Questions about swag...

[+TeacherTrekker]

What kind of swag is acceptable? I am very new to this and very much addicted! I constantly have my eyes open for things to put in my box. I already have things like: rain ponchos, waterproof matches, clips for backpacks, sticker for kids, a whistle, and a couple of nature DVD's. Is that the right kind of stuff? I am so excited and can't wait to get started! Let me know if I am on the right track!

 

Happy Caching!

 

Teri

[+Chuy!]

Leave out the matches and you are on the right track.

 

You want to leave out anything that a no-good muggle can use to vandalize the cache and surrounding area if he/she were to find the cache. Knives, markers, matches, liquor etc... can be too inviting to no-good teenagers - and some adults too. But, its the teenagers mostly that are up to no good and/or just looking for some fun at some else's expense. I should know as I was a teenager once .

 

You also want to leave things out that you don't want your your son/daughter/nephew/niece, etc... to find - i.e. condoms, porn, etc...

 

And no food, including play doh, which may attract animals.

[+briansnat]

All great stuff. You are on the right track. Unfortunately you will discover that many geocachers don't put nearly as much thought into their trades as you are and you'll generally finds caches filled with garbage.

 

Don't let that stop youthough from leaving decent stuff.

[+TeacherTrekker]

Thanks for the advice....I hadnt thought of the "cons" of matches...thanks for pointing that out. I was just thinking that if it were a camper who found it...it might be handy. I have kids and they are getting excited about my new hobby...so no prob on the "kid-friendly" cache. I bought some kid goodies too! Do people actually put trash in these things??? How terrible!

 

T

[+TeacherTrekker]

All great stuff. You are on the right track. Unfortunately you will discover that many geocachers don't put nearly as much thought into their trades as you are and you'll generally finds caches filled with garbage.

 

Don't let that stop youthough from leaving decent stuff.

 

Thanks Briansnat! I am very excited about this new passion. I only want to trade stuff that I would like to find.

 

T

[mrbeachroach]

All great stuff. You are on the right track. Unfortunately you will discover that many geocachers don't put nearly as much thought into their trades as you are and you'll generally finds caches filled with garbage.

 

Don't let that stop youthough from leaving decent stuff.

 

Thanks Briansnat! I am very excited about this new passion. I only want to trade stuff that I would like to find.

 

T

 

I agree, onr of my constant goals is to raise the geocaching swag standard. This cannot be taught be another set of rules, only by example. I always try to give what im not ready to let go off.

[GeoPirates2007]

T

 

I agree, onr of my constant goals is to raise the geocaching swag standard. This cannot be taught be another set of rules, only by example. I always try to give what im not ready to let go off.

That is a very good way to look at it

[+elmuyloco5]

Also remember to never leave anything in them that has a scent. It can attract animals to tear the cache up. Why not try buying or making an itemg that says something personal about you? From your forum name, I'm guessing you're a teacher. You could, for example, find little apples and put your name on them. You should be able to find apple type things in all sizes as well to accommodate the different cache containers. Or, maybe something with pencils, chalkboards, etc. Personal items (signature items) are quite popular and a lovely personal touch. Placing it in a small baggie with a tag or sticker that says who it's from is a good way to ppresent the item nicely and helps keep it clean and safe from moisture.

Edited December 5, 2007 by elmuyloco5

[+TeacherTrekker]

Also remember to never leave anything in them that has a scent. It can attract animals to tear the cache up. Why not try buying or making an itemg that says something personal about you? From your forum name, I'm guessing you're a teacher. You could, for example, find little apples and put your name on them. You should be able to find apple type things in all sizes as well to accommodate the different cache containers. Or, maybe something with pencils, chalkboards, etc. Personal items (signature items) are quite popular and a lovely personal touch. Placing it in a small baggie with a tag or sticker that says who it's from is a good way to ppresent the item nicely and helps keep it clean and safe from moisture.

 

 

What a thoughtful idea!

 

T

[+TeacherTrekker]

All great stuff. You are on the right track. Unfortunately you will discover that many geocachers don't put nearly as much thought into their trades as you are and you'll generally finds caches filled with garbage.

 

Don't let that stop youthough from leaving decent stuff.

 

Thanks Briansnat! I am very excited about this new passion. I only want to trade stuff that I would like to find.

 

T

 

I agree, onr of my constant goals is to raise the geocaching swag standard. This cannot be taught be another set of rules, only by example. I always try to give what im not ready to let go off.

 

AMEN....If we are going to do this....let's do it with class !! (coming from a teacher...LOL)

 

T

[+WRASTRO]

I did a little cache maintenance this afternoon on our TB hotel and pulled out a nail, an empty bubbles container and some random paper, as well as a few other pieces of generic swag that don't fit the theme of the cache. The generic swag gets placed in other caches. The trash goes in the trash. Why would a cacher leave a nail? I am pretty sure that rustynail didn't stop by. Why would a cacher ever leave garbage in a cache? It just doesn't ever make any sense to me.

[+Outspoken1]

Swag is also a potentially regional and season related choice. I tends to put out the bug repellent wipes in the spring and summer; sturdies items in the winter that have to survive a freeze. I sometimes have taken out junk swag (broken toys, items that got wet, etc.) and put in new things so kids will not be disappointed. The other thought I keep (not my own, mentioned by someone else) is to not put anything in a cache along a road that a trusted prisoner on road cleanup crew would find and might take. That again goes back to knifes, tools, etc. Avoid food items as well, I have found some granola bars in an ammo container. While most animals would not be able to get into the cache, they could drag it off to try to get into it. Then the cache is "gone."

 

Many cachers haunt the $1 stores for swag. I get many items that are given as freebies at conventions and county fairs (keychains, notepad holders, stress balls). We have a local cacher who puts out nice, new teaspoons. I have traded for a couple and use them daily with my tea. Reminds me that there are many wonderful people in the world!

 

Take acre and welcome!!

Outspoken1

[+elmuyloco5]

I did a little cache maintenance this afternoon on our TB hotel and pulled out a nail, an empty bubbles container and some random paper, as well as a few other pieces of generic swag that don't fit the theme of the cache. The generic swag gets placed in other caches. The trash goes in the trash. Why would a cacher leave a nail? I am pretty sure that rustynail didn't stop by. Why would a cacher ever leave garbage in a cache? It just doesn't ever make any sense to me.

 

The kind of person who would leave trash in a cache are the same types whose caches are placed in trash heaps (or have degraded to such a point, they might as well be). The only way to defeat these people is to stop spending our time at their caches and to clean up other's caches that they trash.

 

The nail could have been a junky cheap swag item, or it could be someone's unmarked swag item. The trouble with unmarked sig items is sometimes they are seen as junk. All it takes is a little ziploc baggie (you can get about 100 for a buck at the craft shop) and a sticker or a tag that you print out to make the item meaningful. The nail might be from a carpenter, construction worker, or someone who owns a bar called the "Rusty Nail". I'm not saying it is, but you can see how something you thought was trash could actually be a nice personal piece of swag if presented properly. I keep saying this on the forums hoping that I will convert people to this method of thinking....but who knows.

 

The empty bubbles container was probably full when they put it in. Those things leak like crazy and make a mess.

[+the hermit crabs]

Why would a cacher ever leave garbage in a cache?

 

Because cachers are just regular people -- there is no entrance exam requiring cachers to be better than humanity as a whole. Which means that some of the same people who stick gum underneath picnic tables, scrawl their names on bathroom walls, paint graffiti on buildings, toss empty styrofoam cups out of the car windows, don't return library books, borrow your tools without asking, and let their dogs poop on your lawn, might also happen to be geocachers.

[groundhog123]

I did a little cache maintenance this afternoon on our TB hotel and pulled out a nail, an empty bubbles container and some random paper, as well as a few other pieces of generic swag that don't fit the theme of the cache. The generic swag gets placed in other caches. The trash goes in the trash. Why would a cacher leave a nail? I am pretty sure that rustynail didn't stop by. Why would a cacher ever leave garbage in a cache? It just doesn't ever make any sense to me.

 

The kind of person who would leave trash in a cache are the same types whose caches are placed in trash heaps (or have degraded to such a point, they might as well be). The only way to defeat these people is to stop spending our time at their caches and to clean up other's caches that they trash.

 

The nail could have been a junky cheap swag item, or it could be someone's unmarked swag item. The trouble with unmarked sig items is sometimes they are seen as junk. All it takes is a little ziploc baggie (you can get about 100 for a buck at the craft shop) and a sticker or a tag that you print out to make the item meaningful. The nail might be from a carpenter, construction worker, or someone who owns a bar called the "Rusty Nail". I'm not saying it is, but you can see how something you thought was trash could actually be a nice personal piece of swag if presented properly. I keep saying this on the forums hoping that I will convert people to this method of thinking....but who knows.

 

The empty bubbles container was probably full when they put it in. Those things leak like crazy and make a mess.

 

I have a few rusty nails. Actually they are the small dated spikes I removed from railroad crossties (No, not that were on the railroad). On the head, they have the year stamped on them, i.e. 31 for 1931 and so on. They are cool and are worth a few bucks to some people. Hope it wasn't a "nail" like that.

[+elmuyloco5]

 

I have a few rusty nails. Actually they are the small dated spikes I removed from railroad crossties (No, not that were on the railroad). On the head, they have the year stamped on them, i.e. 31 for 1931 and so on. They are cool and are worth a few bucks to some people. Hope it wasn't a "nail" like that.

 

See, now that would be cool to find. And, don't get me wrong, you don't have to work on the railroad to leave something like that, I was just giving an example. For instance, we have a local caching couple that collects old barbed wire. They leave small sections of it attached to a card that tells whose it is. It's a hobby for them so they share it with the caching community. I consider it one of the nicer pieces of sig swag I've found. Left by itself though people might think, "what's this piece of rusty barbed wire doing in here?". It's all in the presentation of the object, one is trash and one is a nice snippet of someone's personality.

[GeoPirates2007]

I did a little cache maintenance this afternoon on our TB hotel and pulled out a nail, an empty bubbles container and some random paper, as well as a few other pieces of generic swag that don't fit the theme of the cache. The generic swag gets placed in other caches. The trash goes in the trash. Why would a cacher leave a nail? I am pretty sure that rustynail didn't stop by. Why would a cacher ever leave garbage in a cache? It just doesn't ever make any sense to me.

 

The kind of person who would leave trash in a cache are the same types whose caches are placed in trash heaps (or have degraded to such a point, they might as well be). The only way to defeat these people is to stop spending our time at their caches and to clean up other's caches that they trash.

 

The nail could have been a junky cheap swag item, or it could be someone's unmarked swag item. The trouble with unmarked sig items is sometimes they are seen as junk. All it takes is a little ziploc baggie (you can get about 100 for a buck at the craft shop) and a sticker or a tag that you print out to make the item meaningful. The nail might be from a carpenter, construction worker, or someone who owns a bar called the "Rusty Nail". I'm not saying it is, but you can see how something you thought was trash could actually be a nice personal piece of swag if presented properly. I keep saying this on the forums hoping that I will convert people to this method of thinking....but who knows.

 

The empty bubbles container was probably full when they put it in. Those things leak like crazy and make a mess.

 

I have a few rusty nails. Actually they are the small dated spikes I removed from railroad crossties (No, not that were on the railroad). On the head, they have the year stamped on them, i.e. 31 for 1931 and so on. They are cool and are worth a few bucks to some people. Hope it wasn't a "nail" like that.

Very good thing to keep in mind, one mans trash is another mans treasure, however sometimes trash is just trash

[+TeacherTrekker]

Why would a cacher ever leave garbage in a cache?

 

Because cachers are just regular people -- there is no entrance exam requiring cachers to be better than humanity as a whole. Which means that some of the same people who stick gum underneath picnic tables, scrawl their names on bathroom walls, paint graffiti on buildings, toss empty styrofoam cups out of the car windows, don't return library books, borrow your tools without asking, and let their dogs poop on your lawn, might also happen to be geocachers.

 

Too funny....but ultimately painfully true....it reminds me of times when I have to deal with awful people who claim to be parents and are little more than sperm/egg donars. Makes me wish that I called the shots on sterilization!

 

T

[crawil]

 

I have a few rusty nails. Actually they are the small dated spikes I removed from railroad crossties (No, not that were on the railroad). On the head, they have the year stamped on them, i.e. 31 for 1931 and so on. They are cool and are worth a few bucks to some people. Hope it wasn't a "nail" like that.

 

See, now that would be cool to find. And, don't get me wrong, you don't have to work on the railroad to leave something like that, I was just giving an example. For instance, we have a local caching couple that collects old barbed wire. They leave small sections of it attached to a card that tells whose it is. It's a hobby for them so they share it with the caching community. I consider it one of the nicer pieces of sig swag I've found. Left by itself though people might think, "what's this piece of rusty barbed wire doing in here?". It's all in the presentation of the object, one is trash and one is a nice snippet of someone's personality.

We found 2 samples of their barbed wire sig items on a long caching swing through the Southwest this summer and have them both. They are some of our most treasured items in our sig collection. Without the attached card, we would have thought them trash. Like the marketers say, "Presentation, presentation, presentation".