New to Geocaching Questions!

[Suffs19]

My son and I just started a few days ago and we're having a blast! We've already found 12 caches and are looking forward to placing a few of our own. We plan on placing one larger cache (about half an ammo can size), and possibly two or three other smaller ones giving clues to where the big one is. We made a bunch of really cool little keychains for SWAG, and would love it if anyone who finds our cache takes one. The keychains are all a little different so GCs might shuffle through them. I have a few questions about this!

Do I leave several SWAGs in the cache?

How do I make sure they only take one each?

Anyone have any ideas to make this plan successful?

Is it okay to replace a log for someone else's cache? Some are completely out of room and have been there for 2-3 years.

GC'ing seems to be a little stale in our area with logs that need replacing, caches that need TLC, or even missing caches. We'd like to be part of revitalizing our local GC'ing and are looking for some ideas.

geometry dash lite

Edited December 28, 2024 by Suffs19

[+thebruce0]

Welcome to the obsession!

Let's see... If you're placing a cache:

* Leave however much swag you'd like for the container size you're placing. Make sure there's room for the log. Consider what long-term placement with possibly no movement or interaction could do to the contents (ie, no food, possibly avoid metal that could rust, etc)

* You can't control what other people do as they cache. You can explain the intent of your container and what you hope it could accomplish, but if you tell people "only take one" it could be seen as an "agenda" or logging requirement. Ya it's dumb. But if you instead explainyour goal for swag content in the cache, hopefully people would see that and follow suit. Generally speaking though, I think most geocachers in the world by far don't see a geocache with swag like a bucket of candy on Halloween  There's a generally understood etiquette, I'm sure it'll be fine

* For the three-cache series, the standard setup is to place the 'seed' caches separately, and include a required thing to know that's needed to solve for the solution to the 'final' - the 'bonus' cache would be listed as an Unknown with coordinates that can only be known or figured out with the secret attained from the other caches in the series

-- eg, cache A = Traditional with the last 3 digits of the 'bonus' north coordinates. cache B = Traditional holding last 3 digits of the West coordinates.  To find cache C, the bonus, you can say something like "the cache isn't listed at the posted coordinates, but at N43 01.XXX W80 01.YYY. XXX and YYY are located within CacheA and CacheB which you must find first" *

That's a pretty basic, simple, common structure for 3 cache/bonus series.

 

* Replacing another CO's logsheets is a point of debate and for some a heated point of contention. I think the first thing to understand is that every geocache is owned private property. So the default would be 'no', but there's a general good etiquette where in some instances there's zero chance the CO might want to keep the log (like it's completely destroyed, moldy and unreadable). Full logs are a difficult one. Some COs want to keep and audit the logs, or keep them for historicity. But, most wouldn't care. I think what you'll find is that most COs would appreciate a full log being replaced. If you go with that as default, you'll run into COs who'd be furious if you did without asking. Personally, I'd first attempt to find a place to sign the log and include in my Find log that the log is full (it's the COs cache, it's up to them to maintain it). And IF I decide to help, first choice would be to add a sheet of paper and leave the full one. If there's no room, and I decide to take the old one, I would keep the old one and let the CO know I have it; if there's no response or they don't care then after a week or two I'd toss it. If there's zero value in the old log, I'd throw it out; if it's moldy and rusty I might clean up the container a bit too so the new log doesn't follow suit.

I think whatever you do, the result will always be better if you don't assume anything but remember that even an old log is still someone else's private property.  Deal with it accordingly and respectfully

 

It's awesome you want to help revitalize your local area. Keep in mind if your local community isn't growing all that fast, then the map to most in the community may be all 'found' out, which is why there's not a lot of activity, so fixing up caches may not be the most effective. Finding ways to encourage new people to pick up the hobby would certainly help revitalize the map as well. 

 

Whatever you do, it sounds like you'll be a great additional to your community!

 

--

ETA: * I might fix the one wording: "...which you must find first" - that wouldn't be allowed. You can't force someone to find your caches a certain way. Someone might find the bonus without finding the other two caches, if they attain the information from a friend, for example. There's nothing you can do to force them to do it the way you want them to. Just to make that point clear

Edited December 24, 2024 by thebruce0

[+Max and 99]

6 hours ago, Suffs19 said:

My son and I just started a few days ago and we're having a blast! We've already found 12 caches and are looking forward to placing a few of our own. We plan on placing one larger cache (about half an ammo can size), and possibly two or three other smaller ones giving clues to where the big one is. We made a bunch of really cool little keychains for SWAG, and would love it if anyone who finds our cache takes one. The keychains are all a little different so GCs might shuffle through them. I have a few questions about this!

Do I leave several SWAGs in the cache?

How do I make sure they only take one each?

Anyone have any ideas to make this plan successful?

Is it okay to replace a log for someone else's cache? Some are completely out of room and have been there for 2-3 years.

GC'ing seems to be a little stale in our area with logs that need replacing, caches that need TLC, or even missing caches. We'd like to be part of revitalizing our local GC'ing and are looking for some ideas.

Your profile says you have zero finds. Although there is not a minimum find requirement in order to place geocaches, it might look better if you have a little experience before placing some. 

[+Smitherington]

Welcome to Geocaching.  I like your enthusiasm.  I am still enjoying it after 22 years.

 

Hiding caches is fun and a great way to add to this sport/activity/hobby/obsession.

 

An often suggested rule of thumb is to find maybe 100 geocaches before you place your own.  This will expose you to more types of caches and give you a sense of what you like and don't like along with giving you a sense of the do's and don'ts of caching.

 

And remember that part of placing a geocache is to get permission from the land owner or manager.  Public parks can be good locations but some have lots of traffic and make it difficult for someone to find the cache without others seeing the process and possibly destroying the cache.

 

Cache on!

 

 

[+JL_HSTRE]

On 12/24/2024 at 3:38 AM, Suffs19 said:

We plan on placing one larger cache (about half an ammo can size), and possibly two or three other smaller ones giving clues to where the big one is.

 

A common way to do this would be to publish two Traditionals, one containing the latitude and the other containing the longitude of the larger bonus (type Mystery). Make sure the coordinates are still accessible and legible if the logsheet gets damaged or lost. Writing on the inside of the container kid in thick Sharpie usually works.

 

I suggest hiding one standalone cache first. This let's you familiarize yourself with the hiding and publishing process. For example, if your method of getting the coordinates for your hides is inaccurate better to find this out and correct it on one cache rather than three.

[+CAVinoGal]

On 12/24/2024 at 12:38 AM, Suffs19 said:

My son and I just started a few days ago and we're having a blast! We've already found 12 caches and are looking forward to placing a few of our own.

 

Welcome to the world of geocaching! Whether you find a few here and there, or it becomes an obsession, and you find thousands and look for caches everywhere you go, or somewhere in between, it's all up to you how you play!  Hiding adds to the fun, for you and for others, but it is up to you if you want to hide and maintain caches.  That being said, there are some guidelines to help keep this hobby manageable.

 

You said you had found a dozen or so, but your profile shows 0 finds, and you have not yet logged in to the website, geocaching.com.  I recommend you do that, as the website opens up more possibilities for finding more caches in your area, (you can see many more caches than the app allows you to, as a basic member).  Also, if you plan to hide caches, you absolutely need to log in on the website, as the app does not allow the creation and maintenance of a cache page.  The website help pages and how to videos are VERY helpful!

 

One of the BASIC things to do is that once you have found a geocache, and signed the logsheet, you need to LOG it online as Found, and tell the story of your adventure, without giving away the hide (no posting a spoiler photo or information!!)  You can log it from the phone app, or the website, but DO log it online so the CO knows you found it.  You can also write in your log that the logsheet is full; the CO can read that and then fix it.  If I know the CO, and there is no room for another logsheet, I will put in a new one and keep the full sheet to give to the CO if they want it (some do, some don't, but I always ask!)  If I don't know the CO, I'll add new paper if there is room, or log an Owner Attention Requested to alert the CO.

 

Creating and hiding caches is a whole different level than seeking and finding, and this hobby needs BOTH finders and hiders.  Hiding is a way to give back to the community that has provided us with much enjoyment over the years, and we enjoy creating caches for others to find.  That said, go out and find a variety of caches of different types, look at many cache pages (on the website as well as in the app) to see what goes into creating an attractive and useful cache page before trying to create your own.  It can be challenging!

 

Go forth and enjoy this hobby!  Look for some local geocaching events and get to know other geocachers in your area as they can be a great resource and help to you.

[+Weber_and_Sons]

On 12/24/2024 at 1:38 AM, Suffs19 said:

Do I leave several SWAGs in the cache?

How do I make sure they only take one each?

Anyone have any ideas to make this plan successful?

Is it okay to replace a log for someone else's cache? Some are completely out of room and have been there for 2-3 years.

GC'ing seems to be a little stale in our area with logs that need replacing, caches that need TLC, or even missing caches. We'd like to be part of revitalizing our local GC'ing and are looking for some ideas.

 

1. you can leave swag as you want you do not have to leave lot in return but if you took one thing you should leave one thing.

2. you cant, I mean you could put in the description to take only on but that's the best you can do.

3. make it a multi cache

4. yes you can replace a log and if you don't have spare paper you can request owner maintenance

[+paleolith]

On 12/24/2024 at 3:38 AM, Suffs19 said:

How do I make sure they only take one each?

 

Typically the problem is persuading people to take swag, not limiting what they take. Popular caches are often overstuffed because everyone wants to bring gifts for the cache but few want to receive gifts from the cache. If your cache is very much family-oriented, then you may get more actiity on the trading part.

[+PlantAKiss]

SWAG to me are trade items. Take one,  leave one. "Trade up or equal." Trust me I know many people just take since SWAG in my caches disappear over time. But trading is the idea to keep "treasure" in the cache. A travel bug or coin is not SWAG and are meant to be taken to travel. 

[+gimligliders]

I have often wished that there was an official headquarters' rule that someone must have a minimum number of finds before placing a cache. While I love that new cachers are so enthusiastic about the activity after 10 finds that they want to get in on the hiding action, it has increasingly seemed clear to me that so many new COs don't realize the commitment level needed to maintain a hide. As well, there are some subtleties, rules of thumb and traditions of the sport that don't really become clear until maybe 100 or so finds. It's so heartbreaking to view online a D1.5 cache with a long string of DNFs, to which the CO has not responded in any way. We been through so many small communities and wanted to stop to do some caching, but the vast majority of the caches there are rampant with DNFs which results in us driving on. Such a shame...I would have been happy to spend some tourism dollars there. 

[+barefootjeff]

5 hours ago, gimligliders said:

I have often wished that there was an official headquarters' rule that someone must have a minimum number of finds before placing a cache. While I love that new cachers are so enthusiastic about the activity after 10 finds that they want to get in on the hiding action, it has increasingly seemed clear to me that so many new COs don't realize the commitment level needed to maintain a hide. As well, there are some subtleties, rules of thumb and traditions of the sport that don't really become clear until maybe 100 or so finds. It's so heartbreaking to view online a D1.5 cache with a long string of DNFs, to which the CO has not responded in any way. We been through so many small communities and wanted to stop to do some caching, but the vast majority of the caches there are rampant with DNFs which results in us driving on. Such a shame...I would have been happy to spend some tourism dollars there. 

 

Bear in mind that, in many parts of the world away from large cities, finding 100 caches can be a pretty onerous task, especially for someone on a basic membership. I hid my first cache after I'd made 20 finds but those took me two months to complete. While all those finds were traditionals, they covered a good variety of hiding places and containers. This is my D/T grid after those 20 finds:

 

 

I'd found enough to learn that a Sistema was a good container to use around here and I made sure to visit my cache's GZ multiple times to confirm the accuracy of my coordinates. That cache (GC4CAXV) didn't get any FPs, but it got 53 finds, no DNFs and no NMs or NAs in the year and a half before I archived it, the latter due to problems with the location, not the cache itself. Had I waited another 8 months to reach 100 finds, I doubt I would have done much different for my first hide.

 

I'm sure I learnt a lot more from my early hides than I did from just finding caches. My fourth hide (GC4ZQTF), placed just on a year after my first find, is still in play with 102 finds and 16 FPs. It's still the original container and logbook; the only thing I've replaced over its 11 years is the pencil that went missing on one occasion. This is a recent photo of it and its hiding place under a rock ledge:

 

 

With each new hide I learn something more, things I wouldn't have learnt from just finding caches. After the la Nina deluges and floods of 2021 and 2022, I started using Duratech ABS instrument cases instead of Sistemas as my go-to general purpose container, as they withstand immersion a lot better than Sistemas. But those older Sistemas I still have out there are fine as they're in places where they won't become immersed or get exposed to the sun. I've recently tried out some different containers which are still an experiment in progress; if they work out great, otherwise I'll replace them with something else or archive them, that's part of the fun of hiding and not something you can get from just finding.

Edited February 28 by barefootjeff

[+Goldenwattle]

You have zero finds according to your profile. It's best to wait until you have found a few caches. Unless you live in an area with few caches, I would suggest at least 100 finds. That should give you a good variety to compare. I waited until I had found abut 800, and even then I thought I was a beginner still.

[+MNTA]

5 minutes ago, Goldenwattle said:

You have zero finds according to your profile. It's best to wait until you have found a few caches. Unless you live in an area with few caches, I would suggest at least 100 finds. That should give you a good variety to compare. I waited until I had found abut 800, and even then I thought I was a beginner still.

 

I agree experience and variety is very helpful. Caches are meant to last a long time and poor choice of placement may result in it going missing very quickly. 

 

Couple of my learnings. Don't place a nano in a park down low when this can be visible to the really tiny young ones. School bus stops make for a bad location, went missing first day of school.

 

5 year and over 2000 finds before my first hide.