**On another note, the caches that you have mentioned (placed by someone with no finds and were burried)were placed by a group of children and counselors who didn't really understand what was going on.They made a mistake, the children were really excited about the game. They probably learned about it from the media. Some local cachers are now encouraging them and even giving them ideas on how to place caches that conform to the guidlines. Better not to chastise them too harshly lest we drive them away from such a fun game. The potential to learn about several different things (e.g. care for the environment and a little science) far outweigh the mistakes that were made, especially because the mistakes can be easily fixed.**
As an educator, I feel a need to address this. One of my students heard me talking about GeoCaching and thought it would be fun to place a cache. I leant him my GPS and suggested that he go find two local caches. He and his mom looked at the website and then went and found the two caches. I told him that he should read all of the rules before hiding.
That's fine that a camp counselor thought it fun to bring kids into caching -- kudos. However, when working with kids it's important to model what you are doing. For example, a truly authentic experience would have been to either print up the cache hiding rules and discuss them with the kids and then have them map out the type of cache, container, contents, etc. Kids are well aware that there are rules involved in things. It's never too early to teach responsible behavior. By showing the kids the rules, they would have had more ownership and would still have caches. Instead they created 6 caches which were quickly archived. These caches were also in unclean places... places these kids probably could have done without going to.
They should have gone on a hunt to SEE a cache, and then modeled there own after this.
I'm all for introducing GeoCaching to kids, however I feel that it is our job to teach kids to be responsible and to follow rules. No food, no digging... these are some basics of GeoCaching. Why not go for advice and guidance first? You are right, it didn't cause THAT much damage, but it's exactly the type of bad rep. we don't need... poorly researched and placed caches. Haven't you ever suggested a cache be archived because it was in an unsafe or dirty place? A place that would draw too much attention or wasn't wise? GeoCachers have this right... Squealy was totally within the realm of responsible GeoCaching when he pointed out that these caches were not following the rules. And I don't know if I'd use the word chastise... after all, isn't that what your post was doing? Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.
I read the Newsday article -- my mom mailed it to me and yes, it was positive. I don't think the idea was to ban the media from the joining the game, I think it was to raise awareness of being careful.
I haven't been caching too long, but in the time I have been I've tried to keep educated about it. And I do the same for my friends that I've involved. I take them with me, show them what it's all about, and hope for the best. I do the same with my students... because kids need to have good models when entering any activity.
BrianSnat -- you got me on the leeches... but I think you know what I was getting at.
Not trying to turn this into a war... GeoCaching is a peaceful, awesome activity. Just trying to point out that we all have a responsibility and I really don't think that hiding 6 caches that are against the rules was responsible.
Thank you,
NancyCz