wuvablepebbles

I have one of those... except I call her my 6 year old daughter.. I'm pretty short and with a boost up on my shoulders and she can spot and reach them caches i keep FINALLY remembering might actually be over my head *chuckles*

Ohhh Clothahump brings up a good point though! I think peeps that don't know what they are doing should leave it to someone who has had the proper training. GAHH sorry that happened to ya hun! Which brings up a question I have. Most high schoolers have a health edcation in their Jr./Sr. years. I wonder why basic first aid/CPR isn't taught. Something I think everyone should know. The first time I took it was in a lifeguard class my highschool had.

CPR can saves lives... pure and simple. This being worried about being sue kills me! Case in point.. I worked at a place that did childrens bday parties (family entertainment center) a father of a bday child had a massive heart attack. I walked up and this gentlemans wife was struggling to hold him up at a table while no less then 10 other people stood around watching her! They were afraid to help the tiny woman who was struggling to hold up this man! Me and the wife got the man on the floor and after getting a coworker who I knew also knew CPR to help we began the full blown CPR untill EMS finally arrived. I still can not believe the man lived... but It brings me joy to know that 12 year old (guess he would be 17 now) has his father still and the wife a husband. It's not about worrying about being sued. It's not about wanting to be a hero either. It's nothing more then pure human compassion and being able to look in the mirror and live with yourself the next morning. Would I have done the same thing if I took even a moment at the point to think about being sued... or even knowing full well they would. Absolutely! In my book there is no other answer. P.S. The wife has called my home a few times over the years. And even if he doesn't remember anything. I still think of him and his family and say a little prayer of thanks that he made it ok!

1. Losing my kids 2. Kids getting hurt 3. losing myself 4. spiders 5. poisonous snakes 6. getting stung/bittn by something else Not afraid of: not finding a cache we don't mind not fiding em.. numbers don't matter to us... well just the numbers of memories

Thanks everyone for all the advice. I've taken it all into consideration. I generally like to keep the kids very close to me and the toddler within grabbing distance most the time they only exception being on paths and then only a step or two away. The whistle idea is very good along with hug a tree idea. My biggest fear so far has been losing them and I've stressed over and over how they must stay close, which they do for most part. If they get more then 20 or 30 feet away i call them back. I know they think I'm being overprotective but it's just too easy to quickly lose someone in heavy trees or unbrush. I don't believe we have rattlers by Chicago (never have seen one) but couldn't totally rule that out (but we did have snakes when we lived in NC) I more keep the lil one close to not lose her and to keep an eye out for poison ivy/oak Could see her wandering right into the middle of a patch and that would be no good! Edit: am familuar with ticks as they (and their deseases) are quite prevelent in NC Oldest landed a few on her including one in her belly button! Was interesting to get a call from her school and then trying to get that one out up in the school office.. it was TIIIIINY. Never thought to check deep in the belly button! Know better now Trying to prevent a repeat of that with the little one who isn't capable of saying "mama i got a tick on me!"

Your probably right! I was giving my newbie impression of how I determine what caches I visit with different family members based off of this info below (it's from the cache rating site everyone keeps sharing. I also think my interpretation "assistance" with level 3 might vary from others. I am more then willing to carry my 2 year old through brush for a couple miles (though she seems to work though it just fine) or walk over a beaver dam while holding her and hubby behind my back keeping eye out. Others may not. Maybe everyone doesn't follow this chart? not sure! That's why I made it so obvious that it was my own personal judgement so others could compare and discuss. Seems to be alot of variety out there on interpretation which is what the thread is about. Was just sharing mine. -------------- * Handicapped accessible. (Terrain is likely to be paved, is relatively flat, and less than a 1/2 mile hike is required.) ** Suitable for small children. (Terrain is generally along marked trails, there are no steep elevation changes or heavy overgrowth. Less than a 2 mile hike required.) *** Not suitable for small children. (The average adult or older child should be OK depending on physical condition. Terrain is likely off-trail. May have one or more of the following: some overgrowth, some steep elevation changes, or more than a 2 mile hike.) **** Experienced outdoor enthusiasts only. (Terrain is probably off-trail. Will have one or more of the following: very heavy overgrowth, very steep elevation (requiring use of hands), or more than a 10 mile hike. May require an overnight stay.) ***** Requires specialized equipment and knowledge or experience, (boat, 4WD, rock climbing, SCUBA, etc) or is otherwise extremely difficult. ---------------

Hehe it from a parental point of view.. Honestly 2 weeks ago I woulda agreed with you. But then again th 2 year old has floored me with her resourcefulness. If you ever have seen a toddler pull up a chair, climb up on it then on the counter and then on top of a microwave to try to snatch cookies from off the top of a fridge in less then 30 seconds you'll know what I mean! Most (not all) older toddlers (2.5 years and up) are pretty observient and can manipulate their enviornment. They will need assistance though at times. Honestly.. she's put me to shame a couple times I think we underestimate the strength and ability of our kiddies. Just watch what they can do at a playground... they put a heck of alot less effort into crossing them monkey bars then i do

This is a newbie point of view. I have taken my 2 year old DD on 2 terrains. I hope that 2's are all easily doable by her. If it requires something she needs alot of help with (like jumping over a stream) i would hope it's marked a 3. She has done some remarkable stuff for 2 year old. (hiked 5 miles and still refused being picked up and learned to dodge bramble when I say "careful") But there was one marked a 2 I would rather had been higher because getting across a beaver dam holding a toddler was a tad tricky and there woulda been no way she woulda got across alone! (I think someone mentioned there might of been an easier way but we didn't spot it). I will take the 2 year old on 3's but at least I know she will need assistance with them. either vocal or a lift up for some if not all of it. 4's and 5's are not to be done with her in my book. Here's how I've been reading the ratings and seems to work well so far 1. can use stroller 2. toddler can walk 3. toddler will need some, maybe alot of assistance ... 6 year old may need a little assistance 4. outta toddlers league..6 year probably no go (exceptions possible though as she is extremely fit from 5 hours a week gymnastics training)... most likely be able to do with 13 year old 5. none of us should bother.. outta all of our leagues

You know I wouldn't be overly uncomfortable with a single male hanging around a playground anymore then a single female. Honestly I kinda keep an eye on everyone and my child. I'm more intimidated by a group of male teens flashing signs then being around then a middle age male. Then again I live in a big city and gangs are an issue. I think most woman just keep an eye on their surroundings and just look to let you know you've been observed. I do this walking through a grocery store parking lot or walking down the street. It's second nature as a city girl to give a good eyeball to anyone in my vicinity to say... i know your there so you can't just sneak up on me. It's something I think we unconciously learn and nothing personal. I don't think it's right to prohibit anyone from the local parks. Many times i see middle aged men and senior citizens just wondering around our parks and think nothing about it. They have every right to be out and about getting fresh air and excersize. I'd hate to think people avoid parks for fear they are making mama's uncomfortable. I would hope that 95 percent of the time they probably are just letting you know they've observed you. Kinda curious why your poking around bushes but nothing more then that. But we do that to everyone! LOL Oh and I love the park ones with my kiddies! We've already hit a couple where they wanted to play at and it's always nice to check out new play areas.

Ok how many kids (specially teens) want to go check out historical sites? If you say to a teen .. while your on vacation and we are gonna check out a bunch of historical stuff while walking around. Watch your kids whine complain and groan. Tell your kids your gonna go treasure hunting with billion dollar satilites using something that looks simular to a gameboy (while checking out historical sites and nature) and they are whining "can't we LEAVE THE HOUSE already???? PLEASE". I so love geocaching already! And it's been awesome learning experiences for my kids. My 13 year old DD said yesterday to the hubby. "I am so glad we are all spending time together so much lately" That made me super happy to hear And we are making a ton of really great memories already!

On the cache page on geocaching.com you will see an option that says google maps. Now when you click on that you get a road map to area... now for parking lots i do the following... Once on the google map you will see something called HYBRID in the upper right hand corner...click HYBRID. This will combine the roadmap with a satillite image of that location. You can then zoom in and out and pan around. This way you can find parking and even see alot of the trails to the cache with this. I love doing this to scope out a trail specially if i'm bringing a toddler along! (too bad I didn't spot that I had to cross a beaver dam yesterday though LOL) Have fun with this feature... going this way you don't even have to enter the locations into google earth. they already integrated it into the maps for you!

The past few weeks has taught me we need to be more prepared for geocaching. I'm starting a light weight back pack that not only includes goodies to share but the following 1 first aid kit with added tweezers and needle and water tablets (i've aquired more slivers in the past few weeks then anything LOL) 2. water/trail mix (for emergency's) 3. multi knife/tool 4. compass/map 5. firestarter 6. flashlight 7. survival blankets 8. garbage bags (to double as ponchos in emergency) 9. whistle/mirror 10 bug spray/ sunscreen 11. baby wipes (oh the uses for these already has been numerous) Couple questions here... Now of course I carry a phone, gps and extra batteries on a pouch that goes around my neck... but do you think anything else should go in the backpack (for hikes a little farther from the car) for geocaching in IL? I'm trying to come up with a good way to protect the 2 year old from ticks. Deet bug spray is ok with the 6 year old and 13 year old.. but the 2 year old touches everything and then is a constant thumb sucker.. suggestions? Can the new shake the flashlight (no batteries needed) be used for a flashlight? Anyway we could get the Ranger to discuss safety and what to do in emergiencies (injured party member, if you get lost) at the Meet the Ranger event? I think this would be GREAT for not only me and hubby, but our kiddies if gosh forbid anything bad ever happens. Wuvablepebbles P.S. This was suppose to be posted on the IL forums due to the meet the ranger thing. WHOOPS but will leave here since getting good advice about the tick/flashlight questions LOL