At the 2020 Winter Social, a gadget cache contest resulted in several good entries. In 2022, we expanded the contest to include both gadget and creative caches. Get your thinking caps on, grab your pencils, clean your saw blades, and get ready to create something fun.

The deadline for entering the Gadget & Creative Cache Contest is February 20, 2026. Click here to enter: Entry Form

The schedule for the Gadget & Creative Cache Contest can be found under the Main Event tab.

Gadget & Creative Cache Contest Rules

• MiGO membership is not a requirement to compete in the contest.
• Participants must enter beforehand to compete in the contest. Please use the link above to enter as early as possible and ensure your space in the judging room. If the room fills up, entries will be cut off.
• The entrant does not decide which category to enter. That will be up to the judges.
• Entries must be both designed and assembled by the entrant. The design or actual cache cannot be purchased or commissioned by the entrant from anyone else. An exception is that the entrant may enlist another person to help in fabricating needed part(s) if the entrant does not have the necessary tools available.
• The entry cache must be a new construction and not one that has been used in an already published geocache or one that has been entered in a previous contest.
• The entry cache must be able to contain at least a small amount of swag.
• The entry cache must be able to contain a log sheet/book within a separate water-resistant container.
• Any form of electrical assistance to “power” a gadget cache must be provided by the entrant, whether in the form of batteries, solar cells, etc. It is up to the entrant to make sure that the power function works prior to judging at the venue.
• Entries must be free-standing, whether on the ground, a tabletop, or a post. If a post mount is needed, a post with a tabletop or floor base for display purposes must be provided by the entrant.
• No limit on size other than that entries must comply with the above rules and must fit in whole or in parts through a 30" doorway.
• Entries must be complete and fully functional at the event venue to be judged by attendees.
• A written summary of how the entry cache works or how the log/swag are accessed must be provided on 8 1/2" x 11" paper for inspection by event staff. The summary must include the entrant's name, representative's name (if different), instructions for operation, and preferably a photo of the entry. Summaries will not necessarily be requested for viewing or judging.
• Either the entrant or a representative of the entrant must be present at the venue to set up, present the entry cache for judging, and remove the entry cache. The entrant does not need to be present during the actual judging period.
  
• MiGO is not responsible for any damage to any entries.
  

Judging

• Judging will be done by Winter Social attendees.
• Attendees will have one vote for the best gadget cache and one vote for the best creative cache.
• Attendees must vote in person during the judging period and may only cast their own votes.
• Attendees may not cast both their best gadget cache vote and best creative cache vote for the same entry.

Prizes

• Medals will be awarded for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in both the gadget and creative categories.