MOGA FAQ

What is MOGA?
MOGA is the Midwest Open Geocaching Adventure. A fun event that was started by the St. Louis Area Geocachers Association.

Why does it exist?
MOGA exists because people have fun geocaching and hanging out with each other. Since the first MOGA in 2004, we have continued to grow it to become a popular Midwest event where people from all over can come and stay.

Where will it be in 2010?
Mark Twain Lake is one of Missouri's premier lakes. With a perfect setting for a geocaching event,
the US Army Corps of Engineers has donated the use of the Indian Creek Recreation Area, a beautiful
and peaceful area of the lake. The staff at USACOE have donated the ammo boxes we will use for the event.

Why do you always have the event at Mark Twain Lake?
Every city, county, and state agency we have contacted requires a minimum of 2 million dollars of insurance coverage for an event like ours. This would add from $10.00 to $15.00 to the registration of each participant.  The US Army Corps of Engineers has waived this insurance as long as everyone signs a waiver before they attend the event.  If this is not done, they will be forced to require the insurance coverage.  This is why it is so important everyone gets us their waiver.

Will there be camping?
Camping will be provided by the Corps of Engineers at the Indian Creek Recreation Area.
The camping is half price but you must call to reserve your spot. Full Hookups, (Sewer, Water, Electric) will be $12.00 per day while Electric Only sites will be $9.00 per day. Please call (573) 735-4097 and tell them you are with MOGA.

What about hotels?
There are many hotels and cabins in the area. Once again, we have negotiated a special MOGA rate with
local hotels, cabins and resorts. Check out the Accommodations page in the MOGA Manual for full details.

Do I have to register everyone in my family?
YES! We have multiple levels of registration from full-blown packets with meals to totally free registrations.
Please go to our registration page for full details. If you want to purchase meals, you must purchase them
in advance by registering online! Because of selling restrictions, no meal tickets can be purchased at MOGA.

Why should I purchase a registration package?
By signing up for a registration package early, you are guaranteed that you will be able to receive MOGA merchandise, and save money with a package deal. It also gives us the much needed revenue to purchase all of the merchandise in advance.
If you wait until the event to purchase merchandise from the store, it will cost you more to buy the items individually,
and we can't guarantee that everything will be in stock. This doesn't mean you have to pay online.
You have the option of mailing in a check.  Everyone who wishes to participate in the Poker Run must be registered. 
The Tin and Scout packages qualify.

Do I have to fill out a waiver?
We need a waiver from every person who attends MOGA. The waiver can be downloaded from the website
and faxed or mailed to us (see info at the bottom of the form). If you don't fill out a waiver beforehand, you
will have to fill one out at the Registration table at the event.

Can I enter all the competitions?
The Individual Competition will start at 8:00 am Saturday morning. The 2-Person Team (Couples) and the 4-Person
Team Competitions will both start at 1:00 pm Saturday afternoon. You could enter the Individual Competition
and a Team Competition, and have a chance to get two GOLD award coins.

Can couples split up if we each have a GPS?
No. The Couples Competition is designed to keep people together. Each team receives one punch card and must
cache together to look for the punches. It wouldn't be fair to other 2-person teams that have only 1 GPSr.

Can only 3 of us compete in the 4-person team?
Yes you can, but you will be at a major disadvantage. Four-person teams will split up and take certain areas.
Each team member will have a punch card, and they will fill their cards with punches however they feel
works best for them. Most teams will assign certain areas or punches to each person and rendezvous
back at the finish line prior to the deadline. This would be a major disadvantage for a 3-person team.
Therefore it is best to compete with 4 people, each with their own GPS.

Will there be food at the event?
Yes, we will have hot meals catered at the event. Just like in the past, you can pre-purchase breakfast on Saturday and Sunday, lunch on Saturday and Sunday, and dinner Saturday night. The menu for all meals can be found in the MOGA Manual. If you prefer, you can bring your own food, or visit one of the local eating establishments in the area. All MOGA meals must be pre-purchased. We are not allowed to sell meal tickets at the event.

I want to participate in the competition, do I still need to register?
YES! Everyone must register whether they are competing or not. You will need to register as a participant.
You can choose the registration level you would like, but it must be done. Register for the event and then
select the competition you want to enter.

Which age division will my team be assigned to?
Age divisions for the men's and women's Individual Competition and the Team Competitions are identical: 29 and Under, 30 to 49, and 50 and above. For 2-person teams (couples), we will take the average of both team members' ages to determine which age group you will compete in. For example, if the team members are age 12 + 36, the average age is 24, so your team would complete in the 29 and under group.  For 4-person teams, we will use the age group that the majority of team members fall in. For example, if 3 people are age 30 to 49, that's the age division your team will compete with. If there is no age majority, then we will use an average of all team members' ages. For example, if the team members are age 22 + 33 + 45 + 60 (160 total), we would divide that total by 4 to get 40, so the team would compete in the 30 to 49 age division. We changed this from previous years (where the youngest member determined your age division) so we can
get more 50+ teams involved.