What's New
Wildscape Donates 30 GPS Units to KDWP
The Kansas Wildscape Foundation recently purchased 30 Garmin eTrex handheld GPS units to give to the Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks in support of their Geocache 2009 program.
2008 was the first year for the program, and many park attendees found out about the "treasure hunt" opportunity while at a park, but did not have their own GPS unit to participate. With the donated units, Wildscape hopes to provide a "loaner" to eager participants.
Participants use hand-held global positioning systems (GPS) to find and open the first cache, where they will find the coordinates of the second cache site. Upon finding the second cache site, the participant will sign a log sheet and take a certificate to turn in to that park office. Then they will receive a park-specific location ink pen and the official statewide KDWP Geocaching Entry Form. Entry forms can be validated at all KDWP park and regional offices, as well as the Pratt Operations Office, for each second cache found.
Prizes will be awarded based first on how many points are earned. Every second geocache found at each participating location will be worth one point. Prizes will be awarded on a point and time system after the contest ends Nov. 1. First place prizes (maximum of 50 winners) will be a choice between two nights in a KDWP camping cabin or one annual camping permit for 2010. The first 50 participants to earn all of the 31 points and submit their forms win a first-place prize.
Those who earn 31 points but mail their forms in after the first 50 will receive second-place prizes, a choice between one night in a camping cabin or a 14-day camping permit for 2010. Two nights camping and utilities will be awarded for third place winners.
This is the second year of this new outdoor recreation opportunity for Kansas Wildlife and Parks, one that may introduce many new patrons to state parks and other KDWP areas, as well as provide new activities for regular customers. "Getting people outdoors and to the parks is half the battle. Providing a quality and memorable experience that will bring them back outside for years to come is the other half." says Charlie Black, Wildscape's Executive Director. "I believe that KDWP’s geocaching program helps accomplish both challenges." For more information, visit www.kdwp.state.ks.us