January 17, 2025 3:30 a.m.
Roseburg will launch its next geocaching series on Saturday February 1st.
A City of Roseburg release said an event will offer a perfect chance for treasure-hunting adventurers to celebrate the sports 25th anniversary in its home state of Oregon.
Hosted by Roseburg Parks and Recreation, the Discover Roseburg 14 Land of Umpqua Geocache Series kick-off is a free family-friendly event to draw people of all ages outside to experience more of the city and its businesses. The kick-off will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the large pavilion at Stewart Park on Northwest Stewart Parkway. Parks staff will give out verbal instructions and coordinate-containing passports for a geocaching treasure hunt.
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, which are hidden around town, plus 15 virtual geocaches at a special location. Geocachers will navigate to all the spots and fill out their passports along the way. Attendees should bring a pen or pencil to sign geocache logs.
The kick-off will feature an “Ask the Expert” table staffed by Mike Baker. Baker is a former Roseburg city councilor and Parks and Recreation Commission chairperson. He first suggested that a geocaching event be held in Roseburg as a way to attract visitors.
Baker and his wife, Janice, have been geocaching for about 20 years. He will troubleshoot participants geocaching apps and help them learn how to use their GPS devices.
People who find all 20 geocaches can redeem their passports for a limited-education collectors geocoin with a trackable ID number that will commemorate the sports 25th anniversary. Only 200 geocoins will be available. The geocache challenge will continue until all the geocoins have been awarded.
After the kick-off event, passports can be picked up or dropped off in the front lobby of Roseburg City Hall. An alternate after-hours pickup /drop off spot is the Hampton Inn and Suites on Northwest Mullholland Drive.
For more information, check out the Parks and Recreation Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=roseburg%20parks%20and%20recreation