Category Archives: General

General Announcements

Farewell from your 2024 President (that’s me, Gina aka ThompsonKickers)

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Here we are at the end of 2024, this year has been a great one for caching. I personally will be logging my 5000 tomorrow so that’s a nice way to start the next year.  Time has flown by and I have enjoyed the last two years as NoVAGO’s President. As we all know, all things must come to an end.  BUT when there is an end, we also find new beginnings.  I’m ready for my next chapter in the NoVAGO community as Director and former President and still have a lot to give to all.  Also with this good news of beginnings comes a new group of board members.  Heather (hrothroc) is my Presidential successor and I know she is super excited and has big ideas for the year to come. The rest of the crew is as follows;  Vice-President: Tom Waters (CherokeeThree) Secretary: Gab Sedor (sedor18) Treasurer: Freddie … Continue reading →

NoVAGO Volunteer Profiles: Geocache Placement & Maintenance

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#volunteerspotlight Did you know that NoVAGO is 100% run by volunteers? They are ordinary geocachers who want to give a voice for the the wider geocaching community while supporting efforts in their own Northern Virginia area. To spotlight opportunities in the org, we are running a series of job profiles between now and our “Thanks Event,” the annual volunteer appreciation lunch in January. NoVAGO Volunteer Profiles: Geocaching 101 Classes NoVAGO is always on the look out for volunteers willing and able to hide new geocaches in our area. If you’re interested, let us know what area of the map is your favorite and we’ll let you know if we might be able to use your services. Thank you! To offer your services, e-mail officers@novago.org … Continue reading →

NoVAGO Volunteer Profiles: Geocaching 101 Classes

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#volunteerspotlight Did you know that NoVAGO is 100% run by volunteers? They are ordinary geocachers who want to give a voice for the the wider geocaching community while supporting efforts in their own Northern Virginia area. To spotlight opportunities in the org, we are running a series of job profiles between now and our “Thanks Event,” the annual volunteer appreciation lunch in January. NoVAGO Volunteer Profiles: Geocaching 101 Classes Northern Virginia Geocaching Organization is the official face of geocaching in our area. We frequently get requests from members of our community to give presentations about the hobby. We work with schools, scouts, libraries, parks and other groups. This educational outreach is part of our commitment to safe, responsible, and environmentally responsible geocaching. Each request is unique and so every presentation must also be slightly tailored to its audience. We need volunteers who love talking about their favorite hobby, geocaching. We … Continue reading →

Spotlight Cache: In Memory of Dr Tooth A Magical-Mystery Bird House

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#NationalBrushYourTeethDay (November 1) November 1st is National Brush Your Teeth Day! This was not created to remind people to brush their teeth once a year (We at NoVAGO are hoping that everyone brushes their teeth more than this one day annually!) Ha hah! No, this holiday was actually created to encourage parents to make sure their kids brush their teeth twice a day for two minutes. To celebrate this holiday, we here at NoVAGO would like to spotlight a cache in Stafford called “In Memory of Dr Tooth A Magical-Mystery Bird House (GC89BKD).” This gadget cache was placed by robbitandpaul as tribute to their favorite gentile dentist. Since it was placed it has been found 92 times, earned 43 favorite points, and was awarded a coveted NoVAGO Cache Award for most creative geocache of 2019! So make sure your kids are brushing for a full two minutes, and if nearby, … Continue reading →

Spotlight Cache: NoVAGO U: Chemistry 100 & 101

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#NationalChemistryWeek (October 20–26, 2024) Today we’re celebrating #NationalChemistryWeek by spotlighting this fun puzzle in Leesburg. NoVAGO U: Chemistry 100 & 101 (GC9ZZH5) was placed by hrothroc in 2022 as part of NoVAGO’s annual cache series. In 2024, the cache now has a 74% favorite point rating. First you’ll need to check your periodic table to solve the coordinates for this cache. It should be pretty straightforward for anyone who has completed high school chemistry class. With that done, geocachers will find themselves standing in the lab (well actually the forest) trying to figure out what to do with the supplied equipment. The kit includes a 3D printed cryptex which contains the log paper. Can you figure out the key word to get inside? Be sure to check the old logs. As part of the series, contestants were encouraged to post silly photos related NoVAGO U: Chemistry 100 & 101. Here’s … Continue reading →

NoVAGO Fall Auction

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Our annual auction is our main source of revenue to support our two picnics held in the spring and fall. We pay for rental of the pavilions we use as well as the food and extras that make the picnic fun. Income from our auction also pays for our organization’s website as well as educational support materials which we use for community outreach. We rely on our members to donate the items which end up on the auction tables. Please look around for a gently used items that you believe will interest another geocacher and consider donating. Some items donated in the past are: collections of pathtags/geocoins, walking sticks, geocaching.com premium membership, headlamps, books, hand-held GPS units, geocaching starter kit, unactivated travel bugs/car decal, and lots of geocaching containers. Sometimes our members donated non-tangibles, too. Gifts of time are welcome, too. How about auctioning yourself as a caching buddy for … Continue reading →

More new Souvenirs can be earned this month!

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More new Souvenirs can be earned this month!   Earn the International EarthCache Day 2024 souvenir by visiting any EarthCache and completing the logging requirements from Friday, October 11 through Sunday, October 13, 2024. Celebrate International EarthCache Day 2024! – Official Blog (geocaching.com) Earn a brand new Adventure Lab® souvenir to celebrate Adventure Day by completing any Adventure Lab Location from Friday, October 18 to Sunday, October 20. Save the date: Adventure Day is October 19 – Official Blog (geocaching.com) Attend or host any CITO Event September 1 through November 30 to earn your CITO 2024 Season 2 souvenir. Cache In Trash Out® (CITO) Season 2 has begun! – Official Blog (geocaching.com) Why not plan to attend the NoVAGO Fall Picnic & Annual Auction (GCAXQTF) on October 20 and you MAY be able to claim the Adventure Day Souvenir while having a fun time with your friends? And if you would … Continue reading →

Spotlight Cache: The Loaner

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#National Name Your Car Day (October 2, 2024) Going down the list of fun/bizarre holidays you will find that October 2, 2024 is National Name Your Car Day!  There are plenty of famous cars out there like Herbie, Christine, Eleanor, and the General Lee.  Studies have shown that when people name inanimate objects like cars, they assign almost human-like attributes to it, and feel more in control. There are a few car related geocaches in NoVAGO territory (Just ask Joey-Jo), but one stands out as having a name assigned to it in the cache title. That car is The Loaner (GC493RZ). Placed in 2013 by mobywv, it is a letterbox where you follow a map through the woods to a 1976 Mercury Bobcat Villager. I am sure that there is good story behind a very old wrecked car that is rusting away in the forest, and that every geocacher who … Continue reading →

NoVAGO Volunteer Profiles: Officers

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#volunteerspotlight Did you know that NoVAGO is 100% run by volunteers? They are ordinary geocachers who want to give a voice for the the wider geocaching community while supporting efforts in their own Northern Virginia area. To spotlight opportunities in the org, we are running a series of job profiles between now and our “Thanks Event,” the annual volunteer appreciation lunch in January. NoVAGO Volunteer Profiles: Officers Our annual officer elections take place during the month of December. A nominations and election committee is formed to make the process run smoothly. This team will be accepting nomination for officer positions during the entire month of November. Anyone wanting to self nominate may reach out to the committee. If you know someone who you think would be perfect for one of the jobs, you may also reach out. The committee will contact each person nominated to confirm their interest before they … Continue reading →

NoVAGO Volunteer Profiles: Nominations and Elections Committee

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#volunteerspotlight Did you know that NoVAGO is 100% run by volunteers? They are ordinary geocachers who want to give a voice for the the wider geocaching community while supporting efforts in their own Northern Virginia area. To spotlight opportunities in the org, we are running a series of job profiles between now and our “Thanks Event,” the annual volunteer appreciation lunch in January. NoVAGO Volunteer Profiles: Nominations & Elections Committee Our annual officer elections take place during the month of December. A Nominations and Election Committee is formed to make the process run smoothly. This team will be accepting nomination for officer positions during the entire month of November. They will contact each person nominated to confirm their interest. In December they will create a ballot for any contested positions and will supervise an election. This committee is the first to know who will make up the officer slate in … Continue reading →