newbie what sort of things can we leave

[steve99gsi]

hi

am hopefully going to find our first one tomorrow

what sort of thing can we leave in exchange of something already in the cache?

[+Krieg's Bones]

We try to leave something of equal or better value if we take anything at all. The list of possible items is endless really. Anything you could find for a dollar at walmart, target or a dollar store or get for free in a kids meal. Key chains, pen lights, compasses, carabiners, polished rocks, charms, dollar coins, yo-yo's, match box cars, stickers, light sticks, etc, etc, etc.

[+MountainRacer]

Foreign coins are pretty cool too. Just by virtue of having cached for a while, I've always got a few floating in with my pocket change, so if I see something in a cache that happens to catch my fancy (I'm not usually a trader), I have something neat to swap.

 

You also always have the option of a good ol' TN-LN (took nothing, left nothing), so don't feel at all pressured to trade.

[ELTADA]

Definitely leave something of equal or greater value -- I often leave two or three things if the cache is looking depleted and I have the extra items. I have picked up some scrapbooking stamps that were discontinued at a local craft store that fit nicely into caches. I enjoy scrapbooking and I figure other crafty people or kids might like them too. Other ideas are key chains, charms or pins, perhaps from your home town/province/country (especially if you are travelling).

 

Whatever you leave, make sure it will withstand the elements (cache contents get damp and sometimes wet), it won't be attractive to animals and isn't dangerous. Some things wouldn't seem dangerous until you realize that sometimes kids (or distracted adults) stick their hand in caches without looking.

 

Hope that helps!

[steve99gsi]

Definitely leave something of equal or greater value -- I often leave two or three things if the cache is looking depleted and I have the extra items. I have picked up some scrapbooking stamps that were discontinued at a local craft store that fit nicely into caches. I enjoy scrapbooking and I figure other crafty people or kids might like them too. Other ideas are key chains, charms or pins, perhaps from your home town/province/country (especially if you are travelling).

 

Whatever you leave, make sure it will withstand the elements (cache contents get damp and sometimes wet), it won't be attractive to animals and isn't dangerous. Some things wouldn't seem dangerous until you realize that sometimes kids (or distracted adults) stick their hand in caches without looking.

 

Hope that helps!

[steve99gsi]

thanks for all the ideas of what to leave

[+Jonesclan5]

Definitely leave something of equal or greater value -- I often leave two or three things if the cache is looking depleted and I have the extra items. I have picked up some scrapbooking stamps that were discontinued at a local craft store that fit nicely into caches. I enjoy scrapbooking and I figure other crafty people or kids might like them too. Other ideas are key chains, charms or pins, perhaps from your home town/province/country (especially if you are travelling).

 

Whatever you leave, make sure it will withstand the elements (cache contents get damp and sometimes wet), it won't be attractive to animals and isn't dangerous. Some things wouldn't seem dangerous until you realize that sometimes kids (or distracted adults) stick their hand in caches without looking.

 

Hope that helps!

 

That is good to know I am glad I read this thread.

[+-CacheMonkey-]

I would say leave something that you might like to find. I'm always bummed when I crack open that ammo can and find a McToy or just some junky toy found at the bottom of a kid's birthday goodie bag. I don't often take things from caches, but will leave police patches, or pins, or mini barrel of monkey's games. It's just neat to find different things in caches.

[+Team O-Zone]

I like to go to Walmart after a major holiday to buy the 'seasonal' swag at a big discount. After valentines day I picked up a 4 pack of "micro" keychain notebooks for 75 cents. The full price was $2.50, and they made great logbooks for small/micro caches. The day after the discount is usually about 50% off & the discount increases as the days go on, but the selections dwindels too. I've gotten 6packs of mini yo-yo for .50 cents, 6 pack of kids classics card games (ie. go fish & old maid) for .75 cents, and some for .25 cents. So if you're frugal, like a good discount or watching how much you spend, this is my sugestion.

 

By the way, I've gotten some Grown-Up swag this way too. So don't think this method is only for kids swag.

[gitarmac]

I had heard that people like P-38's, I know I do. I put one in a little bag along with a printout of the history and what it is. I have a pic on it so when it's folded you can see it through the bag. Here is a pic.

 

 

You can see some of the other stuff I leave. Of course what I think is cool might not be what everyone else thinks is cool. I pass the toys and stuff and go for useful gadgets like p-38's, carabiners, stuff like that. My favorite thing is a sig item. I found a cool wooden sig geocoin at one, I really like that and would like to have some of my own. I usually leave a sig card at any cache weahter I take anything or not.

 

I rarely take things, only sig items. The keychain notebooks sound very useful to have for when a cache log is full and you want to help maintain the cache.