Adopting a cache

[+jellis]

I’ve adopted a few and I adopted out a few. But I had a question from somebody asking me. Do you have to be a premium member to be able to adopt a geocache?

[+niraD]

3 minutes ago, jellis said:

I’ve adopted a few and I adopted out a few. But I had a question from somebody asking me. Do you have to be a premium member to be able to adopt a geocache?

There's nothing in the Help Center article Adopt or transfer a geocache about needing to be a premium member. And years ago, I adopted a cache while still a basic member, not that Groundspeak couldn't have changed the system since then.

[+JL_HSTRE]

Can a Basic member adopt a cache set to PMO or would that have to be disabled before adoption?

[+Hügh]

3 minutes ago, JL_HSTRE said:

Can a Basic member adopt a cache set to PMO or would that have to be disabled before adoption?

 

Yes, a Basic member can.

 

The cache will keep its original PMO status.

[+christyotwisty]

I am under consideration as a potential adopter of a geocache. Original owner used an alias for the geocache; I would like to use a alias related to the theme should I be chosen to adopt the geocache. Is this easy to do? Is this covered in the Help Center?

[+Max and 99]

6 minutes ago, christyotwisty said:

I am under consideration as a potential adopter of a geocache. Original owner used an alias for the geocache; I would like to use a alias related to the theme should I be chosen to adopt the geocache. Is this easy to do? Is this covered in the Help Center?

Very easy. Just edit that field on the geocache page.

[+PlantAKiss]

Funny this came up today as I was going to ask a question about adopting. There is a cache in a park I checked on because I happened to be there. Found the cache destroyed but found the log sheet. The CO hadn't been active since 2019, didn't respond to my message/photos. So I replaced the container and put in the log. I'm guessing I would not be able to adopt it because I'd not likely hear back from the inactive owner. (Most of their caches are archived.) Should I take my container back and leave the log as I found it and mark as NA? I recognize I should have just let it go and marked NM originally but I thought I'd hear back from the owner and get permission to replace the container and it's a nice kid-friendly cache. I don't want to be continuing to maintain a cache that's not mine. But if I could get that space, I could name it  "...#2" in honor of the original. Again I know I created this problem by trying to help a CO. (I found and logged this cache many years ago.) Adopting would be great if I could get a response.

[+Max and 99]

Based on the information you provided, I would log an NM. No response in a month? Then I would log a NA/ Reviewer Attention. 

[+MNTA]

6 hours ago, PlantAKiss said:

Funny this came up today as I was going to ask a question about adopting. There is a cache in a park I checked on because I happened to be there. Found the cache destroyed but found the log sheet. The CO hadn't been active since 2019, didn't respond to my message/photos. So I replaced the container and put in the log. I'm guessing I would not be able to adopt it because I'd not likely hear back from the inactive owner. (Most of their caches are archived.) Should I take my container back and leave the log as I found it and mark as NA? I recognize I should have just let it go and marked NM originally but I thought I'd hear back from the owner and get permission to replace the container and it's a nice kid-friendly cache. I don't want to be continuing to maintain a cache that's not mine. But if I could get that space, I could name it  "...#2" in honor of the original. Again I know I created this problem by trying to help a CO. (I found and logged this cache many years ago.) Adopting would be great if I could get a response.

 

My vote is to never do a throw down. Maintenance is the responsibility of the co. Now what to do. If in an area with cell coverage you can check how responsible the co is. In this case they are gone. So it is trash littering the environment. Log the cache, take a picture. File either a OAR or RAR your choice I;d go to RAR personally show the picture and explain you collected the trash of the abandoned cache. If feeling kind keep the trash for a few weeks if the co should happen to decide to take responsibility.

 

Even if the co was responsible, only rare caches should be adopted is my opinion. Once archived if you like the place hide your own ache and allow locals to experience the area again.

[+PlantAKiss]

Yes, I see the folly of my kindness. I know "community maintenance" is an issue and don't really agree with it myself. I lost my head. As for logging it, I found this cache years ago. It was months ago I found the cache remains but (wrongly) assumed the CO was still active. I still have the photos I took of the remains. Will see if I can rectify this. 🤦🏻‍♀️ Thank you! 

[+GeoElmo6000]

48 minutes ago, PlantAKiss said:

Will see if I can rectify this.

 

Put the cache remains back and take your container with you :-)

[+PlantAKiss]

That was my thinking.... 

[+Smitherington]

I question replacing the cache remains. It sounds like at this point it would be geotrash. 

[+PlantAKiss]

Well not with the intention of LEAVING it there. I'll figure something out. 

[+GeoElmo6000]

On 1/29/2025 at 2:24 PM, PlantAKiss said:

That was my thinking.... 

 

I was joking, sorry if that wasn't clear with the smiley face text emoji.  I was just reversing the steps you took when you left your container. 

 

Honestly I'd take the container back and log a NM, or if there already has been an unanswered NM, I'd log NA.

[+PlantAKiss]

I think that's what I'll do. Thanks for all the input. "No good deeds go unpunished." 🤦🏻‍♀️