Bash History

🌟 About Midwest Geobash

Midwest Geobash, Inc. is the non-profit organization behind the event, proudly registered in the State of Ohio. Since our first Bash in 2005, we’ve grown from a casual gathering of geocachers into a week-long celebration of friendship, adventure, and creativity.

🕰️ A Look Back: MWGB Through the Years

  • 2005 – Harrison Lake State Park, Fayette, OH
    🎉 Our first MWGB! Known as “A Casual Gathering of Geocachers of the Midwest and Great Lakes Region,” over 450 geocachers attended. Campers celebrated with flamingo-decorated sites. Original organizers: trippy1976, Bjorn74, Team Hydnckr, Sherwood Forest, and Girl Geek.

  • 2006 – Oakland County 4H Fairgrounds, Davisburg, MI
    🐧 First-ever Mega Event in geocaching history! Introduced Area 51, the Geocoin Poker Tournament, and Green Jeep travel bugs were released by HQ. It was a week-long fun event with the Penguin mascot.

  • 2007 – Noble County Fairgrounds, Kendallville, IN
    🦆 Shortened back to 3 days, the event grew with over 1,000 attendees! Duck was our mascot this year.

  • 2008 – Kendallville, IN
    🏴‍☠️ Theme and mascots are here to stay! Pirate Parrot led the fun. Area 51 participants had to “Walk the Plank”, Spider-Man visited, and the Batmobile crashed in late one night!

  • 2009 – Fulton County Fairgrounds, Wauseon, OH
    🤠 The event moved to our current home. Cowboy Chicken was the featured mascot and we gave away 20 GPS units! Coffee & donuts at 8 AM… some lessons are learned the hard way. 😅

  • 2010–2014 – Wauseon, OH
    🎰 2010: Casino Night. Our mascot was the Eagle
    🏖️ 2011: Pelican Beach Party, and the first time for international attendees
    🦉 2012: Spook the Owl Halloween Bash
    🎭 2013: Mardi Gras with the Peacock
    🎄 2014: 10th Anniversary “Christmas in July,” and all the bird mascots return

  • 2015–2019 – Wauseon, OH
    🦅 2015 Superheroes with the Falcon
    🏈 2016 Sports Bash with the Cardinal
    🐧 2017 Sci-fi Time-Traveling Penguin
    🎪 2018 Circus with Ringmaster Chicken
    🏰 2019 Medieval “Birds of the Round Table”

  • 2020
    ⏸️ First pause since 2004 due to COVID-19.

  • 2021–2025 – Wauseon, OH
    🕵️‍♂️ 2021: Golden Cache (Inspector Pigeon). Golden Flamingo Scholarship is born
    🦅 2022: Apocalyptic Bash (Buzzard mascot), Mad Bash Feather Road Geotour, and the first corn hole tournament
    🎮 2023: Video game theme, TeamPhoenix brings their creative caches to the Fairgrounds
    🎂 2024: 20th Anniversary Birthday Bash with a surprise proposal at Closing Ceremony
    🦖 2025: Prehistoric Dinosaur Bash, Pterodactyl mascot, Official HQ Block Party, and the warmest weather yet

  • 2026 – Wauseon, OH
    🎸 Rock & Roll Bash! Music, fun, and the classic MWGB energy at Fulton County Fairgrounds.

 

🧩 The MWGB Planning Team

MWGB is a labor of love, run entirely by volunteers. Every year, our team pours countless hours into planning, organizing, and executing the event so it’s fun for everyone. MWGB has grown into a family reunion for geocachers, and our crew is at the heart of it:

  • Ian (OnABoat) – Website, swag, ordering, and HQ relations.

  • Russ (Handyman & Fam) – On-site operations and liaison with the Fair Board.

  • Shannon (M0M0f5) – Poker Run, food vendors, and volunteer coordination.

  • JD (ShavedEwok) – Area 51 lead and new activity planning.

  • Melissa (Jamm637) – Social media, Kids Club, and keeping attendees informed.

 

💚 Volunteers: The Heart of MWGB

We couldn’t do MWGB without hundreds of volunteers giving thousands of hours every year. A special shoutout to:

  • Eric & Amanda Flint – Treasure Hunt leaders

  • Chris Baker – Area 51 coordination and Golden Flamingo Scholarship advisor

  • Joe & Cindy Baker – Halfway to Bash organizer, event setup and local caches

  • Tara & Derik Porter – Camping and side events

  • Tim Herald & crew – Keeping Area 51 fires going

  • Moni & Tim Lea (Team Phoenix) – Creative themed caches

  • Holly Nilsen – Kids Club

  • Lily Zimmerman – Interactive adventure Labs with the "Lab Rats"

  • Bill Manders – Poker Run coordination, meme legend

  • Allison Largent – Social media wizard

  • Reece Pauley- Event Grounds

  • Jared King, Matt Martin, Amanda Saville, Dianne Farrington, Traci & Andy Schnipke, Tracy & Don Tuttle, Jen Frazier, Kristi Pepper, Nate & Deborah Hewlett…and dozens more who make MWGB possible!

 

👑 Volunteers Emeritus

These past contributors shaped MWGB into what it is today:

  • Mike (Trippy1976) – Original organizer, website designer, Poker Run Programmer, & great ideas

  • Pete (The Moop Along) – Golf cart legend

  • Sonja (-Eleanor-) – Scheduling, decorations, and beads.....lots and lots of beads

  • Chris (Team Shydog) – Area 51 guidance

  • Brian (GrandPotentate) – Volunteer coordinator

  • Ed (Jellyfish) & Kathy (POMC) – Silent Auction

  • Laura (LadyLights) – Volunteer management

  • Matt (Lord Elwood) – Area 51 fires

  • Dan (Lightpeople) – Treasure Hunt creativity

  • Chad (SleepyWeasel73) – Area 51 Refreshments

  • Rich (Papa2All)- Treasure Hunt coordinator

 

All of our "Green Lanyard" Volunteers

If you see someone helping out at MWGB, take a moment to thank them—they are the backbone of this amazing community.