Geocache Trail

The Maryland Municipal League (MML), with help from sponsors/partners, has launched a statewide city/town Geocache Trail.  This is the first Municipal Association in the country to launch such a trail.  A geocache trail is a series of geocaches tied together by a common theme, which in this case is Celebrating Maryland's Cities and Towns.  The MML trail is comprised of 78 city/town caches located in eleven MML Districts throughout the state.  A collectible, highly coveted geo coin will be given to the first 500 geocachers who locate a minimum of 22 city/town caches throughout the state.  To be eligible for the coin, geocachers must pick up a passport at any participating visitor center, use the stamp in each cache on their passport and write in the cache code word.  After at least two municipal caches in each of the eleven districts are discovered, geocachers may return to any one of the participating county visitor centers and have their passports validated to receive a collectible coin.  Passports may continue to be used even after all coins have been claimed as a way for geocachers to keep track of their MML Geocache Trail discoveries.

You can pick up a passport at the Cecil County Visitor Center in the Perryville Outlets, 68 Heather Lane, Suite 43, Perryville, MD, 21903.  Telephone:  410-996-6299.  Hours:  M-F 8-4:30, S 10-4, Su 11-2.

Cecil County is proud to announce that all eight of its incorporated towns are participating in the MML Geocache Trail.  If you have never enjoyed the hunt and discovery of a geocache, now is the time.  Geochaching is like treasure hunting.  You use a hand-held GPS (Global Positioning System) to plot map coordinates to locate the cache.  A logbook, rubber stamp, and "treasures" are hidden inside each geocache.  Geocachers typically take objects from the cache and replace them with something of similar value.  Make sure you write in the log book and stamp your passport indicating that you found the geocache.

To learn more about the MML Geocache Trail, check out their website by clicking here.

"Park Quest"

This year Park Quest has expanded to cover the entire State of Maryland from Mountains to Sea, including Cecil County's Elk Neck State Park.  The Elk Neck Adventure requires you to use your detective skills to uncover some secrets about the history and ecology of the area.  This will require you to complete an easy-to-moderate round-trip hike of 1.6 miles and should take you 1.5 to 2 hours to complete.  Your Quest begins from the Turkey Point parking lot and requires you to solve a series of puzzles.  The puzzle sheet can be found at www.dnr.maryland.gov/parkquest/elkneckpuzzle.pdf.  As you hike to Turkey Point, you will discover fascinating facts, such as where to view migrating hawks and where poison ivy likes to grow.  Once you arrive at the lighthouse, you will find clues on the surrounding signs and monuments to learn which two bodies of water are visible from Turkey Point and other interesting information about the lighthouse itself.  Once you have used your super sleuthing skills to complete the final puzzle, you have completed your Quest.  Don't forget to get your passport stamped.

For the best experience, we recommend that you complete your Quest on Saturday or Sunday between 10 am and 4 pm.  During those times, the lighthouse will be open for you to climb to the top and view the interior.  Also, a small concession is open offering souvenirs and drinks.  If you complete your Quest on the weekend between 10 and 4, show a volunteer your completed puzzles and have them stamp your passport.  If you complete the Quest on other days, hike back to your vehicle and drive north on Rt. 272 approximately 3 miles.  Turn right into the campground located at Elk River Area.  Pull into the far left lane as you approach the Camper Registration building.  Show the attendant your completed puzzle and ask them to stamp your passport.  Pets on a leash are welcome to join you on your Quest.

So form a team of kids and adults and get outside and complete at least eight Park Quests.  If you complete eight, you will qualify for the finale where teams compete for great outdoor prize packages.  Team registration begins April 11, 2009 and Quests start May 9th.  Registration is limited to 300 teams, so sign up now.  To learn more about Park Quest, or to register, go to www.dnr.maryland.gov/parkquest or call 410-260-8186 or toll-free at 1-800-830-3974.