FEATURED ARTICLE~ by GbmcacheInterview with the NCreviewerNCR: I saw an article about it in the [Raleigh] News and Observer. It took a few months before I bought a yellow [Garmin] Etrex GPS receiver, but we went out to find our first cache immediately. We also attended our first event shortly after and met some of the other locals.
GCGC: How did you come to be the reviewer for North Carolina? Why did you take on such a responsibility? How long have you had the job and when, if ever, do you plan to retire?NCR: I was asked to join the team by someone who was already a reviewer. That is the only way to become a reviewer. I had been discussing the possibility of doing some volunteer work with my wife at that time. I felt it was a good way to give back to the sport that provides so much enjoyment for me, and to share with the local community of geocachers. I started on April 1, 2005-an appropriate date IMO [In My Opinion.] I don't foresee stepping down anytime in the near future. I enjoy doing it, and have the time to dedicate to the process. I also enjoy working and playing with the other reviewers.
GCGC: What do you mean by working and playing with the other reviewers? What is your relationship with the reviewers in other states?NCR: We are all part of a worldwide team of volunteers. In addition to reviewing the submitted caches we support Groundspeak [the sponsor of the Geocaching.com website] with review and edits to the guidelines. On occasion we are also asked to beta test website code updates.
I am closer to some than others as a friend, but enjoy getting to spend time with them whenever possible both online and in person. Just like any other cachers who enjoy each other’s company. And whenever I travel I try to make time to visit with the local reviewer and do some caching with them. My recent trip to CO was planned around attending an event hosted by the player persona of one of the reviewers there and involved a 4WD jeep ride through the National Forests and over the Continental Divide. The reviewer from NV joined us and we rode in his full sized Green Jeep Travel Bug
GCGC: Who reviews your caches?NCR: I do. Occasionally I might pass an idea by another team member for some peer review
GCGC: If a geocacher wanted to become a reviewer how would he go about applying for the job? What are the qualifications? What is the expected commitment?NCR: That question comes up often enough that there is a Knowledge Base article on the topic:
How to be a volunteer reviewer? Some of us have more time to give than others. Some territories are busier than others, and have multiple reviewers to provide proper coverage.
GCGC: Is it a volunteer position or are you compensated in some way?NCR: Strictly Volunteer. But I do have the direct line to discuss issues with Signal if necessary. We also get a nice card at the holidays. I think I got a lump of crystal plastic with a plaque at year 5.
GCGC: Who or what is Signal?NCR:
Signal the Frog is the official mascot for Groundspeak. We refer to Groundspeak as Signal. Groundspeak is the owner of the
geocaching.com website. You can learn more about the relationship between Groundspeak and Geocaching at
Groundspeak.comGCGC: About how much time do you spend a week, a month reviewing caches? Tell us how you fit this responsibility into your vary active caching life and your family life.NCR: It takes somewhere between 5-10 hours a week to keep things running smoothly. I'm self employed, have a very understanding and lovely wife, and we don't have kids. Taking care of her and our home is first, our business and employees second, and then there is time for caching and reviewing. Sometimes I can fit that in during working hours like this afternoon.
GCGC: About how many caches are published in North Carolina each month? Do you see an increasing or decreasing rate? Are there cycles that you notice? NCR: Between several dozen and several hundred. It depends on how many you guys hide. It varies with the seasons and the weather. There's usually a spike in activity from new cachers who get holiday GPSr's as presents. Summer slows a little with the heat, but not so much.
GCGC: How often to you have to deny the publication of a cache, what percentage of the total caches that you review? NCR: I cannot give a specific number or a percentage. Thankfully it is pretty small.
GCGC: There is the 528 feet (0.1 mile) separation rule between caches. Are there any exceptions?NCR: I'm a bit of a stickler on that one, and don't allow many exceptions. If there is a natural barrier that makes the separation effectively greater I'll consider it.
GCGC: What are some of the other rules in submitting a cache for publication that you see frequently broken and would like for the reader to pay attention?NCR: Just read the guidelines.
No, Really Read Them. Don't just check the box saying you did. Check the proximity to other caches yourself using the links on your cache page. It won't show hidden puzzle or intermediate waypoints, but at least a few caches each week get dinged for being too close to another published traditional cache. We also see a lot of vacation hides in the mountains and at the coast in NC. But I doubt any of those hiders are reading this article. There's always a few that get placed too close to schools. Put yourself in the place of a nervous parent or teacher and think how a seeker’s actions will be perceived by someone who isn't familiar with geocaching. There is very little flexibility on the 150' distance from RR tracks.
A few years back a SC legislator attempted to pass a law that would practically ban geocaching in the state. The issue arose from misunderstanding about caches placed within cemeteries, especially historic ones. Many people view them as sacred grounds, and no place for a game/sport to take place. It's important that we respect their wishes even if we don't agree with their position, and place our caches in a manner that keeps seekers away from the actual grave sites. Some of the best cemetery caches are offset multis that require you to gather info from some of the stones, and then lead to the cache placed in the trees outside the cemetery itself.
GCGC: Besides the separation rule what is the very first thing you look at when reviewing a cache. Do you have a check list that you follow or do you just scan the cache page?NCR: The first thing I look at is who hid the cache and the thumbnail google map. The reviewers use a specially formatted version of the same cache page that you see. It strips out a lot of the pretty stuff, and adds some links and other items that allow us to work more efficiently. I tend to view the page much as you look at a menu and some things will occasionally jump off the page and catch my eye. Other times it takes a little more work.
GCGC: If a hider disagrees with your assessment of the cache and your denial of its publication, what options, if any, does he have?NCR: The answer to this one is also in the
guidelines for listing a cache at geocaching.com under the heading
"If your cache has been placed on hold, temporarily disabled, or archived." First try to establish a reasonable dialogue with the reviewer; we really do want to help get your caches published. There aren't any prizes at the reviewer clubhouse for 'most archived or denied'. Second, start a thread in the geocaching.com forums. Third, request that a thread be started in the private reviewer forum. Fourth, write to appeals at geocaching.com.
GCGC: As a reviewer what are the types of caches that you enjoy reviewing the most? Can you give some examples?NCR: Any cache where the owner has put some real thought and effort into the location, cache, and/or the listing. I'd rather not single out anyone's caches.
GCGC: What about comical caches, caches that you just laughed out loud when reviewing them? Examples?NCR: Sorry, nothing really memorable in this category right now.
GCGC: What types do you enjoy the least reviewing? Any examples?NCR: An obvious string of PnG [Park and Grab] listings with massive copy and paste activity. I'd rather not single out anyone's caches.
GCGC: Do you ever inspect, or ask someone else to inspect, a cache after it has been published? Do you ever go back and look at a page for a published cache and think that you ought not to have published it?NCR: There may have been a few over the years that required a slightly more personal touch.
GCGC: Will you give a bit more detail on what you mean by personal touch?NCR: Nope.
GCGC: What are some of the reasons that you as the reviewer will take the summary action to archive a cache?NCR: Private property without explicit permission. Lack of maintenance.
GCGC: What has been some of the most interesting or bizarre caches that you have been asked to publish and did? How about some that you did not publish? NCR: There are two very interesting and creative series caches that I keep on a bookmark list as I love reading the logs on these special experience caches. One is the Athena's Trilogy by shymntmn
(GC1KQC2),
(GC175HV) and
(GC11GW5). The other is the LOTR (Lord of the Rings) quad by The Alethiometrists
(GCMWQ2),
(GCMWR9),
(GCMWRR) and
(GCMWT7). The former is very high on my personal To Do list. I was privileged to be in the FTF group on the latter. It really shows when someone puts extra effort into creating a memorable experience for those who look for their caches. I can't really discuss caches that weren't published.
GCGC: You mention being First to Find for the LOTR series. Being an avid cacher, when you publish a cache very near you what holds you back from rushing out to be the FTF, especially on the challenging ones?NCR: The fact is I don't care about the FTF race/hunt. I've never tracked them, but would be surprised if I had more than a handful. I just happened to be part of that group on the LOTR series because I had the day off and someone else organized the gathering.
GCGC: What is the most difficult part of the job of a reviewer?NCR: Telling someone, especially a newer cacher, that their "baby is ugly" and cannot be published as submitted. Also, denying caches that promote worthwhile agendas.
GCGC: What do you like most about the job?NCR: Helping those people understand the guidelines and getting their caches published.
GCGC: Is there anything we have not asked that you would like to have asked?NCR: I think you have covered it all. The one statement I will make while I still have the soapbox is this: When you are hiding a cache, do you ask yourself, "Why am I bringing people to this spot and will it make them smile when they find my cache?"
The GCGC would like to thank the NCreviewer for taking the time out of his busy schedule to spend it with us and answer some questions that may be on the minds of many geocachers everywhere. We hope that by answering these questions, he has helped you to understand more about what the volunteer reveiwers go through and see on a regular basis. If you ever get the opportunity, thank a reviewer. We're sure they would appreciate it.
