Kyul_and_Carbon

I don't have 1000+ finds... heck, don't even have over 100 yet But something I do when I can't find it.. I alot myself a certain amount of time ... if I can't find a micro in 30 minutes, usually by that time I'm getting a wee bit frustrated so.. I simply get back in the car and head to the next cache on the list. I don't go back to the one I didn't find on the same day. I tuck the paper away and plan my next outing with it on the list. I have had 3 no finds (or something like that) and simply going back seems to refresh myself and we find it.

I'm not looking at caching as a means to get my kids stuff - but their attention spans are not that of an adult.... that, cannot be argued. Hunting for a micro - a single micro - they are fine. But when the only thing you can really fill your day with is "bring your own pencil" micros - they do lose interest and now I am hunting micros and children to keep all in check. They whine and it makes it more frustrating than fun. I really wanted to use caching as a means to get "out" with my kids and not to a store. I want them to experience trails and bikes and wildlife and water - the whole "outdoorsy" experience. So - I'm sorry I didn't have any hides. I didn't realize that would "destroy" my credibility in stating there is a trend of more micros than regulars. I wanted to get some finding experience under my belt - at least finding caches that are more of the size I want to hide as a majority of hides.... not micros. It took a few visits to my mom's house in Indiana (where regular means you can fit a shoe in the darn cache) and a few finds over here in Illinois to work up the nerve to hide my own. It was activated today - and as my first hide, I hope I did a good job with it. I'm looking forward to the feedback and also looking forward to maintaining it WITH my kids. Carbon Springfield IL

Just a few notes here - I don't get babysitters - what I do my kiddos can do, even if it slows me down. Its just the type of person I am :-) Nothing against anyone who uses a babysitter... but eh, I have fun with things with them... Last note - we hid our first one. We did it together - so... the starting items inside aren't cool beanie great - but they are excited! Can't wait for the feedback.

Well.. being that I'm new to the sport of caching - I believe it is suggested you find around 50 or so before attempting to hide one of your own. I was just trying to get enough experience under my belt before going off and doing something stupid. Yes - eventually I want to hide caches. Should I do it now - I don't think I have the experience yet to do so. Doing 50 with your 2 kids makes it kinda hard - and... then with 40% are eliminated due to location/terrain because of said kids... it'll take me a while :-) I just see the area my brother lives in get new ones all the time.... only reason I was asking really.

hiders = people who hide them :-P

I am finding that a good majority of the caches in our area are micro. I'm not personally opposed to a micro - but when you cache with your kids, a regular one makes the hunt more enjoyable for them. A micro hunt holds their attention about like CNN so - was just curious if you are seeing this trend in your area? More Micros Less Traditionals I understand it's a LOT easier to hide a micro and a micro has less of a chance at being taken/destroyed - but - the treasure fun for the kids is eliminated. just... curious.

Having 2 small kids when I go out makes it hard to do the 50 mile radius caches. I normally search 10 miles, 15, miles and 20 miles and let how the kids are doing that day determine which distance we can go. In all three of those searches, there has not been a new cache hidden in forever. I have considered hiding a couple myself just to get something new out there - but does the Springfield area just not have a lot of hiders?

I cache with my 3 and 5 year old and yes - we look for the "treasure" but we must keep the "treasure" secret..... I only pick out places I know they can have some run space with no threat of getting hurt - aside from the normal trip and bang the nose incidents. They have a really good time doing it and the 5 year old about blows up with excitement when he makes the finds. Only thing I have noticed is more people are migrating towards micro's because they are easier to hide and keep safe than a regular size cache - this cuts down on my hunts considerably as the micros hold no excitement for my kids. I try to plan 2 regulars and a micro - but by the time it comes time to hunt for a micro - they are very disinterested. And I agree - whoever said mctoy's were a bad idea - SHAME *laughs*

I'm a n00b on the forums here so you can smack me down if'n ya want. *smiles* I have to say the following points: To the Replies I came into this thread and was amazed at the number of sarcastic and mean remarks to this persons concern over laser pointers. I am sure they have returned to read their replies and doubt they'll return again. Real shame. Hopefully they'll continue to cache cuz that's still fun regardless of what people say in a forum, be it good or bad *looks up from flame resistant shield* To the Original Poster You can't ban every little thing just because there is a warning on it or someone might get hurt from it. When caching with my kids, it is my responsibility to not let them have anything that could hurt them or others - or something they just are not mature enough to have. If I ran across a cache with a laser pointer in it, I know my kids would NOT get it. Prime example - at The Bait Shop cache in Illinois, it was full of fishing equipment, including some hooks. Well - hooks are definitely not child friendly. Hooks were definitetly not taken out of the cache. I convinced the kiddos to drop in a fishy bookmark and take nothing. Making sure they are taking safe items is MY responsibility as the parent. You can't go around banning everything due to warnings of you would be sitting pretty much in an unfurnished house. I have seen a lot of comedians and some of their best bits are on product warnings. Like, on a curling iron it says "Do not use while sleeping" (comedian's crack was on 'night styling'). Another was to not use your hair dryer in the shower (defeats the purpose!). Another was printed on the bottom on one of those microwave dinners - like, do not turn over container, contents may be hot and burn you. (note: again... printed on the BOTTOM of the box). I would say if the laser pointer was not for you or your kids - just don't take it. If you want it and don't think your kids should play with it - just don't let them play with it. Just.... my opinion. Carbon

just a thought - if you want to use pictures as the log book but know not everyone will bring a picture - get a small album and make it the log book. The ones that have the celephane (sp?) pages and hold one image - lots of people use them as flip books for work. THEN get a stack of index cards.... instruct folks to leave their picture and write on the back but if they don't have a picture, they can just write on an index card and slide it in the photobook in leiu of the photo. just... a thought.

I run a very small website with only a max on 15 gig of bandwidth transfer a month and I pay 10 a month to maintain it.... so my guess is - with the loads of bandwidth used if they are buying the server space, money goes there. Else, it's going to go payback the person who bought the server to support the website. Domains are about 15 bucks a year. My guess.. fees are going back to the owner so he is getting some form of a paycheck to sit and run a website. That's not a bad thing - think... ebay or paypal or any site that got so big that the owner would have to quit any form of a "real life" job to maintain. Keeping a website this large up and running and constantly working and up to date with technology is a full time job... so it's probably a paycheck. *shrugs*

*laughs* Well - Kyul is from Petersburg.. I was born and raised in Clinton Indiana - in fact Cybret - I believe you know my brother and sisterinlaw and mom :-) BearandBird and LadyLitz *chuckles* moved over here and we are in Springfield...... So that's why our cache finds (and no finds) are gonna be normally between here and there :-)

who here are central illinois folk?

for the Springfield IL folks - my mom came over this weekend passed and left a Jeep TB in one of the caches we found. I think it's been snagged up - but we'll see where it finds itself (I want it to drop soon so I have a chance at getting it - no, I did not grab as she dropped, just seemed 'wrong' to do that). just.. an FYI for you folks to know another is in the area!

As a writer, my humble opinion - He's a Dave Berry wannabe (someone else hit that on the head). He's trying to take an approach to something he has zero interest in and show folks that it's an outdoorsy thing to do with family and enjoy such as many would enjoy a scavenger hunt - but trying to be a bit too funny/sarcastic only makes him come off as dry and abrasive. The only comment - I'd have to say the Bobby Fischer one was funny *snickers* The ole saying "too much of a good thing" applies here.

of course I'll trade even stevens!

Well... excited is not an issue hehehe Told my son (the 4 year old) that we were gonna go hunt treasure this weekend... and his eyes lit up BIG.... we spend days on the weekend drawing out "arrrrrrrr" pirate maps and pretend to dig them up around the house and the like - so familiarity with the idea of a treasure is very understandable for them.... I'm looking for ones in parks and stuff - but not seeing anyting marked "kid friendly" - will keep digging.

I am geared up to find my first cache this weekend. My brother and his wife and my mother all cache and I figure that it's time I jumped into it (it sounds like fun) but my only difference is I am hauling along a 3 and 4 year old. Any advice? Is it possible? I figure if anything - in high traffic places, they can be a GREAT distraction from mommy pulling out the cache ... hehehe