Alpharetta Sponsors Arbor Day Geo-Hunt Starting Friday

Alpharetta's first Arbor Day Geo-Hunt contest starts Friday, Jan. 18 as a means to educate the public about our trees, their historical significance, and their importance as a valued natural resource in our community.

The contest is sponsored by the Alpharetta Natural Resource Commission and will run from Jan. 18 through Monday, March 4. All prizes will be awarded at the Arbor Day Celebration on Saturday March 9, 10 a.m.–noon, at Rock Mill Park.

The Geo-Hunt will kick off the City of Alpharetta’s Arbor Day Celebration for 2013. Arbor Day is a national holiday that encourages tree planting, nurturing and care through educational programs.

The Geo-Hunt is similar to geocaching. It involves the use of GPS coordinates to locate hidden treasure boxes (caches) near five local Alpharetta trees. The cache GPS coordinates are all listed, along with clues, on the next tab of this web page. 

The caches contain both trinkets for participants to take and enjoy, and educational information about the tree or its history. 

Each cache also contains a unique hole punch and green note cards.  Take one green note card from the first cache found, and use that hole punch on the green card.  Every time you find another cache, use that cache's unique hole punch to punch an additional, unique hole on the card. The hole-punched green note card is the contest entry.

At the end of the contest (March 4) contestants need to write their name, address, phone number and email address on the green note card and mail it in or drop it off to Alpharetta Engineering & Public Works.  The address is provided below. Entries must arrive no later than close of business on Thursday, March 7. The NRC will verify how many Geo-Hunt caches are found, and enter the green card in a drawing for prizes.

For information on the Geo-Hunt Contest please visit the City of Alpharetta's website (www.a) and follow the links. You will find contest rules and a listing of GPS coordinates to get started. You may also email the City Arborist, David Shostak, or call him at 678-297-6200.