Day 1 (Monday 11/17)

The Holiday season is getting underway, and it's too early to put up a real tree in the house. It is, however, time for a distraction. Let's go caching!

The elves have never heard of Geocaching and they need help understanding the game. Today, your challenge is:

Task:

Find a cache with at least 10 favorite points. 

Day 2 (Tuesday 11/18)

Elves are funny creatures, and they sometimes tend to hide things so that they do not get lost.  Often this means they can't find it later.  Santa thinks elves are a lot like people in this way.

The elves have been trying all day to find the holiday decorations.

Task:

Hide a cache as a gift to the community.  Any cache type is fine.  Submit to review so that it will be published soon.   Hides must be published before 12/15

Day 3 (Wednesday 11/19)

After searching for the great part of yesterday, the elves managed to find the box of decorations that they had hidden while cleaning up last season. They also found several boxes from years past that they had forgotten about.   Do you know where your decorations are? 

With that under control, it's time for some down time.  

Task:

Find a cache that was hidden more than five (5) years ago today (11/18/2020 or older)

Day 4 (Thursday 11/20)

While it's starting to get cold in Michigan, it's cold year-round at the North Pole.  Are you ready for the cold weather? Have you found your hat, gloves and Ice scraper? Are you ready for some cold weather caching?  At least the mosquitoes are gone.  The elves scratch their heads and wonder what a mosquito is. 

Task:

Find a cache within a proximity to water; somewhere one would expect mosquitos in the summer months.

Day 5 (Friday 11/21)

There is nothing like a cup of Hot Chocolate on a cold day. There is nothing like chocolate on any day.  Geocachers like food and they like friends; what better combination

Events are the best way to share and learn about all things caching. 

Task:

Attend an event and break bread with your favorite type of people; Geocachers of course. 

Note: there are events today in Reed City, Holland, Three Rivers, Manistee, Saginaw, Cadillac, and Rockford.   But, if you can’t get to these you can attend an event Saturday in Madison Heights or Ortonville, or Sunday in Grand Rapids, Buchanan, Madison Heights, Hartford or Webberville.  

Day 8 (Monday 11/24)

The elves are getting ready for the Holiday rush, and so is Santa. Those of us in the USA are preparing for Thanksgiving though. Santa is Thankful he doesn't have to grocery shop.

Task:

Find a cache in which the cache name has one or more of these words in the title:   "Happy", "Thank", "Give", "Day" or "Turkey" 

If you can't find one, place one!

Day 9 (Tuesday 11/25)

Time is running out better make sure to get Thanksgiving shopping done.  Time always seems to get away from Geocachers.  Who else takes twice the time to get to a destination?  It's a good thing Santa does not stop for caches while preparing for his big trip. 

Save some time today by keeping your caching light. 

Task:

Find a Traditional cache, any traditional will do.

Day 10 (Wednesday 11/26)

On this day in 1789 a national Thanksgiving Day is observed in the United States as proclaimed by President George Washington at the request of Congress.

Hopefully, you have left available some time to find a cache today, after all, all work and no play makes for a very dull day, not to mention a dull Geocacher. 

Task:

Find a cache that references number 26. 26+ Favorite points, or a 26 in the coordinates, 26 in the GC code, hidden on the 26th of a month, or 26 in the cache name or cache description. Or, find a cache in Turkey in the cache name. (this one might be difficult for some)

Day 11 (Thursday 11/27)

The day for feasting has arrived! Spending time with family is priceless.  The Elves always make sure to have the four food groups at their feasts, though they don't celebrate on the same day as humans. What are the four food groups you ask? Candy, Candy Canes, Candy Corn and Syrup of course.

Don't spend too much time caching today (unless you really want to).

Task:

Simply grab a "Park & Grab" today, or the easiest find you can manage. 

Day 12 (Friday 11/28)

Black Friday! Yuck say the Elves. Elves typically value craftsmanship, community, and the true spirit of giving rather than mass-produced goods and frenzied shopping.  The elves have a very low opinion regarding the commercial aspects of the season but understand the hunt for deals.

In the spirit of the season, what can you give to the caching community? If you are shopping, pick up some swag.

Task:

Find a "large" cache today and add some swag that will make you fellow cachers smile.

Day 15 (Monday 12/01)

National Christmas Lights Day

National Christmas Lights Day is celebrated on December 1st to commemorate the creation of the first electric Christmas lights by Edward Johnson in 1882. This celebration highlights the safety and beauty of electric lights, which replaced dangerous candles on Christmas trees and ultimately led to the popular, elaborate light displays seen today.

We were going to ask the elves what they thought about Christmas lights, but they seem to have been struck into a trance by the brightness.

Task:

Find a cache near a holiday display; we are not going to check that there is a display nearby, but the elves are watching...or they will be once we turn off the lights.

Day 16 (Tuesday 12/02)

National Mutt Day

As guardians of nature, the elves believe all life has inherent worth, regardless of its origin or lineage. National Mutt Day, which raises awareness for shelter dogs, aligns with their compassion for creatures that have been abandoned or overlooked by mortals.

While the Elves would like you to consider supporting a local rescue, this is a Geocaching game.

Task:

Find a multi-cache today

Day 17 (Wednesday 12/03)

During a historic snowstorm of on December 1st and 2nd in 1974, a total of 18.9 inches of snow fell over the Detroit area in the 24-hour period beginning at 4:53 a.m. Sunday, December 1, 1974. Grand Rapids only received 9-12 inches. Flint received 8 inches while areas north received little to none.

This would have allowed plenty of snow in the southern areas of the state to build many snowmen on December 3, 1974. A query to the elves resulted in confusion as there is always enough snow at the North Pole to build a snowman and they found this to be more work than fun.

Task:

Find a cache that has the "Available in Winter" attribute

Day 18 (Thursday 12/04)

National Cookie Day

National Cookie Day was created in 1987 by Matt Nader of the Blue Chip Cookie Company to celebrate cookies and their role during the holidays. The first Blue Chip Cookies store opened on Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco, California, in March 1983 and the company now has 6 locations. The closest to Michigan are in Hamilton and Milford Ohio, outside of Cincinnati. 

Sounds like a good place to visit. The elves wonder if they can talk Santa into a detour. They might have some luck; we all know that Santa loves cookies. 

Task:

To represent the "third" owners, find a cache that was hidden in a year ending in "3" (2003, 2013, 2023)

Day 19 (Friday 12/05)

Ice skating began with bone skates, developed over 5,000 years ago in Scandinavia for travel, not sport. Can you imagine having to travel by Ice skate? The elves think this would be very inefficient. What if we had to Geocache by ice skate? 

Today of course Ice Skating is mainly a sport and is practiced both professionally and recreationally.

Task:

Find a cache near a sporting venue or a park where one might encounter skating. We understand that "near" is relative; use your judgement. 

Day 22 (Monday 12/08)

Today is Pretend to be a Time Traveler Day. 

The elves don't understand why there is a special day for this. Isn’t time travel normal? Santa can be considered a time traveler, after all, what else can explain how he can visit millions of kids in one night? Santa slows down time, to complete his tasks.

Task:

Find a cache placed in December of any year.

Day 23 (Tuesday 12/09)

As Galadriel the elf caught a glittering snowflake on her nose, its crystal magic tickled her with winter's delight. Galadriel wonders how it would be to cache and catch snowflakes at the same time, but since she doesn't get much time away from the North Pole, where she has never seen a Geocache, she has been using her elf magic to watch the humans’ caching adventures. 

Task:

Find a cache that is listed as a "regular" size

Day 24 (Wednesday 12/10)

Today is official Sleigh Bell Polishing Day at the North Pole. An elf named RiverSage and his team are working hard to polish the brass sleigh bells until they gleam like tiny stars, their sound holding the promise of magic. Since each reindeer wears a set of sleigh bells this is a task that takes several elves and several hours. 

Task:

Find or hide a cache the includes one or more of the following words. River; Sage; Brass; Sleigh; Bell; Bells; Magic; Star.

Day 25 (Thursday 12/11)

Every handmade decoration tells a story, bringing a unique kind of magic to the Christmas tree. From ornaments that children make for their parents, to ornaments made by crafty people, ornaments can evoke memories of good times or loved ones. There are even special ornaments for Geocachers. 

Task:

Find any cache large enough for swag. Add an ornament to the swag in the cache you find.

Day 26 (Friday 12/12)

Poinsettia Day

Poinsettia, Poinsettia, Poinsettia! Red or Pink, Maroon or White, even marbled. 

The poinsettia has a history stretching from the ancient Aztecs in Mexico, who used its leaves for dye and sap for medicine, to its introduction to the United States by Joel Poinsett, the first U.S. ambassador to Mexico, who in the 1820s, discovered the plant and sent cuttings to his greenhouses in South Carolina. 

Task:

Find a cache hidden in a plant - tree, bush, vine, etc.

Day 29 (Monday 12/15)

Cat Herders Day

Cat Herders Day, observed on December 15th, is a humorous recognition of anyone whose job or life is like "herding cats”; a metaphor for managing an unmanageable or chaotic situation. One can imagine that this would apply to the elves at the workshop with only 10 days left until the big delivery night. The elves busily craft toys and prepare for Christmas, demonstrating a level of coordination far beyond what any real-life cat herder could achieve, but it's still a very hectic time.

Task:

Find a cache that has the Stealth required attribute. Or find a cache place on December 15th or any year.

Day 30 (Tuesday 12/16)

A few of the elves are annoyed with the current selection of festive hats, frequently adorned with bells or other decorations, that are a signature accessory for all elves at Santa's workshop in the North Pole. They want more stylish options but are not sure what they really want. Matching mittens would be nice. 

Task:

Post a photo of you in your winter hat on your found log today. Any Cache will do. 

Day 31 (Wednesday 12/17)

Traditionally, holly has a deep connection with ancient folklore and spirits, particularly elves and fairies. The evergreen nature of the holly leaf, which keeps its vibrant color in the darkest part of winter, led ancient Celts and Druids to believe it was a symbol of eternal life and protection. They would bring holly branches into their homes to offer shelter to these Sylvan spirits, and in return, the elves and fairies would bestow good luck upon the home's inhabitants.

Task:

Find any Traditional Cache

Day 32 (Thursday 12/18)

Answer the phone like buddy day.  "Buddy the Elf, what's your favorite color? 

Born December 18th, Buddy was adopted by elves and Santa Claus as a baby, so he never discovered exactly how to be human. At least, that is how the fable goes.

Will you answer the phone this way today? If you do, share your experience on the MiGO FB Page. 

Task:

Find a cache that was placed on December 18th of any year.



Day 33 (Friday 12/19)

The movie Elf was released in the United States in 2003. It became a major critical and commercial success, grossing $220 million worldwide against a $33 million budget. Will Ferrell's performance as Buddy, was praised by critics.

Santa's elves are suspicious; this character is like no elf they have ever met. Regardless, even Santa's Elves like this movie. Even an Elf needs a chuckle from time to time, so movie night at the North Pole might be known to feature this showing.

Task:

Find a cache with one of these words / numbers in the title.

Elf; Elves; 33; Will; Movie; North; Pole 

Or a cache placed in 2003

Day 36 (Monday 12/22)

Cookie Exchange Day

Cookie Exchange Day is a favorite day of

the year for all the elves at the North

Pole, where they trade plates of their

finest sugary concoctions. Peppermint-

swirl cookies are a particular favorite. A

flurry of frosting-covered fingers and

excited giggles fill the workshop, as

everyone taste-tests each other's sweet

creations. Plus, the sugar-rush helps

with the last-minute preparations for the

big day.

Task:

Find a "other" size cache today

Day 37 (Tuesday 12/23)

After finishing their last-minute gift-wrapping

on December 23rd, the cheerful elves sent

out tiny thank-you notes to all the children

who had left Santa cookies, because Santa

always brings home some of the cookies to

share. Having completed their biggest tasks

just before Christmas Eve, the elves were

grateful for the kindness shown to them

throughout the season.

How are you enjoying the MiGO challenges?

The Challenge Committee works very hard to

bring fun challenges and contest to the

group. Remember to thank the committee

when you cross paths.

Task:

Find a cache in which the title contains the

words "thank" or "you" or a cache placed by MiGO or for a MiGO event. (Camp MiGO, Winter Social, Hiker Dude Geoart.

Day 38 (Wednesday 12/24)

Scandinavian tradition closely links gnomes

(or nisse) to elves, both being small,

magical folk who are guardians of the

home and farm. On Christmas Eve,

children often leave out a bowl of

porridge with butter, a tradition to honor

the gnomes for their work all year and

encourage them to bring gifts, a role often

shared with elves. While elves are known

for working with Santa at the North Pole,

gnomes are more tied to individual

households and the protection of their

occupants.

Task:

Find any cache that published in December (any year)

Day 39 (Thursday 12/25)+

On Christmas Day, after a long night of

hard work, a tired group of elves finally sat down for a

relaxing meal. Leaving the holiday rush

behind, they savored a plate of warm

gingerbread cookies and a mug of hot

cocoa. The peaceful meal was a much-

deserved break, giving the elves a

moment to enjoy the day they had helped

create.

Task:

Find a cache, any cache!

Day 40 (Friday 12/26)

On December 26, after the long, busy night of

Christmas Eve, Santa and his elves finally get a

well-deserved day off. While Santa enjoys a long

nap, the elves celebrate with a massive party in

the North Pole, complete with snowball fights

and treats. Hopefully they will not get too loud.

Task:

Find a multi-cache today



Day 43 (Monday 12/29)

In Michigan, holiday light displays across the state create a winter wonderland, where festive elves are sometimes spotted helping with the decorations. Families flock to spectacular events like the Nite Lites drive-thru at Michigan International Speedway or the Wild Lights at the Detroit Zoo, where intricate light setups are rumored to have been arranged with a little extra North Pole magic. Meanwhile, local initiatives like The Village Elves in Milford bring the spirit of the holiday season to life by helping families in need, all while twinkling lights illuminate towns and cities from Rochester to Grand Rapids.

Task:

Find a cache in which the cache name includes one of these words. Light, Holiday, Michigan, Spirit

Day 44 (Tuesday 12/30)

Beneath the fading glow of the Aurora Borealis, the North Pole's post-holiday aroma lingered, a sweet blend of peppermint, vanilla, and the last traces of pine from Christmas trees. Elves and bears, finally able to relax, enjoyed the unique fragrance as a comforting reminder of their successful year. Some of the elves get confused and call this phenomenon the Aroma Borealis. 

Task:

Find a cache that is classified as one of these: Virtual, Wherigo, Letterbox or Earthcache. 

Day 45 (Wednesday 12/31)

The year is about to sunset; The elves are deep into relaxation mode, as this is their "vacation" time following the big day. Icelandic folklore describes elves as being particularly active on New Year's Eve, with stories of them dancing and offering treasures to humans. Maybe they would enjoy a New Year's Eve Geocaching event? 

Task:

Attend an event today; if the elves join you, don't give their identity away.

Day 46 (Thursday 01/01)

.

On the morning of New Year's Day, while the rest of the North Pole slept off the previous night's celebrations, the Tipsy Elves were just getting started. The Tipsy Elves are a rather small, rowdy sect of workshop elves known for their boisterous carousing.  Most of the time, they are kept in check by the sheer volume of toy-making, but on New Year's Day, with Santa's sleigh officially in storage, their wild spirits roam free.

The Tipsy Elves need an outlet.  Can they go geocaching with you?

Task:

Find a cache that published on January 1 of any year.

Day 47 (Friday 01/02)

In the quiet of a new day's morning, a snowman couple, their twig arms intertwined, set off on a winter adventure. The elves watch them from behind a tree.  Using a waterproof map hidden inside one of their top hats, the couple navigated through the fresh snow, searching for a hidden treasure they were determined to be the first to find this year. With each gentle step, their icy bodies creaked with anticipation, knowing a new journey awaited them beyond the frosted trees.

Task:

Find a cache that published after December 25, 2025