime? (84)

Sorry I couldn't make it yesterday. Went for a paddle as a consolation prize. Found a coconut floating in the harbour. No travel bugs or log inside. Ate it instead.

Cheers Mark

Wow - what a big turnout! Great idea to go for a 'workshop' format and I personally picked up plenty of handy tips. Nice to meet everyone and many thanks to Sp8sm8 and TT for a most enjoyable day.

Had a wonderfull time!

Thanks a lot for a great day! Picked up some good tips and tricks. Thanks for all your effort

This was a very good day. I would just like to express my thanks to the organisers. Perhaps they will be encouraged to organise a similar event one day.

What a great event. Thanks to the organisers and presenters.
Sorry I arrives late and missed out on meeting some of the few new faces. Never mind I am sure there will be a next time, as everyone seems to have enjoyed the event so much.

great fun, picked up loads of tips, thanks to TT and SM for their hard work

TeamBonafide

Had a great time at my first event in New Zealand. Hopefully people are less confused about HTML after my workshop . Thanks to the organisers of all the workshops, got some good ideas from all the talks.

Enjoyed talking to other cachers about some of local caches, always nice to know that other people are as crazy as me

Big thanks to Team Tramper Ted and Sp8sm8 for arranging the event. It was very well planned.

Yup was there... had a great time thanks a heap.

Very enjoyable day, learned some new caching skills
Thanks to all for your combined efforts, well worth the trip
Skweak

Thanks for this event. Well worth the trip from Hamiltron. Awesome park and venue for it.

TFTE!!

Thank you so much for a great first geocaching event!

Great job to those who organized it, hopefully I will be back for another event in NZ some day

Thanks to Tramper Ted & sp8sm8 for organising a great event. We really enjoyed ourselves.

Nice to finally put faces to all those caching handles. It was good to learn some new skills, especially about paperless caching, and hints for solving those pesky caches that have been bugging us for awhile.

Well done.

Phew, got to admit I'm knackered.

Thanks to everyone who turned up, far exceeding our initial expectations. And special thanks to all those that had their arms twisted into presenting. We couldn't have pulled this off without you.

An extra special thanks to gr8dad and adnshe who were roped in at the last minute due to one of the organised workshop leaders pulling out, the trick of loading caches onto an ipod certainly raised a few eyebrows.

It was great to meet all of the new faces in the game, sorry I didn't get to talk to all of you, but there were so many.

Excellant day

#570. Great Day - thanks Tramper Ted and Sp8sm8. Wonderful opportunity to meet all the new cachers and swap yarns with the old. TFTC.
P.S. If anyone wants the list of websites to assist with puzzles and/or a copy of the presentation then send me your e-mail address.

Arrived just in time to do the event cache. Sorry we missed the beginning of the day. We had a great time. Thanks to everyone involved in organising the event and creating the event cache.

Also dropped off two travel bugs The Purse and Shooting Star.
Took two geocoins and two bugs.

[This entry was edited by tdbearnz on Saturday, April 28, 2007 at 11:39:35 PM.]

Rainy morning. Got a lift with Neil (aka Nedd)and arrived in good time for registration. Great to meet the other geocachers, put faces to names, talk about un/found caches and get some useful hints and tips. The Pud showed me how to use my GPS (60) to project way points and follow bearings at x meters. - Very useful for the 'Test Your Skills' cache we found in the p.m. Luckily it stayed dry!

Was a really useful day, and thanks to Tramper Ted, SP8SM8 and all the others that helped organise it!!

many thanks to all those who helped make it happen, we had a great day, picked up lots of usefull tips, and insight to how to use the GPS properly
also it was great to share the hunt with fellow hunters . Cheers all.

Top Class!! Obviously a lot of effort and preparation went into this event from both sp8sm8 and Tramper Ted, and the session presenters. Many thanks for an informative day.
Cheers, M@

Geocoin and Travel bug drop.

Better late than never. Another geocoin being logged in - Secret Agent Mission Impossible coin.
[8d] M&P.

Dropping 3 coins and 3 bugs

Looking forward to tomorrow and here is another TB, anyone going to the USA soon???

Left: Buzz Lightyear TB

Would loved to have attended as I am still a babe in the woods and still do it the old fashion way with printout etc but have to do the Maimai up for duck shooting

Just dropping in TB Squashed Bug. We picked it up in the South Island but its been in the North before.
[8d] M&P.

Dropping another 3 TB's.

Adding TB Piglet to the day

Afraid I cannot make it as I am involved in another event. However, I see there are a few caches in the vicinity I'm heading so may have a chance to find one or two. Have a great day.

Should be there, with maybe a couple of kids in tow. Looking forward to it.

We will be there - warts and all!!

The 'tanetops' team will attend.

Primary objective will be the study of psycho-analytical techniques required to delve into the devious and ingenious minds of some members of the geocaching fraternity.

Logging Extreme Ellen TB

As we get a new kitten on Friday, Rala has to stay at home to help her settle in. But Rumo will definitely come with a huge hunger to learn.

[This entry was edited by Rumo and Rala on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 at 9:16:02 PM.]

[This entry was edited by Rumo and Rala on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 at 9:16:09 PM.]

Will hopefully will be able to attend as no work on.
I will try to twist BFRs arm into coming along.
By the sounds of it should be a fun fulled day.
See you there

Programme now on cache page.

Hope to attend now that our weekend is not expected to be filled with visitors. Looking forward to catching up with all of you.
[8d] M&P.

I'll make it up by hook or crook. I could use a lift from the CBD if anyone'e passing through...

I'm going, or at least I'm really hoping to
I'm from America and I'm studying abroad here... I'm in Christchurch now, hopefully I'll make it up to Auckland by then...
This will be my first geocaching event ever I'm so excited

Dropping 7 TB's and 2 Geocoins for the event that we raided this weekend!!

Hi! Would anybody be kind enough to give me a lift to and from the Skills Day? (I just had to sell my car and now relying on pedal power!) I live in Northcote, Northshore, Akl.
Pip

Will come along with Skweak

Rumour has it that this cache http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=51142291-5856-47d4-b27f-032806fe5f9f is close to the event........if you want to find it on the event day best you get to the other 6 WP's to get the required info. [:d]
Cheers M+S [:O)]

Yes the SWW family and maybe a friend would like to attend. Plenty of caches to do while up there..
Thanks

Geo-Goober and I will be along for the fun

Reckon I better get along there too – in need of a rev-up, solo caching can be hard work. Sure to pick up a lot of tips and keen to learn about paperless caching. Look forward to meeting fellow addicts.
Can offer rides from Blockhouse Bay if anyone needs.

Tramper Ted and Sp8sm8 have been busy planning this day. When you arrive you will need to register please. We will have a programme for you of how the day will run.

One of the first things you'll need to do is put your name down for the 'How to Drive your GPS' workshop. This means deciding if you are new at the game or experienced, and what type of unit you use.

There will also be spot prizes during the day, and we are asking for a donation from everyone for the hire of the lodge. At the rate people are signing up, just a couple of dollars per person will cover it!!!!!!!!!

We'll be there (2 + 1 child). Looking forward to seeing old faces and meeting new.

We currently use Garmin 60Cx, iPaq pocket PC for paperless caching, Navman N40i with Geocaching POIs, GSAK and an in-car PC with inbuilt dashboard screen loaded with mapping software... plus a Garmin Etrex for backup if all else fails!

We counted that we had 4 GPS devices running in our car the other day...possibly a tad overkill!

Hmmm... could probably give advice on caching with kids...

YuGeo4 will be attending, depending on work schedule.
Would like to learn about paperless caching, and save a few trees.

To meet other cachers, especially the fiends, who have been torturing us with their bl..&*#!! puzzle caches, and of course, learn how to solve them.

Thanks for your email sp8sm8. I will attend and am keen to get some tips!

I'll be there. Hopefully with t'other'arf. I need all the help I can get. I'm dreadful at puzzle caches and maths ones (teach me for dropping maths so early at school huh).

I also have a couple of tb's to get going so I'll bring them along.
Thanks heaps for organising this event.

We'll be there. Really enjoying this activity, thank you, Jason.

We use a Garmin E-trex and like it, but would love to know more what it can do.

Will try and attend at some stage during the day. Would be interested in being able to solve some of the puzzles in order to find co-ordinates and cache.

Had to wait until closer to the dates to see if my shifts would allow us to attend. We will be there so we can hone our skills at not finding the cache,going in wrong direction leaving clue sheet at home/in car etc...

Interested paperless caching so i can my palm t3 at home/in car. Using my etrex legend.

Heya, please RSVP 2 of us! After trying to locate 5 caches over Easter and only finding 1... we could do with some training. Team WIZ [Newbies].

Sounds like a great idea.An introduction to paperless caching and and what to buy etc would be of help.Assistance with tricks and traps if time allowed would be appreciated.
Look forward to the event.
Hardware :Garmin GPS map 60c

TeamBonafide will be in attendance with our bevy of vehicles

Just an update - for all of you who are coming, we will have a programme out soon and will be personally contacting those of you who have indicated they can help with various sessions. Whilst we can't cover everything, we're endeavouring to get a good cross section of topics. Thanks for all the enthusiasm TT

I have ½ a Dozen TB tags left and will also be bringing all my excess geocoins, if anyone wants to start some collecting. The TB's are $7.50, All the coins are $15.00

Also dropping a few coins into the cache.

I'm not going to drop all my coins there it takes about 3 hours do do all the logging, but my collection will be there and i'll have a sheet with the codes if you all want to 'Disciver' them.

Cheers M [:O)]

Sure hope to be there on the day and learn a few tricks.

Regret myself and RadioNut are unable to attend, as we will be in the cold south.... hoping for no big dump of snow!

Count us newbies in! kiwigirl71 and buzzybee

Da boilingfrogs are keen to attend and looking forward to a great day hunting

Dropping of some stuff for the event. GC & TB

Hmm buggar.!! I will be way down Bluff recovering from a 4,000km ride and slowly riding Xena back.
TK will represent the team and pass on all knowledge she absorbs.. I hope...!
Enjoy the day.
XC

Sounds good and it might be time to meet some new friends. Not new to Geocaching but have never really got into the swing of things. Found caches here and in OZ but not logged them. Love tramping and reasonably proficient with the eTrex

Just spotted we actually fly back from the Sunshine coast on the 28th. We may pop down, depends on the weather..... though Im hoping to have heaps of caches to log after the holiday.

I have just purchased a second hand Ipaq pocket PC (3600) and have just sussed the viewing of caches on there, and even writing details of the cache in notes(ie TB's etc taken from a cache).

I have a GPS 72 Garmin, which we got a few years back for fishing. The poor thing struggles in the bush, but hopefully, Ill be able to get a nice flash one in Sept from yank land.

Cheers

Love to come if I can get the Day off. I am a total newbie so any ideas and training will be gratefully recieved.
I have a Garmin GPSMap60
Wanted to get into GC to see places I have never been in Auckland and to have a family activity in the fresh air.
See you there I hope.
Martin

Hope to be able to make it with Di as well. We have a Garmin e-trex GPS and are really enjoying the sport. We have a lot of Orienteering and Adventure-racing experience, so may be able to contribute in the navigation aspects. We would like to learn a lot more. Look forward to getting to meet you all.

I will try to make it up there. I hope to help others with camoing caches and so some of the tools of the trade apart from the GPSr.

As a reasonably new self-taught GC'r (approx 50 caches) I would echo the comments of St Ouens and the offer from sp8sm8 to learn more about the functionality of my eTrex.
I have dabbled with Google Earth and the NZTopoOnline maps but haven't used any other custom mapping software, so would be keen to learn the pros and cons of the various packages available. I'm also keen to learn about the different map formats.
Some old-school orienteering would be cool.
Am definitely aiming to soon place our first cache for others, so will look to some tips and tricks on this from the experts attending.
I normally GC in the company of my two young sons, so we will all try and attend this event with a picnic lunch.
Thanks for the invite sp8sm8.

Cool... sounds like fun and getting tips from all the "Geocaching Royalty" will be a real bonus.
TK will be attending without XenaCommander XC will be on his bike returning from Invercargill... the final point on the Rusty Nuts MC Southern Cross Challenge ... four points of NZ withing 48 hours on a motorbike... WHEW !!!!
Cant offer anyone a lift as "the Flash" is tiny and slow enough even with little wee me on board

Sounds great! I hope to be there to share and learn.
Cheers, M@