Cache In Trash Out (CITO) needs you. It’s simple: you geocache in an area and then take trash out. One weekend per year, geocachers around the world join together to help remove trash from geocaching-friendly locations. Last year, geocachers around the globe created the most successful CITO year ever. Over 640 CITO events helped clear more than 50 tons of trash from parks and wild places around the world. That’s a staggering 100,000 pounds (45359.2 kg).
Each person who logs an “Attended” for a CITO event on April 26 or April 27 this year earns a 2014 CITO souvenir for their Geocaching profile. They also earn a sense of accomplishment and probably a few finds along the way. Find or host a CITO event near you and help make this year even more successful.
And just because CITO weekend hasn’t arrived yet, doesn’t mean that CITO hasn’t started. We encourage every geocacher to practice Cache In Trash Out every time they go geocaching. There are also plenty of CITO events that happen throughout the year. You can look for CITO events in your area or host your own.
The geocache Maker leads us into adventure and weaves a story where we write the next line with our log. Now geocache Makers have their own mark and mantra, “Go Forth & Create”. Celebrate and honor the geocache Maker who inspires and challenges you with a collection of Maker Madness supplies.
Check out Maker patches, shirts and creative geocache containers. Celebrate Makers in person and learn tips for creating a clever geocache at a Maker Madness event near you. Hundreds of Maker Madness events are already planned. Now Go Forth & Create.
From March 28 – April 7, geocachers around the world will join together to celebrate the people in their community who make geocaching possible. We call this celebration Maker Madness.
Geocaching does more than just give us something to do. It gives us a way to explore and to meet new people. In fact, one of my favorite quotes is “the best things you’ll find while geocaching aren’t the geocaches, it’s the geocachers.” With about 7 million geocachers worldwide, there are plenty of adventurous folks just waiting to be your friend. However, it’s not always people you meet. When you seek out a geocache like Aliens Among Us, you’ll have the chance to make the acquaintance of a weary galactic traveler. He/she/it doesn’t say much, but if you search around the spaceship, you might just find a familiar sight: a trusty ammo can.
“I had whizzed past this location many times when heading west on I-90 and always noticed the alien waving to me from in front of his space ship. Every time I passed I would think to myself, ‘That would be a great place for a cache.’ …I found the owner of the property and explained what geocaching was and asked if he would like to have a cache placed there. He was all-in! Thus, the alien became the guardian of my cache. I am very happy that this cache has garnered so many “favorites” and I love the positive comments people leave. This spot inspires many people to post pictures and I love seeing which amazing objects here draw cachers’ attention. This whimsical place always makes people smile.
My message to the geocaching community is: If you are going to place a cache, take the time to make it a quality cache. Choose a unique container (with a clever name), or an interesting location. Make the cache large enough to be worth the effort to find it. Create a cache YOU would enjoy finding. I want everyone who finds one of my caches to walk away thinking ‘That was fun!'”
What geocachers are saying:
“Absolutely loved checking everything out, there are some really cool things to be seen in here. Much more than appears from the freeway, that’s for sure! Alone with our thoughts, laughter and wandering feet, we ventured here and there inspecting as many sights as possible. After having a conversation with the Alien in the ship of course. TFTH!” – WrongWayMommy
“What can I say about this cache? We absolutely loved it!! I really wish we had more time to explore the area, but in the bit of time we did have, we had a lot of fun. Great cache, great area and lots of fun…. a favorite for sure!” – 2sunbeams
“Took a big group up for this cool geocache. The owners of the place came out to chat with us and were super nice. So much cool stuff to look at out there. The adults were a little stumped looking for his cache cause we were looking in the spaceship itself. The kids are the ones who actually found it. Had a great time all around.” – Superbob77
Greetings Earthling. Photo by geocacher 2sunbeamsHe seems friendly enough. Photo by geocacher followingameliaMeet the alien, but watch out for nearby dinosaurs. Photo by geocacher followingamelia
Who are the most interesting people (or aliens) you’ve met while geocaching? Post your stories and photos in the comments.
Continue to explore some of the most engaging geocaches around the globe. Check out all the Geocaches of the Week on the Geocaching blog.
If you would like to nominate a Geocache of the Week, leave a comment below with the name of the geocache, the GC code, and why you think we should feature it.
Editor’s Note: Staff from Geocaching HQ in Seattle are visiting more than 30 Mega-Events around the globe this year, to shake hands, share stories and hear what you think is next for geocaching.
In February, the Southwest Arizona Geocachers hosted their signature event, S*W*A*G’s Yuma Mega #11, in sunny Yuma. Above is what it looked like at home in Seattle, where Geocaching HQ is located, that same weekend.
Christy and Signal
After arriving in Yuma and thanking the Southwest Sunshine Gods (they must exist), I found my first-ever Arizona geocaches and got started on the Mega Event’s Lab Caches.
Jeff Nicholson, you+me_makes3, with S*W*A*G created an elaborate series of 10 Lab Cache locations to show visitors a diverse range of attractions all around Yuma. Fortunately, he had suggested that I get a rental car for the trip. The Lab Caches were an excellent way to see the city’s well-known and hidden gems, ranging from the historical Sanguinetti House Museum to the Yuma Territorial Prison Cemetery. I even got to see some cute animals at the Wild World Zoo and Camel Farm, thanks to the Lab Caches.
The Yuma Warm-Up Mega Event #11 at a local restaurant was a great opportunity to meet the friendly Geocaching community and to get to thank our amazing volunteers in person. There was a nice handful of Geocachers who also had ties to the Seattle-area, and it was fun to catch-up with them. The event also featured a special screening of the Geocaching International Film Festival (GIFF), as shown at the 2013 HQ Geocaching Block Party.
Making friends at the Yuma Warm-Up Mega-Event #11
The next morning, the Mega Event was set up and ready for crowds. The West Wetlands Park was an incredible location, not too cramped and very pretty. There was a large array of fun activities to choose from; check out the impressive Activities Schedule on the cache page! I met with even more geocachers, vendors, Signal the Frog, and checked out the cool vehicles on display before completing the Lab Cache series later that afternoon.
Before heading back to the airport, I hosted a very-early-morning event cache of my own: I choo-choo-choose you! at the historic steam train near Gateway Park. I arrived early and there was already a welcoming crowd of friendly faces waiting for me as the sun came up. What an incredible group of geocachers! A great way to end an outstanding weekend of geocaching. Thanks, S*W*A*G!
A Show of Support Local Sheriff’s DepartmentAll are welcomeI choo-choo-choose you Logbook
You’ve found geocaches that leave you in awe, now unlock the secrets of making those creative geocache hides. Celebrate Maker Madness. Hundreds of Maker Madness events around the world aim to inspire geocachers. Learn the magical formula that weaves innovative containers, inspiring locations and powerful storytelling into creative geocache hides. While amazing geocaches live on and on, Maker Madness is for a limited time only. It runs from March 28 through April 7. Everyone logging an “Attended” for a Maker Madness event earns a digital “Maker” souvenir for their geocaching profile.
Visit the Maker Madness Event Center to find an event near you, or find out how to create your own Maker Madness event. Now “Go Forth and Create”!
From March 28 – April 7, geocachers around the world will join together to celebrate the people in their community who make geocaching possible. We call this celebration Maker Madness.
Alone with our thoughts, laughter and wandering feet, we ventured here and there inspecting as many sights as possible. 
After having a conversation with the Alien in the ship of course. 
TFTH!” – 
You’ve found geocaches that leave you in awe, now unlock the secrets of making those creative geocache hides. Celebrate