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We're donating $10,000 to the cause

The Groundspeak Lackeys entered the DARPA Balloon Network Challenge on December 5, 2009. In the end we didn't win the $40,000 for charity, but we're still donating $10,000 of our own money to DonorsChoose.org programs.

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Enlisting Geocachers for the DARPA Challenge

As part of the nationwide DARPA event to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Interwebs, we're enlisting geocachers to be part of a fun social networking/GPS technology challenge. The challenge is to be the first to submit the locations of 10 moored, 8-foot, red, weather balloons at 10 fixed locations in the continental United States. The winner will receive $40,000. If Groundspeak wins the challenge we will throw in another $10,000 of our own money and the full $50,000 prize will go to schools that need GPS equipment through donorschoose.org.


This Saturday, December 5th, a group of Groundspeak Lackeys will meet up in the DARPA War Room at Groundspeak's Headquarters to gather information online of the possible locations of the 10 weather balloons. We hope you will follow our attempts to win the challenge and help us along the way by gathering information both online and on the ground.


How Can I Get Involved?


We expect that there will be a lot of wild rumors being shared across the Internet. Some will be actual sightings and others will be fake leads by people either competing in the challenge or just having fun.


Our secret weapon is an army of GPS enthusiasts around the world who we know and trust. In other words, YOU! We'll be taking some liberties to enlist your help for a good cause.


Are you up for it? If so, follow this Blog and expect a flurry of updates on Saturday as we spend a part of our weekend trying to claim the prize for teachers and students.

Posted by at

38 comments:

  1. AnonymousDecember 3, 2009 at 1:51 PM

    How do we know that the money will really go to charity?

    ReplyDelete
  2. JeremyDecember 3, 2009 at 1:57 PM

    You'll be able to track all of our donations on DonorsChoose.org

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousDecember 3, 2009 at 3:58 PM

    You can just say that you did not win...

    ReplyDelete
  4. JeremyDecember 3, 2009 at 4:01 PM

    Brilliant idea. Oh yeah, there's a rule for that.

    "By submitting an entry, a participant gives permission for his or her name and home town to be released to the media should they win the prize."

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousDecember 3, 2009 at 4:57 PM

    Good Luck Lackeys! I'll be on the look out for a ballon near Las Vegas!

    GeoID= TheDudeJoe

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  6. AnonymousDecember 3, 2009 at 5:01 PM

    And even if the winner's name wasn't publicly released we still trust Jeremy enough to do the right thing.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Marvin the GarminDecember 4, 2009 at 8:56 AM

    Who are we competing against?

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  8. msmammelDecember 4, 2009 at 11:02 AM

    Can you post a note on the main page of Geocaching.com? The discussion in the forums is probably not reaching enough numbers. Or would that be too much??

    ReplyDelete
  9. ACKDecember 4, 2009 at 2:24 PM

    how do we know if there going to be around provo , utah?

    ReplyDelete
  10. venim102December 4, 2009 at 2:26 PM

    We'll be reporting from Arizona! (GeoID: venim102)

    ReplyDelete
  11. buzzy_cacherDecember 4, 2009 at 2:40 PM

    He just did. I contacted pretty much everyone I met.

    ReplyDelete
  12. AnonymousDecember 4, 2009 at 3:26 PM

    Under elligibility rules:

    "Entries may be submitted by individuals only, and only individuals are eligible to win the prize. Corporations or other organizations may not submit entries."

    Where does that leave Groundspeak?

    ReplyDelete
  13. JeremyDecember 4, 2009 at 3:28 PM

    Read all the rules:

    "The bank account may be held in the name of the winner, but could also be held in the name of an organization, a corporation, or an individual who is not the prize winner."

    We'll submit as individuals but the money will go to the company to distribute to DonorsChoose.org

    ReplyDelete
  14. AnonymousDecember 4, 2009 at 3:46 PM

    Yeah. Typical government rules. Enough loopholes to drive a Mac truck through.

    ReplyDelete
  15. UnknownDecember 4, 2009 at 3:57 PM

    I will be on the lookout in North Georgia

    ReplyDelete
  16. AnonymousDecember 4, 2009 at 4:02 PM

    Also note that Government employees are not elibible to participate, but legal participants may get information from Government employees. What nitwit wrote these rules????

    ReplyDelete
  17. AnonymousDecember 4, 2009 at 4:34 PM

    TTbph & Maggot49 will be on the lookout around the Ottawa/Sandusky counties in Ohio.

    ReplyDelete
  18. AnonymousDecember 4, 2009 at 4:56 PM

    I'm very excited to see Groundspeak participating this way! I was wondering how if at all I could take part and this is perfect. -- Turtlefan (on Geocaching.com)

    ReplyDelete
  19. AnonymousDecember 4, 2009 at 5:09 PM

    We'll be on the look out in Western Massachusetts. Although I'm not sure where to start. Best of luck and Merry Christmas!

    ReplyDelete
  20. JeremyDecember 4, 2009 at 5:12 PM

    I think serendipity is the word of the day tomorrow. Without much to go on, it's all about being at the right place at the right time.

    ReplyDelete
  21. buzzy_cacherDecember 4, 2009 at 5:29 PM

    I have relatives looking out. In all, we cover California, Texas, NY (ME!), and North Carolina

    ReplyDelete
  22. raymond culpDecember 4, 2009 at 6:58 PM

    I'll be watching in the York Red Lion Pa area

    ReplyDelete
  23. AnonymousDecember 4, 2009 at 8:56 PM

    ProSpec4 will be cruising PCH in sunny Southern California.

    ReplyDelete
  24. UnknownDecember 4, 2009 at 10:10 PM

    I will be on the lookout here in midwest Nebraska and will contact the family geocachers in Colorado, New Mexico and Ohio to be on the watch too!

    ReplyDelete
  25. AnonymousDecember 4, 2009 at 11:27 PM

    Eyes open in Evergreen, CO

    ReplyDelete
  26. DBDecember 5, 2009 at 3:41 AM

    How high will these balloons be flying?

    ReplyDelete
  27. AnonymousDecember 5, 2009 at 4:21 AM

    You have eyes in Hellam Pa also.

    ReplyDelete
  28. AnonymousDecember 5, 2009 at 6:20 AM

    C6VY will have eyes open in Northern Illinois, heading out now.

    ReplyDelete
  29. msmammelDecember 5, 2009 at 6:51 AM

    >How high will these balloons be flying?

    The balloons will be tethered, so NOT way up in the air. Its snowing here in MD, but no real visibility problem....

    ReplyDelete
  30. Fräulein NenaDecember 5, 2009 at 7:05 AM

    Just remember "Gentlemen. You can't fight in here. This is the War Room!" -- Dr. Strangelove

    ReplyDelete
  31. AnonymousDecember 5, 2009 at 7:29 AM

    Buggy nutz here, we will be watching in Bullhead city, Fort Mohave az and Laughlin Nv. Good Luck lets win this thing.

    ReplyDelete
  32. AnonymousDecember 5, 2009 at 7:48 AM

    I'll keep my eyes open on the east bay of Rhode Island.
    GC8E70
    GEOSCOUTING!

    ReplyDelete
  33. AnonymousDecember 5, 2009 at 8:14 AM

    We are Caching in Northern California (Redding) today, We will keep our eyes open and look for the Red Balloon.

    Shastablue2

    ReplyDelete
  34. AnonymousDecember 5, 2009 at 8:49 AM

    Will we see the finds as they come in here on this page?
    GeoCaching Name Dlynch

    ReplyDelete
  35. AnonymousDecember 5, 2009 at 9:31 AM

    I will be looking around Riverside and Corona in So Cal.

    Hammarhead01

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  36. slowdownracerDecember 5, 2009 at 11:50 AM

    Snowing heavily in eastern PA today. Afraid I can't be of much help, can't see anything in the sky but white flakes.

    slowdownracer

    ReplyDelete
  37. AnonymousDecember 5, 2009 at 12:25 PM

    I'll be looking around Big Bear Lake, CA

    ReplyDelete
  38. AnonymousDecember 5, 2009 at 3:50 PM

    Cool found #4 in santa barbara Ca.

    ReplyDelete

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