Meet cneumann98!
1. What is your real name?
Cheryl Neumann
2. Where is your home location?
Morrison, Illinois
3. When did you start Geocaching?
2011 – created account in September, first find that December while visiting my mom in Colorado
4. How did you learn about Geocaching?
I first learned about geocaching at a Girl Scout day camp back around 2009 or 2010. For a couple of years after that, my troops and I would "geocache" on the council camp properties when we went camping each winter (usually GS properties have private caches hidden on site that are not officially part of the game but loaded onto council-property GPSr units.) I then decided to just get a GPSr of my own. This is why my geocaching avatar is the Girl Scout Juniors geocaching badge.
5. What is your favorite part of Geocaching?
I love how geocaching gets me out and seeing places in ways I never would have before. I have visited some fantastic well-known as well as not-well-known locations because there was a geocache that drew me. I also love the friendships that develop while caching, both while chasing together and also just from meeting at events. I have met some of the best people anywhere through geocaching! And as much as I love the social aspects, there are times that nothing feels better than to put some miles on the car and geocache solo, with or without a goal. It's my way of recharging my personal battery. Geocaching has also helped me push my personal limits in multiple ways. I can say that without geocaching, there are many many life experiences I never would've had... why else would a not-so-young-woman climb a tree???
6. What types of caches do you enjoy most?
I don't discriminate in geocaches, but I actively seek out non-traditionals. I log lots of virtuals and earthcaches while travelling. I enjoy solving puzzles at home during the winter so I can chase them once the weather cooperates (came in handy during the Polar Vortex last year!) I will also actively seek out field puzzles (unknowns, multis, Wherigos.) I also love hosting and attending events. I try to make my own events unique and memorable.
7. What is the favorite cache you’ve found?
Traditional GC76HFH 1706 - FACE DARTH VADER!
Unknown GC232EV Out of Sight
Challenge GC4VXAX North Vs South: Illinois Favorites Cache Challenge
Letterbox GC1A2T0 Vampire Empire
Multicache GCME1Z The Forbidden Forest
Webcam GCMKWT At the Pier
Virtual GCG8XY Be Inspired
Wheigo GC2ZV0R GeoMaze II
Earthcache... too many to name - basically any earthcache I've logged in a national park!
And of course GC1160 Mission 9: Tunnel of Light
8. Outside of Geocaching, what other hobbies/interests do you enjoy?
By profession, I am teacher - I teach 5th-12th grade band, 4th grade general music, and junior high computers. I am also the student council advisor and the quiz bowl coach. I am an active musician, playing bassoon in several area orchestras and bands. Outside work and geocaching, I have been active in taekwondo for more than 10 years and have earned my 4th degree black belt. I just finished 12 years as a Girl Scout leader and am a recovering/wannabe scrapbooker (because apparently I just don't have time for that anymore!) My whole family also loves to travel in general, visiting as many states and state capitols as possible.
In addition, Cheryl has been serving on the Board of Directors since September 2019.
1. What made you want to become a board member?
I didn't seek out becoming a board member but was instead nominated by someone else (still don't know who!) I accepted the nomination because I knew this was a place where I could help and since I had just wrapped up as a Girl Scout leader, I knew I could commit to the time requirements. I had a taste of how things work after heading the Quad Cities Hike-n-Seek event team and felt that I could do good work here. It's my belief that members should help out other members and if this is a way I can help IGO, then I'll do it. IGO has been a great organization for me, even though I'm not an Iowan. I've been a long-time member as there is no active group in Illinois in my area.
2. What have you enjoyed most about being on the board?
This is my first year on the board so I haven't had much experience to refer back to, but I definitely love how productive we have been this year during meetings and in the committees. There are a lot of strong voices on the current IGO board but we have worked really well together making sure we continue to push forward with the purpose of IGO - promoting geocaching in the state of Iowa!