Nominations will be accepted until February 28th.
Each year NoVAGO honors some of the best caches that were placed in Northern Virginia. This year, more than 570 caches qualified to be nominated – well done, hiders! Nominations are an opportunity for you to recognize the efforts of your fellow NoVAGO cachers who have placed hides that you have enjoyed. This list is meant to help you think of some of the best geocaches you found last year.
Any questions about the 2025 awards should be sent to awards@novago.org
Select to view a Geocaching.com list of eligible caches:
Click here to submit nominations: CACHE AWARD NOMINATION FORM
Further instructions are included on the form.
The categories are listed below. For descriptions, refer to this post: 2025 NoVAGO Award Categories
Cache Type:
Best Traditional Cache
Best Mystery/Puzzle Cache
Best Multicache
Best Letterbox Hybrid Cache
Best Earthcache
Best Virtual
Best Wherigo
Cache of the Year
Best Theme/Series (5+ caches)
Best Adventure Lab Series (with Bonus cache)
by Specialty:
Best Container
Best Family-Friendly/Children’s Cache
Most Physically Challenging
Most Outstanding Location/Scenery
Best Historical/Educational Cache
Best Photo
The People of NoVAGO:
Best Event/CITO Host
Cacher of the Year
* Rookie/Newcomer of the Year
Volunteer of the Year
Cache Eligibility:
1. Cache must have been published between January 1, 2025 and December 31, 2025, and still be active as of early 2025.
2. You may make up to three (3) nominations in each category. You do not need to make nominations in all categories.
3. Caches must be within Northern Virginia, (NoVAGO defines NoVa as: Alexandria (city), Arlington (county), Clarke (county), Fairfax (county), Fairfax (city), Falls Church (city), Fauquier (county), Frederick (county), Loudoun (county), Manassas (city), Manassas Park (city), Prince William (county), Stafford (county), Warren (county), and Winchester (city))
4. We will compile the nomination submissions and you will be voting on the top nominees in each category. So the more nominations we get, the easier it will be to discern the best of the best. You do not need to have found a cache to nominate it.
*Rookie/Newcomer of the Year must have found their first cache no earlier than July 1, 2024, with a majority of their finds/hides during 2025.
I just finished my first draft of the volunteer list for this year’s awards — and it’s long.
That’s a credit to this group.
Over the past year, members taught classes, cleaned parks, hosted events, organized and planned, hauled supplies, grilled burgers, sewed capes, donated prizes, hid caches, mentored new cachers, audited the books, managed the website and social media, and represented the club out in the community. That kind of effort doesn’t happen by accident. It’s people choosing to step up.
The board will have the tough job of selecting Volunteer of the Year.
Now it’s your turn.
Please submit your nominations for **Cacher of the Year** and **Best Event Host** before the end of the week. If someone made your year better, say so — and make sure they’re recognized.