Sept. 7, 2011 – Geocaching 101 Offered at Fort Wilkins Historic State Park Sept. 24
Fort Wilkins Historic State Park will host its Fifth Annual Go Get Outdoors Geocaching 101 event on Saturday, Sept. 24, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The free, family-friendly event is open to participants of all ages.
“Participants will spend the day exploring the beautiful Keweenaw Peninsula during fall color season,” said DNR Park Supervisor Robert Strittmatter. “This is an introductory class perfect for anyone not familiar with GPS (global positioning system) devices or the sport of geocaching.”
Geocaching is a modern version of treasure hunting, where GPS coordinates are used to guide participants to the treasure, or “geocache.” The caches typically contain small knickknacks and prizes for those who are able to locate it, and geocachers are encouraged to bring small items they would like to place in the cache for others to enjoy.
The Geocaching 101 event will incorporate caches of varying difficulty placed at sites that are historically, geologically or naturally significant to the Keweenaw Peninsula . Cache lists will be distributed starting at 9 a.m. at the West Barracks building. The event will also feature a treasure hunt for kids at 3 p.m., with prize drawings and a bonfire cookout following at 4 p.m. Participants must be present to win prizes.
This event is sponsored by local businesses and the Fort Wilkins Natural History Association (FWNHA). The FWNHA is a non-profit organization that provides support to Fort Wilkins Historic State Park . For more information, visit www.FortWilkinsNHA.
Located in Copper Harbor at th e tip of th e Keweenaw Peninsula, Fort Wilkins Historic State Park features a restored 19th Century m i li tary post wi th daily costu m ed portrayals of soldiers and th eir fa m i li es and m useu m exhibits en li vened by th e sights and sounds of ar m y li fe 160 years ago. Fort Wilkins is one of 11 nationally-accredited m useu m s ad m inistered by th e Michigan Historical Center , an agency wi th in th e Depart m ent of Natural Resources. Listed on th e National Register of Historic Places, th e outdoor m useu m is open daily fro m 8:30 a. m . until dusk th rough m id-October.
For further details, contact the park at 906-289-4215, (TTY/TDD711 Michigan Relay Center for the hearing impaired), or visit: www.michigan.gov/historicfortwilkins. Camping reservations can be made on line at www.midnrreservations.com or by calling the DNR central reservation system at 800-447-2757.
The Recreation P as sport h as replaced m otor vehic le per m its for entry into Michigan state parks, rec reation are as and state-ad m inistered boating access fee sites. This new way to fund Michigan outdoor rec reation opportunities also h el ps to preserve state forest ca m pgrounds, trails, and historic and cultural sites in state parks, and provides park dev el op m ent grants to local co m m unities.
Michigan residents can purch as e th e Recreation P as sport ($10 for m otor vehic le s; $5 for m otorcyc le s) by checking “YES” on th eir li cense plate renewal for m s, or at any state park or rec reation area. Nonresident m otor vehic le s m ust still display a va li d nonresident Recreation P as sport ($29 annual; $8 daily) to enter a Michigan state park, rec reation area or state-ad m inistered boating access fee site; th ese can be purch as ed at any state park or rec reation area, or th rough th e Michigan e-Store at www.michigan.gov/estore. To le arn m ore about th e Recreation P as sport, visit www.michigan.gov/recreationpassport or call 517-241-7275.
The Michigan Depart m ent of Natural Resources is co m m itted to th e conservation, protection, m anage m ent, use and enjoy m ent of th e state’s natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For m ore infor m ation, go to www.michigan.gov/dnr.
Click To Submit Press Releases, News, Calendar Items, and Community Events to mediaBrew radio stations WFXD, WKQS, WRUP, GTO, Fox Sport Marquette, and 106.1 The Sound
Marquette, Michigan Calendar; Ishpeming Calendar; Negaunee Calendar; Gwinn Calendar; Negaunee Calendar and Events; Upper Peninsula Calendar of Events; Escanaba Events and Calendar