NOVAGO’s 2024 Geocache Award Winners

Winners of NOVAGO’s 2024 Geocache Awards Thanks to all those who took the time to send in nominations and also to those who voted. MrPsyduck and Schwandt graciously formed an awards committee and together conducted behind the scenes technical magic to make the process fair. Our very own President, hrothroc, used her talent on the 3D printers and create medals for our winners to go along with the traditional trackable tags. We gathered in Franklin Park, Purcellville, Virginia on May 10th, 2025 to find out who would bring home the prizes as well as get to display the special winner’s SWAG on their cache pages. And the winners are… Best Traditional Cache GCAYDNR – NOVACON: Minifigure Mania! by sedor18 Best Mystery/Puzzle Cache GCAXWWH – NOVACON – Doctor Who by TheUnstealthy Monkey Best Multi-Cache GCAVXZ3 – NOVACON: Hogsmeade to Hogwarts  by Serrabou Best Letterbox GCAWFFF – NOVACON: Princess Peach Funland! by SP4FUN Best Other (Earthcache, Wherigo, or Virtual) … Continue reading

Nominees for NOVAGO’s 2024 Geocache Awards

Nominees for NOVAGO’s 2024 Geocache Awards Thanks to all those who took the time to send in nominations. While not all nominations were able to make the final cut, we were impressed with every suggestion. The hardworking awards committee have compiled the caches on this list from the very best of 2024. We invite all geocachers to go out and find as many of these wonderful caches as possible. For a geocaching friendly list, CLICK HERE. Voting has closed for the NoVAGO 2024 Geocache Awards. If you would like to change your ballot before the April 15th, deadline, email: awards@novago.org and a special link to your ballot will be provided. Winners will be announced at our NoVAGO’s 2025 Spring Picnic & Cache Awards Event on May 10th in Purcellville. Without further ado, here are the nominees: Best Traditional Cache GCAK199  – Arlington FLAG by TheUnstealthy Monkey GCAPFVZ – LPC: Inception … Continue reading

NoVAGO 2025 Spring Picnic & Cache Awards

NoVAGO’s 2025 Spring Picnic & Cache Awards (GCAXFZX)Community Celebration EventFranklin Park, Hillsboro Pavilion, 17501 Franklin Park Dr., PurcellvilleMay 10, 202511:00 am – 2:00 pmLog your ‘Will Attend’ now Join us in celebration! Whether you’re new to caching or have found thousands of caches, everyone is welcome to our event. We  encourage participation regardless of experience level. This is one of the two annual picnic events that NoVAGO Hosts. At this event we acknowledge the best caches and cachers of 2024 with awards – for more information: Voting was open between 4/1 and 4/15 and is now closed. Activities Cachers: You’ll have the chance to discover new caches in Northern Virginia (and elsewhere), catch up on the latest in the caching community, and meet new caching friends. It’s the perfect opportunity to share experiences and have a great time! Unique event type: A Community Celebration is a limited release event type to celebrate … Continue reading

2024 NoVAGO Award Categories

Each year NoVAGO honors some of the best caches that were placed in Northern Virginia. 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. For the 2024 NoVAGO Awards, nominations will be solicited for the following categories. Some changes have been introduced for some categories. Make sure that you refresh your understanding of the categories before submitting your nominations. Also, please note that none of these categories are required to be awarded each year. Cache type awards may be combined after the nomination period. -Printable worksheet to plan your nominations before heading to the nomination form: MyCacheNomination.pdf 2024 NoVAGO Cache Award Category Descriptions Cache Type: Best Traditional Cache – The familiar green box on the map, which one … Continue reading

2024 Spring Picnic Recap

NoVAGO Celebrates ‘Best of 2023’ with Spring Picnic NoVAGO announced winners of 2023 geocaching awards in Berryville, May 19, 2024 Members of the Northern Virginia Geocaching Organization gathered on Sunday, May 19th, 2024 at Chet Hobert Park in Berryville. As is our tradition, we announced winners of our geocaching awards, handed out some prizes, enjoyed a pot luck meal, did a little geocaching, and enjoyed the geocaching community we share. NoVAGO 2024 Spring Picnic and Awards Event. Any apprehensions that the late season date would lead to uncomfortable heat, were completely unfounded. In fact, the early reports of rain gave way to a warning of morning sprinkles that never materialized. Pop-up tents had been brought along for good measure, but remained untouched in our cars. The day started cloudy and mild, but warmed up with the sun just in time for some geocaching. Chet Hobert Park was a perfect host. … Continue reading

NOVAGO’s 2023 Geocache Award Winners

Winners of NOVAGO’s 2023 Geocache Awards Thanks to all those who took the time to send in nominations and also to those who voted. MrPsyduck and Schwandt graciously formed an awards committee and together did the bulk of the work to get the nominations narrowed down and run a ballot. Thank you fellas! One of our talented members, HyperactiveGirl, whipped up some extra gifts for our winner to go along with the traditional trackable tags. We gathered in Chet Hobert Park in Berryville on May 19th, 2024 to find out who would bring home the prizes as well as get to display the special winner’s SWAG on their cache pages. Drum roll, please . . . . And the winners are Best Traditional Cache NoVAGO Moviepalooza:The Sound of Music (GCAEQB7) by rlobecker Best Mystery/Puzzle Cache NoVAGO Moviepalooza: Nat’l Treasure:Book of Secrets (GCAEPVZ) by sedor18 Best Multi-Cache NoVAGO Moviepalooza: Godzilla (1954) (GCAEKH8) … Continue reading

Award Categories – Updates for 2024

Each year NoVAGO honors some of the best caches that were placed in Northern Virginia. 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. For the 2023 NoVAGO Awards, nominations will be solicited for the following categories. Three new categories have been proposed: Hider of the Year, Youth Cacher of the Year, and Youth Newcomer of the Year. In addition, some changes have been introduced for some other categories. Make sure that you refresh your understanding of the categories before submitting your nominations. Also, please note that none of these categories are required to be awarded each year. Cache type awards can be combined after the nomination period. -Printable worksheet to plan your nominations before heading to the … Continue reading

NOVAGO’s 2022 Geocache Award Winners

Winners of NOVAGO’s 2022 Geocache Awards Thanks to all those who took the time to send in nominations and also to those who voted. MrPsyduck and Schwandt graciously formed an awards committee and together did the bulk of the work to get the nominations narrowed down and run a ballot. Thank you fellas! At the encouragement of the NoVAGO president, ThompsonKickers, our PR officer whipped up some extra gifts for our winner to go along with the traditional trackable tags. We gathered in James S. Long Regional Park on May 6th, 2023 to find out who would bring home the prizes as well as get to display the special winner’s SWAG on their cache pages. Drum roll, please . . . . And the winners are Best Traditional Cache Kindness Rocks TB Hotel (GC9RXFB) by HyperactiveGirl Best Mystery/Puzzle Cache NoVAGO U: Chemistry 100 & 101 (GC9ZZH5) by hrothroc Best Multi-Cache … Continue reading

2022 Special Volunteer Recognition 

Each spring, NoVAGO recognizes outstanding caches and cachers for their contributions to our game during the previous year. Included in those honors is recognition of the Volunteer of the Year. This year, the Officers and Board of Directors have voted to add a Special Volunteer Recognition. The organization will select a separate Volunteer of the Year from the finalists nominated by the membership. NoVAGO is pleased to announce the 2022 Special Volunteer Recognition for Serrabou and Zippy Finn. These two special members volunteered their time and talents for the 2022 NoVAGO-sponsored NoVAGO U. cache series. They went above and beyond the caching to deliver entertaining games, puzzles, events, and experiences for the participants – and the on-looking caching community. 2022 is not the first year they have wowed northern Virginia – and we hope it will not be the last. When the awards ballot is released in April, the voting … Continue reading