Spotlight Cache: If You Want To Run With The Big Dogs… Greyhound

#NationalDogDay (August 26) Its the dog days of summer and no better time to celebrate #NationalDogDay. Today we’re spotlighting a challenging multi-cache hidden in Clifton, Virginia. If You Want To Run With The Big Dogs… Greyhound (GC123T7) was hidden by BBQ back in 2007. Not only will finders get a well deserved block filled in on their D/T grid – this is a 3.5/4.5 – but they will also get to add their name to the log book of Northern Virginia’s elite. Here’s what some of its finders have said about it: “I’m still in shock after this cache and hoping to find the right number of beers to make the pain go away.”“We walked a total of 8.19 miles.”“Guess some people are just gluttons for punishment …”“This one seemed a lot easier on paper!”“I started out early and refreshed. However, the bluebells distracted me. I ended up taking lots … Continue reading

New Locationless Geocache Available August 17, 2022

New Locationless Geocache Available August 17, 2022 What is the coolest place that you never knew about but found because of geocaching? If there is a special place near you that you discovered in the search of a geocache, its time to share your find with the rest of the geocaching community world wide. August 17, 2022 through December 31, 2023, you can log this unique cache icon (GC9FAVE) by uploading a selfie at your favorite place along with a description of where it is and why you love it. Remember no spoilers if there is a geocache hidden there. Check out this Geocaching HQ article for more info: https://www.geocaching.com/blog/2022/08/share-your-favorite-local-geocaching-place-to-log-a-locationless-cache/?newsletter=PM … Continue reading

2022 Annual Series Kicks Off – School Starting Soon

NoVAGO Kicks off 2022 Annual Series with Two Events Students Start Registering for Classes NoVAGO University is this year’s theme for our friendly, team oriented, geocaching games. Teams started forming as early as 9:30am on Sunday, August 14th at a kick-off event in Sterling, VA. A second event was held later in the day in Lorton. Geocachers who attended the events were asked if they wanted to join one of three Greek houses to make college life a bit more fun for the next several months. Choices were PAF, DNF, and GPS. Some noted that there wasn’t a team FTF, which would have been their first choice. While others felt that that DNF might stand for ‘Driver, Navigator, and Finder’ which sounds like a great choice, too. House DNF. Photo by Red KnightAdditional team mates will be added by the registration office after the events. Those who couldn’t attend will … Continue reading

Spotlight Cache: Catnip Scramble

#InternationalCatDay (August 8) Today we’re celebrating #InternationalCatDay by spotlighting this fun Letterbox Hybrid cache in Annandale. Catnip Scramble (GC8471C) was placed by CWillyPngn in 2019. In this fun walk through the park, geocachers will follow Jiji the black cat as he makes his way down trails, through tunnels, and even does a little waypoint projecting before finally getting to a regular sized container. Fans of Studio Ghibli films will immediately recognize this furry companion from the movie Kiki’s Delivery Service. Winner of 2019 NoVAGO Best Kids Cache AND Best Letterbox Hybrid. Congratulations! … Continue reading

NoVAGO-U

Northern Virginia Geocaching Organizing Announces its 2022 Fall Series: NoVAGO-University Join a team! Find geocaches! Compete in fun contests to earn points for your team. Members might remember our club’s Survivor series, or our more recent pandemic boredom busting Olympics. The newest games are a college themed challenges, where members compete to earn point for their Greek house (toga’s may or may not be optional.) Two Kick-off Events, August 14, 2022 9:30-10:30 AM – Sterling (GC9THP1)   &   12:30-1:30 PM – Lorton (GC9WD00) The kick-off events will be an opportunity to meet potential team mates and pledge together on a first-come-first-serve basis for one of three houses. It’s also a great time to ask questions. Attendance is not required to participate. You may contact ZippyFinn or Serrabou if you would like to be added to a team at any time through November. If you are new to NoVAGO and would … Continue reading

Finding a Geocache on Memorial Day – or any day

Memorial Day is holiday to honor the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. While observing Memorial Day, you might want to consider visiting one of these geocaches in Northern Virginia. Semper Fidelis Memorial Trail You will be following part of the Marine Corp Museum’s Semper Fidelis Memorial Trail – about 3/4 mile of walking – visiting statues and memorials along the way. This Werigo geocache by robbitandpaul was a 2015 NoVAGO Cache Award Winner! National Museum of the Marine Corps, Quantico. The trail is open from 9 to 9 and the museum is open 9 to 6. Place of Honor  One of several caches at the place of highest honor, Arlington National Cemetery, this walk should take you under an hour and will take you to two different locations. This virtual by Bigcall has been on the map since 2002. Arlington National Cemetery Uncommon Valor  … Continue reading

NoVAGO’s 2022 Spring Picnic

The 2022 spring picnic was held this last weekend on May Day (May 1st) at Mason District Park in Annandale. In addition to the event being a Community Celebration Event (extended due to the pandemic) it also gave attendees the Blue Switch Day souvenir. There was lots of excitement leading up to the day of the event. Some of the reasons our members were looking forward to the picnic: It’s close to home! Can’t wait to catch up with my caching buddies. Finally an event that’s NOT on a Saturday. To see if the weather might be even more incredible than the 2021 spring picnic (thankfully, it wasn’t.) Lot’s of food to eat (including tacos!) Feeling less anxious about COVID compared to last year.  First event with NoVAGO. (We had a couple new members join us. Welcome!) Did I win an award? (We announced awards for NoVAGO’s 2021 Best Caches) … Continue reading

2021 Cache Award Winners

NoVAGO members gathered together at Mason District Park in Annandale for the NoVAGO Spring Picnic and Awards event. Thank you to everyone who helped to organize and make the day run smoothly. Here are the 2021 NoVAGO Cache Award Winners… CACHE OF THE YEAR (GC9C9C4) cschooner aka the Duckmeister: A tribute by kiisikwa GEOCACHER OF THE YEAR Thompsonkickers Best Theme or Series Name that Tune by MJBinski Best Kids Cache (GC8HV17) Hidden Woodland Critters Tree Sculpture by TheUnstealthy Monkey Most Outstanding Location or Scenery Tie: (GC95NT5) Water versus Rock: The Grudge Match by kiisikwa  and (GC9D8ZG) Ogling Eagles by Serrabou Most Creative Cache (GC9JPWK) Nightmare Before Cachemas: Sally by rlobecker Most Physically Challenging to Find (GC9F7BG) Nightmare Before Cachemas: Zero by Alice & the Rooster (ZippyFinn) Best Historical or Educational (GC99D4K) Бонус из кеша советской прото-геокешинговой лабора by Nothereeither Best Camouflage (GC9CBRG) Turning Point Suffragist Memorial by supertodd88 Best Multi-stage Cache (GC9C9C4) cschooner aka … Continue reading

Fairfax County Offers Geocaching Classes for Beginners

Fairfax County Park Authority is offering opportunities to discover geocaching around the county. Participants will be with a naturalist and will learn how to operate a GPS unit as well as some of the basics of geocaching. There will be actual geocaching taking place at these events. Classes are on the following dates are require pre-registration and an attendance fee: March 12, 2022 at Lake Fairfax Park March 26, 2022 at Burke Lake Park April 23, 2022 at Lewinsville Historic House May 7, 2022 at Lake Accotink Park May 21, 2022 at Colvin Run Mill Click here for more information. … Continue reading