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What is Geocaching?
Geocaching is an outdoor activity (sport) in which the players or participants use GPS (global positioning system) receivers to hide an seek containers. These containers can be located anywhere in the world and are called Geocaches or Caches. The geocaches are typically waterproof containers containing at minimum a logbook and may contain swag (toys, trinkets, tradeables, stickers, etc) or other items. These items are usually of little monetary value; although there are exceptions. Basically it is a high tech game of hide and seek. Geocaching is a great sport for families or anybody with a sense of outdoor adventure. Geocaching will take you to places you never knew existed; even in your own hometown. Visit our links page to find other geocaching sites and resources.
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A Little Bit About Geocaching...
For the traditional geocache, a geocacher will place a waterproof container, containing a log book (with pen or pencil) and trinkets or some sort of treasures, then note the cache's coordinates. These coordinates, along with other details of the location, are posted on a website (see Websites for geocaching). Other geocachers obtain the coordinates from the Internet and seek out the cache using their GPS handheld receivers. The finding geocachers record their exploits in the logbook and online. Geocachers are free to take objects from the cache in exchange for leaving something of similar or higher value, so there is treasure for the next person to find.
Typical cache treasures aren't high in monetary value but may hold intrinsic value to the finder. Aside from the logbook, common cache contents are unusual coins or currency, small toys, ornamental buttons, CDs, or books. Also common are objects that are moved from cache to cache, such as Travel Bugs or Geocoins, whose travels may be logged and followed online. Occasionally, higher value items are included in geocaches, normally reserved for the "first finder", or in locations which are harder to reach.
A Travel Bug
Geocaches can range in size from "microcaches", too small to hold anything more than a tiny paper log, to those placed in five-gallon buckets or even larger containers.
If a geocache has been vandalized or stolen, it is said to have been "muggled" or "plundered". The former term plays off the fact that those not familiar with geocaching are called "geo-muggles" or just muggles, a term borrowed from the Harry Potter series of books.
If a cacher discovers that a cache has been muggled, it can be logged as needing maintenance, which sends an e-mail to the cache owner so it can either be deactivated, repaired, or replaced.
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