Roseburg geocaching kick-off event Feb. 3

ROSEBURG, Ore. – Calling Oregon treasure hunters: Roseburg’s next geocaching series launches on Saturday, Feb. 3.

Hosted by Roseburg Parks and Recreation, the Discover Roseburg 13 Land of Umpqua Geocache Series kick-off is a free, family-friendly event designed to draw people of all ages outside to experience more of the city and its businesses.

The public is invited to gather at 9 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 3, for the annual kick-off event at Stewart Park’s large pavilion, where Roseburg Parks and Recreation staff will give out verbal instructions and coordinate-containing “passports” for a high-tech geocaching treasure hunt. The event is expected to last until about 2 p.m., said Roseburg Recreation Coordinator Tracy David. If needed, Parks staff will supply pencils or pens to sign tiny log sheets at each geocache.

“Even though this event draws a large group of visitors from outside the area, it’s also an opportunity for locals to discover their community in a fun and unique way. You might even be taken to a place or business you never knew existed,” David said.

Participants are asked to bring a smart phone or other device equipped with a Global Positioning System, or satellite-based radio navigation system. Using a GPS to follow coordinates printed on the passports, participants will hunt for five real-world geocaches, or small containers, hidden around town, plus 15 virtual geocaches at special locations. Geocachers will navigate to all the spots and fill out their passport along the way. Sturdy shoes are recommended.

An Oregon resident reportedly stashed the first documented GPS-located cache near Beavercreek, Ore., in 2000. Roseburg Parks and Rec has sponsored geocache events for 13 years. Last year’s series commemorated Roseburg’s sesquicentennial, or 150^th birthday, on Oct. 3, 2022.

Many people have joined the “Discover Roseburg” geocache series for years, so David has been challenged to find new hiding places – especially for real-world caches.

“We can see upwards of 100 people at this event, which makes it great for beginner geocachers. People are so friendly and always willing to help you out and answer questions,” David said. “We encourage you to come out, even if you’ve never done it before. Just bring your GPS device or your smartphone with you.”

Participants can share experiences searching for caches online at geocaching.com.

The 2023 series included four out of five real-world locations marked by more than 10 people as a favorite on the geocaching.com website, where people share geocaches they enjoyed most – which could be cool hiding places, creative cache containers or interesting locations. One of those four – whose location can’t be revealed because the geocache series is still active – was chosen as a favorite by 22 participants last year. You can learn more about geocaching on the geocaching.com website.

People who find all 20 geocaches in the Discover Roseburg 13 challenge can redeem their passports for a limited-edition collector’s geocoin, or metal token, with a trackable ID number. Only 200 geocoins will be available. This geocache challenge will continue until all the geocoins have been awarded.

A total of 144 people – and several canine buddies -- took part in last year’s kick-off event. Some worked in teams, while others worked independently. There was no deadline for turning in the passports, but only two more geocoins from last year’s challenge remain to be claimed.

Participants who attend the kick-off event don’t have to turn in their passports on the same day. They can finish the hunt and complete their passports on their own time.

After the kick-off event, passports can be picked up or dropped off at Roseburg City Hall’s front lobby at 900 S.E. Douglas Ave. from 8 a.m. to noon or 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. An alternative, after-hours pickup/drop-off spot is Hampton Inn and Suites, 1620 N.W. Mulholland Drive in Roseburg.

Passports for 2022’s Discover Roseburg 11 and 2020’s Discover Roseburg 9 challenges remain available at City Hall. Additional passports for each of those years will remain available until all geocoins for that year have been given out – as long as the caches are still in good condition, David added.

For more information, check out the City’s Facebook page, or Parks and Recreation’s “events” webpage or Facebook page, or contact Roseburg Parks and Recreation at 541-492-6899 or tDavid@cityofroseburg.org.