In January we announced the Year of the Hide. From a cache hider checklist to cache owner resolutions, to how to pick a great cache location, we have shared resources to help you plan your next quality cache hide.

Now we’re wondering: Are you ready to hide a souvenir-worthy cache?

Earn one souvenir for placing a new geocache that is published March 1, through December 31, 2022.

The 2022 hider souvenir can be earned when a geocache or Event is published but is not awarded for creating an Adventure Lab Cache. Each geocacher can only earn the souvenir once in 2022.

Whether this is your first cache hide (read Hiding your first geocache) or 100th (read Could you be a better hider?), keep these tips in mind to become a proud cache owner and recipient of the 2022 hider souvenir:

1. Make it special. There are only so many great locations available. Make sure you place a special cache that matches the environment. That could mean literal: you camouflage it well, or topical like a rocket-shaped cache outside a planetarium.
2. Take your time. No reason to rush. You have until December 17, 2022, to submit your Favorite point magnet for review.
3. Follow us on social media. We will continue to publish content to inspire and teach about cache hiding. If you don’t have a great idea for your next hide yet, inspiration might just be around the corner.
4. Plan for maintenance. A soggy logbook is the thing of geocacher’s nightmares. Don’t turn the great moment you have envisioned for your fellow seekers into a miserable situation and make sure you maintain your cache after publication.

We can’t wait to see what you come up with for your next hide. Share your ideas with #2022hider on Instagram and Facebook!

Update March 2, 2022

Below are answers to the most frequently asked questions, we heard from you:

Why did the souvenir only become available on March 1 and does not apply to hides for all of 2022?

This is the first year we are awarding a souvenir for hiding a geocache. The majority of our community plays in the Northern hemisphere. Before announcing the souvenir, we wanted to expand the availability of snow-free hiding spots and wait for geocachers to wake from geo-hibernation. We are curious to learn the impact of the 2022 hider souvenir over the next few months. If we see a positive influence on the game, we can decide if we will award similar souvenirs in the future.

Which types of caches qualify for the souvenir?

All cache types, including Event Caches, qualify for the 2022 hider souvenir. Adventures created for the Adventure Lab® app however do not count towards the souvenir.

I want to hide my first cache. Where do I start?

Hiding a geocache requires learning what is great about geocaching. Before finding a number and variety of geocaches yourself, it can be hard to judge a great cache from a lousy one. We recommend finding at least 20 caches before hiding your own.

Once you’re ready, visit the Hide a geocache page on Geocaching.com for more information.