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Events are "a great way to" - not a requirement. I know plenty of well-intentioned events that do none of the above other than exist as a social "hello" or souvenir-grabber, etc. So, if you argue that 'vacation events' are effectively pulling the hobby down, then all those events are. It's making a mountain out of a molehill. The event was social. Geocachers can attend and be social, and talk about geocaching. That's all there is to it. Even if the CO only wants to do it to get another icon in another country. Everything is a slippery slope these days; all you have to do is present another example going in the wrong direction. Everything about geocaching can be argued as a slippery slope. Well that's really why we have guidelines - to encourage people to climb the hill, not toss things down it - even though there will always be rocks and pebbles tumbling down, gaining speed, and sometimes whacking people in the forehead. That in and of itself is not a bad thing. But how people act and interact while doing that could be. As long as those people's actions don't affect me (or the immediate community, ie log history) then if it's following the rules, I say it's okay. Is it positive and improving the state of the game? Likely not. But is it worth my time getting worked up about it being a 'bare minimum'? Not really. Especially if me getting worked up gets other people worked up. If the LB didn't have a stamp (which it's required to have), I'd probably NM it, or at worst report it. I wouldn't complain that it's bare minimum if it only had a tiny stamp (I've found plenty of micro LBs with a mini-stamp and nano log - is that wrong?). And we're not in the business of rating 'quality' on the scale of what is allowed. Rather, more effective would be to place a new Letterbox that really encourages or demonstrates what a LB cache can be. If an event was published by a vacationer, excellent! Now if the host didn't show up (especially if others did), then I would absolutely take issue. There are far too many unknown factors to claim the slippery slope "vacation events lead to ruining geocaching". "When the primary intent is for numbers-style play, it can have a negative effect on the pastime overall." Yep, any habit in this hobby taken to the extreme can 'ruin geocaching'.

I think you'll find this forum extremely quiet too, sadly FaceBook is where all the action is these days, particularly for the social side. Alternatively go to, or organise your own, event in your area and talk to some people face to face.

I'm always on the lookout for interested parties to partner for an ISS waymark. I thought a mention in the NW states forum might help spread the word to anyone in this area who might be interested. It's easy! In a nutshell, partners must be minimum flight time of 1 minute away (approximately 300 miles), both be able to watch the same pass at a minimum altitude of 45°. You can see the ISS with the naked eye. It makes one pass around the earth approximately every 90 minutes. I am in Oklahoma, and I have a pass that is also seen from the Seattle area, July 18, 3:30 a.m., and again on July 19, 2:30 a.m. I don't know specifics of altitude until I know my partner's location. Creating the waymark can appear daunting, but it's easy and help is available. After this week, it may be a couple of months till another opportunity arises for a partnership between Oklahoma and the NW. Right now, Lynwood, WA looks very good, but I'm happy to check other locations. If you know of anyone interested, I'd love to talk to them.

I have one out at the base of my driveway. It got a few finds within the first couple of weeks. I recognized some of the names from logs on caches I had found in this area--you know, it's a big community where we all recognize each other's names even if we never meet! Well, I started working for a murder mystery theater company about six months after I placed my cache. I met an actor who mentioned that he liked to geocache. Yay, someone to talk to about it! We both are in the St. Louis area right now, but he was recently from Vegas, while I used to live in southern Utah and would to go Vegas frequently to visit a boyfriend there (and still go out to visit, including a few months prior). I thought it was cool that he was from Vegas, and asked what his user name was. It sounded really familiar to me. I realized that I had seen it on one of the caches that I had found in Vegas that year. But then it hit me--he was one of the first to log the cache in my yard! I told him about it, he remembered the cache, and we talked about how my son and his friend gave him hints to find it, and he told me the swag he had taken from it! It was so cool finding a fellow cacher who I essentially know from three different circumstances--Seeing his user name in Vegas, having had him find the cache in my yard in Illinois, and working in the theater with him!

Why are you asking us? Talk to them.

Well, you asked... Guess (if true) multiple sigs and taking up the whole strip might be leading to destroying or damaging, though I feel "vandalizing" is reaching... Are they "taking the whole strip page" on both sides ? Sounds (to me) someone took a request of writing in the log sequentially as a bit much. IIRC, you're also the person who said in a thread that you'd delete logs if folks logged found after you disabled a cache. We have seen similar behavior when people get a little too anal about a hobby, and maybe the locals are attempting to show how silly that is. Sure, they may be a jerk. Consider the source, talk about 'em here, and then forgetaboutit. Have you had caches taken/stolen yet ? If this bugs the heck outta you, this might be a good time to have a sponsor.

+1. I don't need "direction to a cache" occupying a data field, but if I did, I'd select "Bearing". That's the direction from North where the cache is, and is displayed as a line in Map and a pointer in Compass. To Course could be a problem, because it directs you where the course is (for example, that line I mentioned), which is not necessarily the cache. The OP doesn't seem to be so much about the "compass pointing North", more about navigation tool selections. I'm guessing the compass is right, and the other settings are showing various things on individual devices. Still, the compass and GPS tools are subject to a lot of real-world effects. They won't be perfect at all times. If you're using "the Geocaching Dashboard" on any GPS, watch out. You may be directed to "the nearest cache" even if you select a waypoint unrelated to a cache, which would be confusing if comparing GPS pointers. AND since each device may be loaded with different sets of caches, the nearest one can be different on each GPS. In any case, be sure all devices you compare are calibrated and have found their current GPS location, and all are actively "navigating" to the same point. Otherwise, you may be seeing an effect of the Geocaching Dashboard. I'm not trying to talk you out of The Geocaching Dashboard, because it's cool and all. I used it on the main screen on my Oregon 650. But I don't want it when doing the actual Geocaching. It's confusing enough already.

We have a challenge in Ontario for finding 10 Earthcaches requiring the boat attribute. Maybe you should go find them all That question was answered (can't remember if an FAQ or the Geocache Talk episode with Bryan Roth) that all clues would be in the same listings for everyone. Bookmark the homepage for the promotion. The promotion does not require you to be using the latest version of the dashboard. (that we know of thus far)

Hi, and welcome to geocaching! I hope you and your daughter enjoy it! If you are using only the geocaching app on your phone, your experience as a basic member will be limited to traditional caches rated 2 or lower for difficulty and terrain - a good place to start, but you might not see many caches to find around you. The website will show you all the caches except for those that owners have marked as Premium only, and you can manually enter those coordinates, and still log those finds on the website. The website has some starter videos and a LOT of information on how to do various tasks. Spend some time there! Take one/leave one refers to SWAG left by geocachers - the general rule is to trade even or up, but don't be surprised to find, literally, junk, in a lot of caches. We try to clean out the garbage and leave trinkets and signature stuff. I leave wine corks, kids leave bouncy balls, little charms, etc. NO food, gum, toothpaste (yes, I did find a tube of toothpaste in a cache!), perishable items. Take one/leave one doesn't apply to trackables (a whole 'nuther side game that can be a lot of fun, and you don't have to be a premium member to do that either) Premium allows you to see ALL caches available, and for the app that means many more icons on the map for you to choose from! I waited a few months after joining to upgrade to premium; my husband had a premium membership and I just cached with him and logged caches via other methods if we found any that were premium. Find a local group (look for events to attend) and ask questions - most are happy to share tips and insights, and someone local can guide you and show you local customs and what types of cache hides are more common in your neck of the woods. Events are just gatherings of geocachers, usually at a restaurant or park, to talk and share experiences. It's a great way to meet other geocachers learn from more experienced folks!!

The "commercial business" guideline is a sticking point. But another of the problems of a “business” is that they change owners, and the new owner doesn't know what “Geocaching” is, or at least they know it's weird. And the new owner certainly doesn't want families to be drawn there from all over. This is a convenience store! A bunch of local cool old grandfathered caches have gone away when a new owner bought the property. Unless it's a mom & pop store from way back, you may not even find an “owner” to talk about it.

I know of two indoor caches, one in the visitors center of a National Park. You need to talk to the ranger to obtain the cache. The other (GC4RHPA) is in a convenience store (not in the office as stated earlier,) , kept beneath the counter, also need to see the worker to obtain it. Maybe the second one is not allowed.

Hi all, I was thinking of starting a geocaching Discord which is a easy place for UK based geocachers or people visiting the UK to connect and talk with other UK Geocachers. I thought it would be a fun place to help one and other out with puzzles or ideas for future caches. Remember sign up with your geocaching name to make it easier. Use the below link to join the discord server and it would be great to get to know you all. https://discord.gg/pm3bCC

Agree with the three headed dog on this one. Also would add to avoid a call to action. OK to talk factually about CAP; not OK to ask finders to do anything other than find a cache, such as "Take a moment to think about..." If your reviewer has issues, they will let you know. Please give them the benefit of a doubt if they ask you to scale back your description, reviewers are responsible for implementing the guidelines, which prohibit any agenda. I like CAP - I was at Maxwell AFB for three years and am familiar with their mission - but we stay away from agendas here.

The events themselves didn't directly encourage people to place cache listings for the event. They were themed events that were to encourage creation of better geocaches and ideas. People can still host events just like that today if they wish - they just can't directly promote creating geocache listings (publish one cache to gain entry, eg). Those event caches were indeed judged to a degree by a reviewer and hq to become an 'approved' event for the promo period. (not that there were any strict requirements other than the event date - plenty were just "come have a coffee and talk about geocaches" flash mobs) In a sense the promo did encourage the 'hosting of lame events' just for a souvenir; but lame events aren't like 'lame geocaches' anyway. Don't attend them, they go away The key distinction is between how to make better caches vs encouragement to create geocache listings. The former is acceptable, the latter isn't.

First time posting, so I am not sure if I am in the right place. I would like to create a "bird box" style puzzle cache. It will be placed on my property on a part that is publicly accessible, so no issues there. However, the theme is where I have questions on. I want to theme the cache after the Civil Air Patrol and their contributions to the local community. Not as a recruiting tool, no information on the current squadron will be included. Cachers will have to solve three puzzles themed after the three missions of the Civil Air Patrol. Who do I talk to for approval? Thanks.

Ah, appeal to authority! In theory, the clue types themselves could be connected to a cache property; maybe even the jewels (by colour?). Who know. Bryan Roth was on Geocache Talk on Sunday discussing the promo. I don't recall any clarification to the clue placement algorithm though. (I was partly distracted by paddling in a kayak at the time, heh)

Since you mention freezing, IF you have a tick that has latched on, I always put it in a baggie and freeze it. If you have any signs of anything of disease, the tick can be tested. At least, that is what I heard. I did this religiously when I found one latched onto my kids when they were little. I overheard one of their friends ask my son what that was (when they were snooping in the fridge/freezer). My son said, "Oh, that's our tick.". ha ha. Gotta give the neighbors something to talk about, I guess.

Because jellis is using a small stamp, and he (the CO) hasn't said anything about size being the problem, I think his reasoning against the use of stamps is that people are using the 'divide-and-conquer' group caching style of play in his area. It's done to get more smiley points. A stamp with the groups name is made and each member carries a group stamp. The group's ethos is that at least one person did get to ground zero and found the cache (or in some cases depending on the ethos of the group, at least one person got to ground zero and left a throwdown with the group's name). Sometimes this behavior is assumed by the CO when the group find a huge number of caches in a day and all log generic logs not mentioning a visit to each of the caches. Sometimes the CO hears about the groups practices through the grapevine from other sites like Facebook, or perhaps talk that goes around at events. The CO cannot do anything about this practice. They must allow it. They can not insist that finders write their individual trailnames as more concrete proof that they actually visited the cache.

That's true. I can't promote directly. But if all fails just let me know and I will talk with Groundspeak to get the new officer promoted.

Well, there's Cindy, a TB made from a cinder block, but we don't talk about her weight. There's also "Barry", a 3 foot long piece of railroad track.

The first hands-on videos, the Garmin press videos and the Garmin news mail only talk about GPS and glonass.

I have an idea for an earthcache based on one I found in another state, but which can easily be replicated in my home state. I have a location and some general information, but I'd like to discuss my topic with someone who is knowledgeable about earthcaches before I go through the process of writing it up and submitting it, in the hopes that I can do it right the first time. Are there any earthcache 'mentors' out there who are willing to talk about submission guidelines and offer pointers on what makes a good earthcache? I know that there are websites and some FAQ pages available, but I work better with discussion and feedback.

If it is a right of way easement, then the land still belongs to the landowner, the government just has the legal right to build and maintain a road there, and people have the right to drive on it. So you'd ask the landowner then. Sometimes the property might actually change hands, though. For interstate highways, it's normally not just an easement, the government takes title to the land through eminent domain. So if you wanted to put a cache in, say, a rest area, In those cases, the state department of transportation might need to give permission. It may be worth it to reach out to some of the local cache owners to get a feel for what they had to do. One last note - the caching guidelines talk about "adequate" permission, not explicit. So if a county has an open geocaching policy on park land, you don't need to ask, just make sure your cache follows whatever rules the county put out there.

Hi RaeRobyn, you could create an event in your area to meet up with other local cachers and talk to them directly. I was thinking of doing this. I went to school in Gloucester which isn’t relevant to your question but partly why I posted a reply!

I have set up three Geocaches to talk about Benchmarking. I even made benchmarks for containers (you can get a better look at what I did at this cache.. Let me know if there is anything you think I should add to any of the three. I will make some more containers and plant some Benchmark UnChallenges to continue the trail along that dirt road they are on. HtBMS 1: Benchmarking Basics - KCC PBCC HtBMS 2: Benchmarking Sites & Apps - KCC PBCC HtBMS 3: Benchmarking Advanced Tips - KCC PBCC