creativity in caches

[+lomocacher]

I'm getting ready to place my first caches and want to make them creative in some way. What I wanted to find out was what is appreciated by cachers with regards to creativity. Obviously a creative cache hide is much loved, but what about creativity in a cache that might be an easy hide?

 

For instance, I'm working on hand-decorated logbooks and some handmade signature items. One I'm planning as an art-themed cache in which I'll place artistic or craft items for people to trade, including drawing and painting kits.

 

Are things like this appreciated in a basic hide, or does the hide itself need creativity as well?

 

Thanks!

[+LuckysGirls]

I'm getting ready to place my first caches and want to make them creative in some way. What I wanted to find out was what is appreciated by cachers with regards to creativity. Obviously a creative cache hide is much loved, but what about creativity in a cache that might be an easy hide?

 

For instance, I'm working on hand-decorated logbooks and some handmade signature items. One I'm planning as an art-themed cache in which I'll place artistic or craft items for people to trade, including drawing and painting kits.

 

Are things like this appreciated in a basic hide, or does the hide itself need creativity as well?

 

Thanks!

For me, the challenge is finding the cache. Creative ways to hide are appreciated. Once found, I personally don't care a lot about what is inside, if anything.

[GOF and Bacall]

I prefer the cache be someplace interesting. If the logbook is nice I'll notice, but it isn't that important. As long as it is dry I'm happy with a blank sheet of paper.

[knowschad]

After finding a lot of caches, I pretty much have to agree with GOF. Yeah, you might be able to come up with an original idea, but I very much doubt it. I used to think so, and tried, and probably even came up with something new every now and then, but that was a long time ago, and a LOT of "new ideas" have been replicated many times. I have a friend that started caching before me (pre-2005). He was known as a local innovator. Looking at his hides now, he had, 1) a run of the mill fake rock keysafe, 2) two rockpile hides, 3) a skirt lifter, 4) a fencepost cap hide... etc. Today, people yawn at those. But find a great location and they will never stop going "wow!"

[+JL_HSTRE]

I appreciate a great location or a clever hide most of all. Second thing I care about the cache container is dry inside. Not big on swag, but I know some people are. How cool the log book is actually the least of my worries; I just want it to be dry and still have space left.

[GOF and Bacall]

After finding a lot of caches, I pretty much have to agree with GOF. Yeah, you might be able to come up with an original idea, but I very much doubt it. I used to think so, and tried, and probably even came up with something new every now and then, but that was a long time ago, and a LOT of "new ideas" have been replicated many times. I have a friend that started caching before me (pre-2005). He was known as a local innovator. Looking at his hides now, he had, 1) a run of the mill fake rock keysafe, 2) two rockpile hides, 3) a skirt lifter, 4) a fencepost cap hide... etc. Today, people yawn at those. But find a great location and they will never stop going "wow!"

 

I think it can be summed up like the real estate market. Location, location, location!

 

But there are a bunch of folks out there that would love to collect the hand made signature items.

[+lomocacher]

Thank you all--you've given me a lot to think about. Luckily, one location I've been scouting should fit the bill for a scenic view.

 

This has been very helpful!

[+popokiiti]

Had a great experience at a cache on a beautiful walkway by a river on the mainland recently. It was hiding in the open, was big and you needed the combination to get in. If you want more info lomocacher, send me a pm.

[+roziecakes]

I prefer the cache be someplace interesting. If the logbook is nice I'll notice, but it isn't that important. As long as it is dry I'm happy with a blank sheet of paper.

 

I'm with GOF on this one too. It's the place, not the cache itself for me

 

Edit: Although... I have to admit that I am always tickled by 'hidden in plain site' type hides.

Edited September 21, 2010 by nymphnsatyr

[+MR57]

I'm getting ready to place my first caches and want to make them creative in some way. What I wanted to find out was what is appreciated by cachers with regards to creativity. Obviously a creative cache hide is much loved, but what about creativity in a cache that might be an easy hide?

 

For instance, I'm working on hand-decorated logbooks and some handmade signature items. One I'm planning as an art-themed cache in which I'll place artistic or craft items for people to trade, including drawing and painting kits.

 

Are things like this appreciated in a basic hide, or does the hide itself need creativity as well?

 

Thanks!

For me, the challenge is finding the cache. Creative ways to hide are appreciated. Once found, I personally don't care a lot about what is inside, if anything.

Ditto for me.

[+brslk]

I suppose I should ask why the creative cache container thread is so active then?

[+CapeDoc]

For me a "creative hide" can be so much more!!

 

I agree a great location is needed, but to make it creative one has to extract the best out of the location.

 

Some examples:

- at a historic site make the cache about investigating history. Make the cachers learn archeological techniques as part of solving a puzzle to find the cache.

- bring in technology. Bar codes, sim cards, Google street view, internet files and soundbites all can be used.

- in a botanical garden, make the finder learn and discover the most rare plants in the garden

- in a old mine shaft make it a pirate treasure hunt, or a Lord of the Rings themed travel into the Mines of Moria or as is the case with a local cache near me, a story based on Greek mythology.

- at a view site, make it an adventure of some kind: a puzzle that needs to be solved, a cowboy shoot the baddies story, a Dragonslayer adventure, a fairy story.

 

The location will always speak for itself, for a great cache don't just rely on the location, give the cacher an adventure AND a great hide AT the great location. If the logbook and swag then fit the theme, they will be enjoyed as an added bonus or finishing touch.

 

I have just found a glorious waterfall in an indigenous, mossy forest. I am working on a little magic story where you will need to learn skills from mythical creatures that you find in the forest to beat the evil magician who holds the secret to where the cache is hidden.

 

(One of my more creative caches makes you pretend to be a Proctologist examining a massive Elephant's anus whilst exploring a cave!). Be creative!!!

[+The Chaos Crew]

going against the grain here but I personally would LOVE to find an art/craft themed cache - but then that's my "other" hobby....

[GOF and Bacall]

I suppose I should ask why the creative cache container thread is so active then?

 

Not the same as a decorated log book and none of the caches depicted in that thread couldn't be improved by a great location. But it is a great place for the OP to get an idea of what kind of creative things cachers do enjoy.

 

C.C.C. thread.

[Skippermark]

For instance, I'm working on hand-decorated logbooks and some handmade signature items. One I'm planning as an art-themed cache in which I'll place artistic or craft items for people to trade, including drawing and painting kits.

I've found several caches like this. One included a huge logbook (8 1/2 x11), a full set of magic markers and other "artsy" stuff where you could draw something for future finders to admire. I'm certainly not an artist, but it was really fun to do.

 

As far as trading, that's not something we do, but a lot of cachers do and trade even or trade up. Just don't get discouraged if you go to check on the cache one day and see all the things you made gone and replaced with less than equal swag or even nothing. Unfortunately, over time it seems like the quality of swag degrades.

[+briansnat]

I care more about the location. Bring me someplace I'd enjoy visiting even if the cache wasn't there. A creative hide in the Home Depot parking lot is still a hide that I have no interest in.

 

If you put it some place interesting and make it creative, all the better.

[+thebruce0]

After finding a lot of caches, I pretty much have to agree with GOF. Yeah, you might be able to come up with an original idea, but I very much doubt it. I used to think so, and tried, and probably even came up with something new every now and then, but that was a long time ago, and a LOT of "new ideas" have been replicated many times.

 

I'm also of the mind that unique creative caches are a dime a dozen. I think to be creative now you need to think less about the physical container, and more about the location, but mostly and most importantly - the experience through locating and finding it.

 

Being original these days in standard cache hides is next to impossible. The only aspect of geocaching that will never run out of potential is journey to the cache.

 

To me, creative caches are the ones that tell some kind of story, or offer some kind of experience - from viewing the cache page, to signing the log.

 

I actually wrote an article on geocaching and what makes them a huge draw for amazing experiences, at 4DFiction | Telling stories with tupperware and ammo cans

 

While creative hides can be fun, to me the best caches are the memorable ones, the ones that provide a fun experience or story that'll stick with you; ones that you tell your friends about, and that people from around the world want to find (even if it's just an adventurous physical trek to GZ). At this point it's not even so much about the rating any more.

 

GC's also blogged a couple of creative caches that are about experience, not the container or contents.

 

That's what I like to see

Edited September 21, 2010 by thebruce0

[+dillonquests]

I really enjoy a theme-based cache series. It gives the CO an oppurtunity to share their interests or things that are important to them.

 

While in Tucson, there was a 7 cache Fallen Heroes series http://coord.info/GC1T88F that I thought was very nice. I only wish I had more time there to pay my respects to all of them.

[jd-mitchell]

being a noob, I'll put my 2 cents in. It can it being kinda fun if the decorations tie in somehow with the location.

Edited September 22, 2010 by jd-mitchell

[+NYPaddleCacher]

I really enjoy a theme-based cache series. It gives the CO an oppurtunity to share their interests or things that are important to them.

 

While in Tucson, there was a 7 cache Fallen Heroes series http://coord.info/GC1T88F that I thought was very nice. I only wish I had more time there to pay my respects to all of them.

 

Some theme based caches can be interesting, as long as the CO puts some effort into making them interesting. Being part of a theme doesn't, by itself, make the cache interesting.

 

I have seen quite a few "theme based caches" where the theme is contrived and is basically an excuse to drop a cache a location which follows the theme.

 

For example, there is an "Always" series that apparently has many caches in different states which follow the the theme. The theme in this case, is that it's near a particular retail store that is "Always Open". In 2005 there were 3800 of these stores in the U.S. and 2800 elsewhere and that number has likely grown significantly. There is absolutely nothing that makes these location, or a cache placed within close proximity of one of these stores interesting, but it does allow a potential CO to go "look, there's an "Always Open" store here that doesn't have a cache. I can add a cache to a series". It typically ends up being a LPC in a large parking lot.

 

There are other examples I've seen based on a coffee/breakfast chain, drug stores, etc.

[+Chokecherry]

I've seen some themed caches that had potential like themed after actor's/actresses or movies. Stuff like that but then you get there and it's a soggy micro/small in an area that isn't particularly scenic. I tend to avoid themed caches now.

[+L0ne.R]

For instance, I'm working on hand-decorated logbooks and some handmade signature items. One I'm planning as an art-themed cache in which I'll place artistic or craft items for people to trade, including drawing and painting kits.

 

Kudos. A sturdy watertight container large enough to hold various sizes of arts & crafts items and one with handmade items including a handmade logbook, well that's pretty darn creative right there.

 

I remember seeing a picture on one of the forums, someone created an arts & crafts cache, used an ammo can and painted the outside with impressions little hands and painted on the words "Hand Made". It was very creative. It was very colourful, I would use khaki/camo colours for the hand prints to make the can easier to hide in the woods.

[+niraD]

I'm getting ready to place my first caches and want to make them creative in some way. What I wanted to find out was what is appreciated by cachers with regards to creativity. Obviously a creative cache hide is much loved, but what about creativity in a cache that might be an easy hide?

Don't worry too much about what kind of creativity others appreciate. I think it's more important for you to figure out what kind of creativity you enjoy, and would like to maintain for the long term. Even if everyone else loves the cache, you aren't going to be motivated to maintain it unless you also love it.

 

Keep in mind that caches get muggled. If you spent time creating a custom log book, or a custom cache, or something like that, then you might consider creating more than one copy while you're at it. That way, you can easily/quickly replace it when the time comes.

 

I learned a lot from my first hide. I had to maintain it every couple weeks or so, and eventually had to archive it. But based on what I learned from trying to maintain that one, my current hides are much better. I drop by every few months when it's convenient, but I haven't needed to maintain them (except to disable one when construction made its location inaccessible, but that's a different issue).

[+L0ne.R]

I'm getting ready to place my first caches and want to make them creative in some way. What I wanted to find out was what is appreciated by cachers with regards to creativity. Obviously a creative cache hide is much loved, but what about creativity in a cache that might be an easy hide?

Don't worry too much about what kind of creativity others appreciate. I think it's more important for you to figure out what kind of creativity you enjoy, and would like to maintain for the long term. Even if everyone else loves the cache, you aren't going to be motivated to maintain it unless you also love it.

 

Keep in mind that caches get muggled. If you spent time creating a custom log book, or a custom cache, or something like that, then you might consider creating more than one copy while you're at it. That way, you can easily/quickly replace it when the time comes.

 

I learned a lot from my first hide. I had to maintain it every couple weeks or so, and eventually had to archive it. But based on what I learned from trying to maintain that one, my current hides are much better. I drop by every few months when it's convenient, but I haven't needed to maintain them (except to disable one when construction made its location inaccessible, but that's a different issue).

 

Those are good points niraD.

 

Also, don't expect people to comply with the theme. Some will, most won't. But if you like adding more of your handmade crafts you will probably enjoy maintaining the cache. Hopefully you'll get nice logs that show some appreciation for the cache contents, even if the finders don't trade or don't leave something that is handcrafted or arts&crafts related.

[+L0ne.R]

I've seen some themed caches that had potential like themed after actor's/actresses or movies. Stuff like that but then you get there and it's a soggy micro/small in an area that isn't particularly scenic. I tend to avoid themed caches now.

 

I've seen similar caches. One arts&crafts cache I found was a camo'd yogurt container in the woods. Leaky and way too small to add most handmade items. Who'd want to risk having their handmade items destroyed by water and dirt? But a few people did - things were crammed into the container and bent which destroyed most of the stuff in there.

Edited September 21, 2010 by Lone R

[+lomocacher]

Don't worry too much about what kind of creativity others appreciate. I think it's more important for you to figure out what kind of creativity you enjoy, and would like to maintain for the long term. Even if everyone else loves the cache, you aren't going to be motivated to maintain it unless you also love it.

 

Keep in mind that caches get muggled. If you spent time creating a custom log book, or a custom cache, or something like that, then you might consider creating more than one copy while you're at it. That way, you can easily/quickly replace it when the time comes.

 

I learned a lot from my first hide. I had to maintain it every couple weeks or so, and eventually had to archive it. But based on what I learned from trying to maintain that one, my current hides are much better. I drop by every few months when it's convenient, but I haven't needed to maintain them (except to disable one when construction made its location inaccessible, but that's a different issue).

 

Thank you for your kind comments--I suppose it should be important that I enjoy the caches I place, besides hoping others enjoy them. And I also know that it could be muggled. . .that's just a fact of geocaching. I've accepted that if I hide caches, they could disappear, and if that should happen, no big deal--I'll just replace it to keep the game going and keep the fun happening

 

Those are good points niraD.

 

Also, don't expect people to comply with the theme. Some will, most won't. But if you like adding more of your handmade crafts you will probably enjoy maintaining the cache. Hopefully you'll get nice logs that show some appreciation for the cache contents, even if the finders don't trade or don't leave something that is handcrafted or arts&crafts related.

 

I don't mind if people don't comply with the theme. . .the trading of art or craft items would be entirely voluntary. The concept is a way of linking the cache to the hide area (I don't want to give away too much!).

 

Once again thank you all for your suggestions and comments!