Meet “rufnredy” – A NoVAGO Volunteer in Focus
One of NoVAGO’s earliest leaders, rufnredy turned his curiosity about geocaching into decades of sharing the hobby, supporting the club, and helping the next generation of members find their place. There may be many friendly faces to welcome you once you arrive, but rufnredy is the person who convinces you to come try it in the first place. As part of our series of interviews celebrating NoVAGO’s 20th anniversary, I sat down with rufnredy to talk about how he discovered geocaching, helped build a local community of like-minded people, and why he continues to stay connected to NoVAGO two decades later.
Rufnredy was interviewed in 2008. You can read that interview HERE.
How did you first discover geocaching, and what was it about that first experience that made you want to keep going?
Back in October 2004, the internet looked very different from what we know today. We used to communicate through email newsletters and groups. At the time, I was subscribed to a newsletter that daily sent out a list of jokes, interesting stories and a techie section. One issue had a blurb about geocaching. I looked on the site and saw there was a cache a mile or so away. I already owned a GPS, so I tried it out.
I found the cache and it was so much fun. I was hooked right away. I started looking all over the place for caches. Sometimes I’d drive 100 miles a day getting caches. There weren’t as many back then, so we really had to travel. But that was what made it great. Seeing new places that I wouldn’t have visited if I wasn’t geocaching.
What kinds of geocaches do you enjoy most? (Traditional, puzzles, Earth Caches, gadget caches, GeoTours, etc.)
I enjoy puzzles, gadgets, and traditionals most. I do the rest, but typically do not go looking for them … they just are nearby and get included in my day.
In recent years, has there been a geocache or geocaching adventure that reminded you why you fell in love with the hobby? What made it memorable?
Lumber Heritage GeoTour in Pennsylvania was a great caching trip. It took me to lots of places I’ve never explored and I learned a lot. Trips like this are exactly the thing I like because it gets you seeing things you might not have ever known about.
In your 2008 NoVAGO spotlight, you shared Eagle’s Tour as one of your favorite geocaching adventures. Nearly 20 years later, does it still hold that same place for you? What made that experience so memorable?
I always cite Eagle’s Tour as my favorite cache. It is well written and a challenge from beginning to end. Taking you through all the parks on the Occoquan from Bull Run to Pohick, it provides excellent scenery, beautiful hikes in the parks, and challenging puzzles at each stage.
Besides geocaching, what are some of your other hobbies or interests?
As most know I enjoy solving Sudoku puzzles … especially the one with the alternative rules defining the puzzles.
Is there something people might be surprised to learn about you?
Hmmm … I make no secret of my Engineering degrees, Air Force career, and my work with satellite ground stations … all contribute to my interest in technical (and sometimes obtuse) puzzles 😉 I think I am pretty open about myself so I am not sure what might be surprising …
You’ve always been someone who enjoys sharing geocaching with others. What is it about the hobby that makes you want to introduce new people to it?
If I can get more people interested in the hobby, then there is pretty good chance that they will eventually put out some new caches. And even better, they’ll put it at one of their favorite places and I’ll get to explore a new place.
You’ve been involved with NoVAGO since its earliest days and have served in several leadership roles over the years. Looking back, what changes are you most proud to have seen within the club?
As the first President (and a second term later on), I enjoy watching the community grow and expand from its small beginnings to a thriving organization. Seeing NoVAGO grow and drawing in new officers and directors to take the reins makes me happiest …
As NoVAGO’s first President, what were some of the early challenges of turning a group of geocachers into an organized club?
The hardest thing then is still hard now. Communicating to new geocachers that there is a group here to support them and make the game better helps us all. Getting them to come to events and start making connections is the most important thing. People can learn not just about how to find caches, but how to hide better caches, too.
What keeps you involved with NoVAGO after all these years? You mentioned that after retiring from the Air Force, you missed the sense of belonging and camaraderie you’d once had. What was it about the NoVAGO community that filled that gap?
While my continued interest in geocaching is certainly part of it, the most important thing is the sense of belonging and camaraderie. After retiring from the Air Force, I missed being part of something like that and was so happy to find it again in NoVAGO. The events and social interactions provide opportunities to build friendships around common interests and mutual support. NoVAGO isn’t just a caching organization; it’s a group of friends doing something they enjoy and supporting one another.
You’ve served as President, Vice President, and have continued volunteering long after those terms ended. How has your relationship with NoVAGO changed over the years?
While some have said I should run for President again to add serving in a third decade, I am happy to provide the background support and historical perspectives that come from being involved for so long.
You’ve helped NoVAGO in many different ways—from leadership and website work to hosting events and supporting club activities. Looking back, is there a particular project, contribution, or moment that has been especially meaningful to you?
I can’t think of one particular thing, just being involved in the organization and providing support where I can means a lot. From working on the website to sending “welcome” letters to new cachers and seeing them respond and come to events to meet other cachers and join in the social aspect means a lot to me.
What has it been like watching new members become volunteers and, in some cases, leaders themselves?
Very satisfying. Seeing the new faces step up tells me we are doing something right and we continue to grow.
Is there a NoVAGO event or tradition that you especially look forward to each year?
I look forward to the Spring and Fall picnics … get to see a lot of folks that I don’t normally get to interact with. And, of course, at the events I host. The social aspect is a big part of the community. Not to mention seeing all the various events in the area.
If someone attended their first NoVAGO event today, what do you hope they would experience that has always been part of the club’s culture?
The friendly atmosphere and freely provided support to the new folks. Welcoming new cachers into the fold is what makes us special. By providing social and caching support we are encouraging the new members to contribute and hopefully become a future leader.
If you could go back and tell the members of NoVAGO in 2006 what the club would become over the next 20 years, what would you tell them—and who would you credit for making it happen?
Simply that we did it! We have a thriving organization that is still growing and spreading out across the DMV. We wouldn’t have members in DC, Maryland, Delaware and beyond if we were not doing something right …
I have no pride in ownership. There was a bunch of us back then that kicked it off. So many people have stepped in over the years to share the work. But, initially there was a pretty good group of us who worked to bring in new people. We made sure to move events around so that there were more opportunities to join.