Registration
In addition to logging a will attend on the cache page, every individual attending should pre-register using the link below. Registrations give us a good idea of how many people to plan and set up for as well as how many registration packets to prepare.
Click here to register: Registration. Please make sure to read the "About this event" section before registering.
Registration closes on February 1st, 2025. Everyone who pre-registers before December 31st, 2024, will get a chance to win a special edition of the WS25 geocoin.
Attendee packet for unregistered attendees (no charge):
- Game card(s)
- Voting chips and instructions for the Gadget & Creative Cache Contest
Registration packet for pre-registered attendees:
- Items from the attendee packet
- Fancy generic finder pen
- Swag and meal ticket(s) (if purchased)
- May include other items (TBD)
Can't Make It?
Please consider making a cash donation here: Donations
Winter Social is the only fundraiser event for MiGO.
Saturday, February 22, 2025
GCAV1E6
First Evangelical Covenant Church
1933 Tremont Blvd NW
Grand Rapids 49504
New caches will be published in the area, and there are plenty of existing caches to find.
9:00 AM
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•Doors open for volunteers only
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9:00 AM - 10:30 AM |
•Silent auction drop off
•Gadget & Creative Cache Contest drop off
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10:00 AM |
•Event sign in and swag pick up
•Volunteers will be on hand to answer questions, set up for activities, and get things ready for events in the afternoon. After picking up your registration packet, find old friends, make new friends, work on your bingo and crossword games, or go caching.
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11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
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•MiGO store open
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11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
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•Gadget & Creative Cache Contest open for viewing, testing, and voting |
12:00 PM- 2:00 PM
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•Silent auction open for bidding |
12:50 PM - 1:40 PM
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•Seminars 1 & 2 (TBD)
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2:10 PM - 3:00 PM
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•Seminars 3 & 4 (TBD)
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3:30 PM
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•Deadline to turn in bingo and crossword games |
3:30 PM - 4:00 PM
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•Pay for and pick up silent auction wins |
4:00 PM |
•Dinner
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4:30 PM - 5:15 PM
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•Announcements / live auction
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5:30 PM |
•Clean up and git
•Please help with tear down; many hands make quick work |
The Winter Social committee is working hard to finalize side events, and this page will be updated as more information becomes available. These events cannot officially publish until after November 22, 2024.
Date
|
GC Code |
Event Name |
Event Location
|
Event Time
|
Event Host
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Thursday, February 20, 2025 |
TBD |
TBD (welcome event) |
TBD
|
TBD |
TBD |
Friday, February 21, 2025 |
GCAVZ3R |
2025 Winter Social Lasso Community Lunch (Community Celebration Event)
|
Pizza Ranch - Kentwood
|
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
|
CCSquire |
|
GCAWJ4A |
World of Caching meets World of Winter
|
Downtown Grand Rapids River Front
|
TBD |
Sarahjo27 |
Sunday, February 23, 2025 |
TBD |
TBD (breakfast send-off) |
TBD
|
TBD |
TBD |
Swag
Pre-order swag by November 24th, 2024.
Click here to pre-order swag: WS25 Swag
This year's swag package contains:
- Specially designed coin for the event
- 2 event pathtags
- Pen
- DNF wipes (tissues)
- MiGO promotional sticker for Camp MiGO 2025
- May include other items (TBD)
Meals
Pre-order your meal ticket(s) by February 1st, 2025.
Click here to pre-order meal ticket(s): WS25 MealsThe meal this year is being catered by Two Scotts Barbeque and includes:
- Pulled pork
- Pulled chicken
- Pimento mac & cheese (V)
- Smoked beans (GF)
- Mustard potato salad (V) (GF)
- Pickles (GF)
- Homemade sauces (GF)
The silent auction is MiGO's main fundraiser each year. MiGO uses the funds generated to enhance caching in our community. Reward trails, Camp MiGO, supporting local events, GeoTour rewards, and much more.
Please consider donating to the silent auction. Donations do not have to be caching related.
At the 2020 Winter Social, a gadget cache contest resulted in several good entries. In 2022, we expanded the contest to include both gadget and creative caches. Get your thinking caps on, grab your pencils, clean your saw blades, and get ready to create something fun.
Click here to enter the Gadget & Creative Cache Contest: Entry Form
The deadline for entering the contest is February 12, 2025.
Gadget & Creative Cache Contest Rules
- MiGO membership is not a requirement to compete in the contest.
- Participants must enter beforehand to compete in the contest. Please use the link above to enter as early as possible and ensure your space in the judging room. If the room fills up, entries will be cut off.
- The entrant does not decide which category to enter. That will be up to the judges.
- Entries must be both designed and assembled by the entrant. The design or actual cache cannot be purchased or commissioned by the entrant from anyone else. An exception is that the entrant may enlist another person to help in fabricating needed part(s) if the entrant does not have the necessary tools available.
- The entry cache must be a new construction and not one that has been used in an already published geocache or one that has been entered in a previous contest.
- The entry cache must be able to contain at least a small amount of swag.
- The entry cache must be able to contain a log sheet/book within a separate water-resistant container.
- Any form of electrical assistance to “power” a gadget cache must be provided by the entrant, whether in the form of batteries, solar cells, etc. It is up to the entrant to make sure that the power function works prior to judging at the venue.
- Entries must be free-standing, whether on the ground, a tabletop, or a post. If a post mount is needed, a post with a tabletop or floor base for display purposes must be provided by the entrant.
- No limit on size other than that entries must comply with the above rules and must fit in whole or in parts through a 30" doorway.
- Entries must be complete and fully functional at the event venue to be judged by attendees.
- A written summary of how the entry cache works or how the log/swag are accessed must be provided on 8 1/2" x 11" paper for inspection by event staff. The summary must include the entrant's name, representative's name (if different), instructions for operation, and preferably a photo of the entry. Summaries will not necessarily be requested for viewing or judging.
- Either the entrant or a representative of the entrant must be present at the venue to set up, present the entry cache for judging, and remove the entry cache. The entrant does not need to be present during the actual judging period.
- MiGO is not responsible for any damage to any entries.
Judging
- Judging will be done by Winter Social attendees.
- Attendees will have one vote for the best gadget cache and one vote for the best creative cache.
- Attendees must vote in person during the judging period and may only cast their own votes.
- Attendees may not cast both their best gadget cache vote and best creative cache vote for the same entry.
Prizes
- Medals will be awarded for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in both the gadget and creative categories.
Host Hotels
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Grand Rapids-North
358 River Ridge DR NW
Walker, MI 49544
616-647-4100
[6.5 miles NE of event]
Reservations may be made using this link or by calling the hotel and mentioning MIGO Winter Social 25. ● Reservation cut off date is February 10, 2025
● Free breakfast
● Pool, hot tub, fitness center
● Complimentary self parking
● Double queen and king beds available at group rate
Holiday Inn Grand Rapids Downtown
310 Pearl St NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
616-235-7611
[3 miles E of event]
Reservations may be made using this link. ● Reservation cut off date is January 28, 2025
● Bar and lounge
● Complimentary parking, 2-mile radius free shuttle
● Pool and whirlpool
● Double queen beds available (no kings at group rate)
Other Hotels
Radisson Hotel Grand Rapids Riverfront
270 Ann St, NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
616-317-6874
[5 miles SE of event]
Hampton Inn Grand Rapids North
500 Center DR NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49544
616-647-1000
[6.5 miles NE of event]
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Grand Rapids South
5870 Clyde Park Ave SW
Wyoming 49509
616-261-4602
[11 miles S of event]TBD