Geocaching brings the wonders and beauty of Earth into full focus by connecting geocachers with nature. Earth Day is a renewed reminder to leave each geocache—and the planet—better than you found it. The more time you spend outside exploring this extraordinary game board, the easier it is to realize you’ll be helping the environment with your actions, and the more you’ll be inspired to hide your next cache. Celebrate Earth Day with these five environmentally-friendly tips on hiding a geocache.

1. Use natural materials for your container
Using organic material causes less harm as it breaks down while exposed to the elements. Hollowing out a fallen branch or stump creates a natural shelter for your cache while offering the perfect camouflage in forested areas. Decorating your container with live moss can absorb excess moisture, which mutually benefits the plant and your paper log inside.

2. Respect wildlife and plants
Ensure your container leaves no trace or harm to wildlife—meaning no digging, bushwhacking, or cutting the natural landscape to place your cache. Containers that sit on mulch can provide refuge for all types of bugs and invertebrates, but it’s best not to adhere small objects to the outside of most containers that may pose a choking hazard to larger, curious critters that seek out your bug hotel.

3. Save trash from the landfill by repurposing it as a container
One of the ways to repurpose an object and save it from the trash or recycling bin can be to turn it into a geocache. Some say there can be no greater second life for a container (but we may be biased). If your upcycled article used to house food items, make sure it is clean and scent-free before putting your paper log and SWAG items inside so it doesn’t attract furry muggles.

4. Choose a container-free cache
Not every cache has a container. Create an EarthCache to highlight the natural beauty of your local area while helping other geocachers learn about Earth science. Another way to appreciate the planet is through hosting a CITO Event—which can be themed around anything from picking up trash to creating homes for pollinators. Whichever theme you choose, you can be sure to benefit the planet and your local community.

5. Take the beaten path
Avoiding erosion is a big part of conservation in nature. As you scout out the perfect hiding place for your cache, choose a spot in an area where the path is clear for finders to reduce the risk of creating “geotrails”—a term coined for the path taken by hikers that disrupts the flora leading to a cache’s location. Avoid this by placing your geocache near an established trail and use pre-existing hardy foliage as further camouflage, if needed.

How do you keep your hides environmentally friendly? Share your ideas with #2022hider on Instagram and Facebook!