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. Geocaching is growing in popularity around the globe with hundreds
of thousands of geocaches in many countries! Join the fun!
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.
