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2025 Holiday Challenge






Typically, the "Advent Season" begins on the Sunday closest to St Andrew's feast, which is usually November 30th, and runs through Christmas Eve.

For our purposes, this challenge covers a much long time period. Running Monday November 17, 2025 through Monday January 5, 2026. This gives you 50 days of daily challenges to help with the early winter blues.



Each day, a new task will be revealed. Caches may be found and logged any day after the target day; caches found prior are not allowed. Early-on some goals might including hiding a cache, to give reviewers time to publish prior to the contest end.

 

Basic Rules:

  • Finds for any given day may be found on that day or subsequent days, but not days prior.
  • Contest entries are for finds/hides recorded and submitted during the contest week (Monday thru Sunday).
  • Entries must be submitted by Monday Midnight to be counted for the previous week's drawing.
  • Finds submitted for past weeks  goals will count for the final drawing, but not the current weekly drawing. (this mean weeks prior to the current drawing period)
  • One find or hide equals one entry. Each find must be submitted on a "found one" form available in the template at the end of each week. 
  • Each GC can only be used once across entire contest. 

 

All players are expected to abide by the MiGO Code of Conduct and the Code of fair play on the page linked below.

 

Members’ Code of Conduct

Read details below

This contest brought to you by the warped imagination of LynnGeoGin

In the spirit of the Holiday Season this contest is open to all players. All players have the opportunity to win prizes. 

Lake Superior, Lake Huron, Lake St Clair and Trial are eligible for the coins. If you join or renew during this contest your status will be determined each week. There will be one coin awarded each week, and 3 coins from all entries at the end of the full contest. Photos are available at the end of each week in the template. 

Website Members (all levels), Non-members and Facebook friends are eligible for Promotional Tags. There will be multiple tags given out each week, for up to a total of 100-120 over 7 weeks. If a player wins more than once an attempt will be made to send a new color each time. 

Weekly Drawings will be held during the week following the end of each weekly contest period (Monday thru Sunday) from entries submitted by Midnight on the Monday following the close of the week. The actual day of the drawing and announcement will be determined by the Contest Master or my deputies based on my schedule as I navigate my cancer diagnosis. Please give me grace in getting this posted. 

A grand prize drawing will be held on or around Wednesday January 7, 2026 from all entries.

Finds will be submitted using a "found" form. Each weekly form will accommodate the 7 days of finds/hides. 


The "FOUND" forms can be located at the end of each week in the template below. Please use the appropriate form for the weekly finds you are submitting. This is important for the scoring and will help the contest manager in keeping things timely. 


If you are submitting for the current week, and prior weeks, please submit each set using the appropriate weekly form! Forms can be used more than once, if you are back logging a day here and there.


Each daily Task will be added to the calendar between 6 PM the prior day and 12 Noon the day of.

Every attempt will be made to make these available in a timely manner however,

the wide window is to give the contest manager a little leeway while navigating health issues.

Daily challenges should be done on the date noted or any day after, but not prior. If posted the evening before, please not complete until the day of.

Week One (11/17 - 11/23) Week Two (11/24 - 11/30) Week Three (12/1 - 12/7) Week Four (12/8 - 12/14)
Week Five (12/15 - 12/21) Week Six (12/22 - 12/28) Week Seven (12/29 - 1/5)

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 6 (Saturday 11/22)

Mitten Tree day


The holidays are often thought of as the season for giving.  But giving should happen in every season.  Have you heard of Coins4kids?  If you find money in caches, please consider collecting it and donating it to this organization that Michigan Cacher Kneel More promotes and supports. Ask Kneel More if he will accept your donations if you cross him in your travels, I'm sure this will land you on the "nice list"


Coins4Kids Facebook Group

www.podcastofhope.com


The Podcast of Hope geocachers promote the activity of geocachers collecting loose coins from geocaches to donate to St. Jude's Children's Hospital. The elves love this idea and hope that everyone will consider donating during the Geocache Talk Podcast of Hope on December 6, 2025 at www.geocachetalk.com

Or go to the podcast of hope page and donate early. 



Task:

Find a geocache that was Hidden on Nov 22nd (today's date) of any year; or December 6th of any year (this year's Podcast of Hope date) (there are an estimated 550 caches in Michigan that fit these dates)


Alternatively, find a caches in which the title contains any of the words in red. (Mitten, Tree, Coin, Kid, Hope) Adding these words bumps the total in Michigan to over 1000 targets.



If you absolutely can not find one, because of distance, health or otherwise, the elves will vouch for your geoskills if you make a donation to the Podcast of Hope. The site is accepting them currently.

Day 7 (Sunday 11/23)


The elves are curious about so many things. They just heard about signal this year and the elves are curious about him.  So are new Geocachers.  How would you explain Signal to a new cacher? Or to an elf? 


The elves are also curious about the viral fad called six,seven. Have you heard about six, seven?  If so, can you explain it? 



Task:

Find a NEW cache, one published after November 1, 2025. In your log, explain signal.


or


Find a cache in which the numbers 6 and 7 appear concurrently; in the cache name, the coords, the description, or in a log, basically anywhere on the page.  Reference  the 67 fad  in your log.



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Week One   Entry Week 1

 

Number of cachers who submitted at least one entry - 22

 

Number of Entries received -  121

(max 7 per person)

 

Weekly Winners - Drawing was done using the wheel of names.  Each submitter was given entries equal to days submitted.  Each entrant can only win one tag per week, and a maximum of 4 per contest period (one of each color). 

 

Vintage MiGO 10 Year Coin -bgsrabble

 

Tag(s) -  CCsquire, MrandMrsMan, hollandweavers, Rockwrangler, HelloLola, GodsCardinal, Jordand30, Fallin', GeoKilyan and _naypalm_


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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 13 (Saturday 11/29)


Some elves think that the elves' matching outfits, including their hats, symbolize their unified dedication to Santa and the Christmas mission. Others feel that the uniform, including the hat, represents a rigid corporate structure where Santa is the "insufferably jolly" boss who takes all the credit for the elves' hard work.


One of the elves has suggested that everyone should work to collaborate. This seems to be a happy medium.


Task:

Cache with community; Find a cache, any cache, with one or more other cachers.





Day 14 (Sunday 11/30)



Candy canes have a documented history dating back over 350 years, originating in Germany as straight, white sugar sticks. The global market for candy canes was valued at approximately $2.75 billion (as of 2023).


But candy canes are just too sweet, and the minty flavor gives the reindeer a stomachache. So please don't leave them out for reindeer to find. The elves might move you to the naughty list.


Task:

Find a physical cache that is an Adventure Lab bonus cache.



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Week Two   Entry Week 2

 

Number of cachers who submitted at least one entry - 22

 

Number of Entries received -  109

(max 7 per person)

 

Weekly Winners

 

Vintage 2005 Thanksgiving themed coin -llski

 

Tag(s) -  

Fallin", CCSquire, naypalm, ca11mecupcake, 
Rockwrangler, woofer and tweeter,  
hollandweavers, bgscrabble. MrandMrsMan
PROBOB, HelloLola, jhbdfamily
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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 20 (Saturday 12/06)


Today is Saint Nicholas Day, a holiday honoring the patron saint of children who inspired the figure of Santa Claus. Do dancing snowmen represent Saint Nicholas? No, probably not, but they are cute and cheerful. Just like elves, come to think of it.



Task:

Find a "small" cache today. Small equals cute. Caching equals cheerful, (unless it's a DNF). 




Day 21 (Sunday 12/07)


The elves have been tasked with developing a new Christmas storybook. Not something as elaborate as "A Christmas Carol" but something more than "Merry Christmas" "The End". The struggle is real, and they are reaching out everywhere for inspiration. Maybe you can help them develop a caching Christmas story. 



Task:

Find a cache; write a 3-6 sentence story in your found log.




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Week Three Entry Week 3

 

Number of cachers who submitted at least one entry -

 

Number of Entries received -

(max 7 per person)

 

Weekly Winners

 

Vintage MiGO coin -Rockwrangler

 

Tag(s) -  BGSrabble, GodsCardinal, GreatLakesCacher, 
HelloLola, hollandweavers, jhbdfamily, LLski, 
MrandMrsMan, PROBOB,  sgerbs, 
Sky'sRiders, woofer and tweeter, Zekraken. 

Screenshot_2025-11-06_115347.png

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 27 (Saturday 12/13)

Gingerbread House Day



.

Day 28 (Sunday 12/14)

Hanukkah/Chanukah Begins






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Week Four Entry Week 4

 

Number of cachers who submitted at least one entry -

 

Number of Entries received -

(max 7 per person)

 

Weekly Winners

 

Vintage White Bear Geocoin - TBD

 

Tag(s) -

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Day 29 (Monday 12/15)

Cat Herders Day



Day 30 (Tuesday 12/16)





Day 31 (Wednesday 12/17)



Day 32 (Thursday 12/18)








Day 33 (Friday 12/19)





Day 34 (Saturday 12/20)






Day 35 (Sunday 12/21) Winter Solstice


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Week Five Entry Week 5

 

Number of cachers who submitted at least one entry -

 

Number of Entries received -

(max 7 per person)

 

Weekly Winners

 

Coin of the Month Club April 2016 - TBD

 

Tag(s) -

Screenshot_2025-11-06_115347.png

Day 36 (Monday 12/22)

Cookie Exchange Day



Day 37 (Tuesday 12/23)



Day 38 (Wednesday 12/24)


Day 39 (Thursday 12/25)+



Day 40 (Friday 12/26)







Day 41 (Saturday 12/27)



Day 42 (Sunday 12/28)







Week_six_Christmas_Coin.png

Week Six Entry Week 6

 

Number of cachers who submitted at least one entry -

 

Number of Entries received -

(max 7 per person)

 

Weekly Winners

 

Vintage 2005 Christmas Coin - TBD

 

Tag(s) -

Screenshot_2025-11-06_115347.png

Day 43 (Monday 12/29)


I

Day 44 (Tuesday 12/30)



Day 45 (Wednesday 12/31)



Day 46 (Thursday 01/01)

.

Day 47 (Friday 01/02)



Day 48 (Saturday 01/03)



Day 49 (Sunday 01/04)




Day 50 (Monday 01/05) FINAL DAY





NOTE: all entries for final drawing have an extended submission date of January 6, 2026 11:59 PM



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Week Seven Entry Week 7

 

Number of cachers who submitted at least one entry -

 

Number of Entries received -

(max 7 per person)

 

Weekly Winners

 

White Tail Deer Wisconsin Coin - TBD

 

Tag(s) -

Screenshot_2025-11-06_115347.png

Final drawing from all submissions


Unique tracking codes were first added to geocoins on September 30, 2001, when geocacher Jon Stanley (Moun10Bike) released the first trackable geocoin. Initially, unique tracking codes were not widely available, and most early geocoins were non-trackable personal signature items that geocachers left behind in caches. Inspired by military challenge coins, these early geocoins were compact, durable, and personalized with designs and usernames.


The three final winners will get 2 Geocoins, one trackable & one non-trackable. The 1st drawn will get their choice of the 3, the 2nd drawn get a choice between the two remaining and the 3rd gets the last available. Your prize mailing may contain some other goodies at the discretion of the committee.


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Grand_Prize_3.png

Winner One

Winner Two

Winner Three

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