ROSCOMMON and OGEMAW COUNTIES – The Houghton Lake Area Tourism Bureau (HLATB) and West Branch Visitors Bureau (WBVB) have collaborated to form the Ogemaw Roscommon Bureaus GeoTour (O R B GeoTour).
Geocaching is a type of treasure hunt where seekers use global positioning system (GPS) devises to find hidden caches. There is an option after finding the caches to “take an item and leave an item” from the cache box. And a log to sign saying you have found it.
The O R B GeoTour is a custom tour showcasing exciting locations around both Roscommon and Ogemaw counties. Upon completion of the tour, seekers will receive both a physical and a digital award.
30 caches will be placed within the two counties. The caches are uniquely designed by Bureau personnel, other geocachers, and local school students.
“The tour it will create great memories while highlighting Ogemaw County main attractions,” said Heather Neuhaus, WBVB Executive Director. “The boxes the students decorated are so creative!”
Participants will need to register at geocaching.com. There will be a passport to download to keep track of the caches and code words. Find at least 28 of the caches, fill out the survey, and receive a collectible, trackable, geocoin. Find all 30 caches and receive your digital souvenir.
“I’m so excited to be able to showcase some of Roscommon County’s best locations,” said Theresa Ekdom, HLATB administrative assistant. “You will love all there is to see and do in the heart of Northern Michigan.”
The bureaus were assisted in setting up the GeoTour by members of the Michigan Geocaching Org (MiGO) including Geocacher “Merlin1392” (Tim).
“That’s the reason we like this game,” Tim said. “To get out in nature and see what you can see. The places we go, the things we see, and the people we meet – that’s what geocaching means to me.”
The launch event will be held May 20 from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. at N 44° 16.555 W 084° 14.444 (The West Branch Chamber of Commerce in West Branch) with breakfast, geocaching 101 and recognition. The O R B GeoTour itself will kick-off at 10 a.m.
The Wrap-up event will be held May 21 at N 44° 29.997 W 084° 35.600 (The AuSable River Center in Roscommon) from 2 – 4 p.m. Those who have completed the tour can collect their geocoin at the event.
For more information, go to either VisitHoughtonLake.com or VisitWestBranch.com.
