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GEO-GAME
POLICY AND GUIDELINES...
(includes
Geocaching, Letterboxing, Geo-dashing, etc.)
This
policy may be amended to include other geo-games,
as those activities are created.
As approved by the Mount Nittany Conservancy
Board on November 16, 2008.
Mount Nittany Conservancy (MNC) is a nonprofit
organization whose mission is to acquire
and conserve lands on and around Mount Nittany,
a symbol of Penn State and the source of
its legends. To benefit the public, MNC
practices conservation, protection, and
management of these lands as historic, scenic,
recreational and environmental resources.
Geocaching
involves the placement of ‘caches’
(usually small containers) in natural
areas. The general location and geographic
coordinates of these caches are shared
on the Internet, i.e. at www.geocaching.com.
Global Positioning System (GPS) users
can then use the location coordinates
to search for and discover the caches.
Caches contain a variety of items and
the visitor is asked to leave a new item
to replace the one they removed. Cache
owners
monitor the cache they placed with logbooks
in the cache box, as well as on Internet
sites.
Letterboxing
involves the placement of small containers
in natural or urban areas that contain
a personal stamp (usually a rubber stamp)
and logbook. Participants follow clues,
sometimes using a compass or maps, to
locate the letterbox. The logbook in the
box is then stamped with the finder’s
personal stamp and the letterbox stamp
is stamped inside the finder’s logbook.
Information on letterboxing is available
at www.letterboxing.org.
Geo-dashing
includes the use of GPS unit to participate
in a game involving predefined waypoints
and does not involve the placement of
a physical cache.
Mount
Nittany Conservancy welcomes geo-gaming
as a healthy physical activity that encourages
recreation. The purpose of this policy
is to establish management and placement
guidelines for geo-gaming so as to minimize
the impact on natural and cultural resources
on MNC-managed land.
GUIDELINES
FOR PLACING A GEOCACHE OR LETTERBOX ON
MOUNT NITTANY CONSERVANCY LAND:
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The Cache/Box Owner is responsible for
care and monitoring of the cache/box
while on MNC property. MNC is not responsible
for lost, stolen, or damaged items.
Cache must be monitored regularly.
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When
choosing a location for a geo-cache
or letterbox, owners should be aware
of the perception of other visitors
and non-geocachers. Caches that interfere
with other recreational activities will
not be allowed. Also, cache locations
should not pose any danger to those
searching for the cache or to other
visitors. MNC retains the right to remove
a cache in the interest of protecting
the environment and/or visitor safety.
-
No
archaeological, historic, or ecologically
sensitive sites should be used for cache
locations.
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No
burying or digging is permitted. Cutting
trees, shrubs, or plants is also prohibited.
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Geocaches
and Letterboxes must be clearly labeled
“Geocache” or “Letterbox”
on the outside of the container. Inside
the container must be a log book, owner
contact information, and a brief information
sheet about geocaching or letterboxing
for unexpected discoverers to understand
the cache process.
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Cache
or Letterbox containers must be common
items such as a 35mm film container
or plastic kitchen container. No large
caches (i.e., buckets) are permitted.
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No
firearms, weapons, ammo, food, alcohol,
drugs, explosives, or adult items may
be included in the cache.
Cache contents must be suitable for
all ages.
-
Caches
or letterboxes placed on Conservancy
managed land must be available to the
public via a public website (such as
www.geocaching.com or www.letterboxing.org).
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