Ping! That’s the sound of your phone or email notifying you when a new geocache is published nearby. Grab your geo-bag, gps device, and get moving… you want to be the FTF (First To Find).
Discovering new geocaches before anyone else. Image by @gc_steph
Why would I want to be FTF?
Being FTF on a geocache is an exciting experience. You get to discover the newly published geocache prior to everyone else in the community and you get to brag about it 😉 . On many occasions, geocache owners will leave a small gift for the first geocacher to discover their cache. Prizes? Heck yes!
Photo by @officialtinysupermanCash prize! Image by Instagrammer @ruznuz
How do I set up instant notifications to let me know when a new geocache is published (only applicable to Premium Members)?
You can custom build notifications under Premium Member features.
Choose a cache type to monitor (e.g. Traditionals, Events, etc.)
Choose the types of logs you want to see (if you are just looking for newly published caches, choose “Publish Listing”)
Set the location (central point) and distance (around that point) you want to watch.
Check the email listed in the “Send to” drop-down menu. (If you would like to send Instant Notifications to an alternate email,you will need to manage your email addresses first.)
Check “Enable Notifications”.
Select “Create Notification” and you are set!
For addition information on Instant and Text Notifications please go here.
FTF! Image by @driftsolo
How can I add FTF to my statistics?
Geocaching.com does not have a feature that showcases FTFs, as Geocaching HQ does not regulate or manage FTFs. However, many geocachers use outside statistics-generating sites such as GSAK.net or MyGeocachingProfile.com to display their FTFs on their profile pages.
“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” – St. Augustine
Whenever you get the chance to travel somewhere new, do it. If you add geocaching to the mix, trips become even more adventurous and rewarding. I had the opportunity to travel to Central America and explore two fascinating and beautiful countries: Belize and Guatemala. Along the way, I geocached underwater, through a rainforest and next to a smoking active volcano. Here are six amazing geocaches that I found and believe all geocachers should add to their bucket list.
First stopwas in Belizewhere the people are friendly, the way of life is chiller than an ice cube, and the geocaching is a blast. There are only 110 active geocaches in the entire country of Belize (yes that’s right, 110.)
The small island of Caye Caulker is the perfect place to sit back, grab a beer, and truly relax. Home to only a few geocaches, you’ll be able to track down all of them in one day if you’re up for it. The only way to get around the small island is by bike or golf cart but bike is the preferred method.
Caye Caulker, Belize
GC4V72V requires swimming and complete discretion. This geocache is located at the famous “Split” where many locals and travelers alike swim and hang out. This can also be a challenging one (T2/D4 to be exact).
San Ignacio is an amazing and unexpected treat tucked away in the rainforest. This little town in the Cayo district has some of the best day trips right outside the town. You can explore the nearby Mayan ruins, journey through ancient caves (ATM is a must-do!), and soak in the beautiful rainforest.
Cahal Pech in San Ignacio
You may have to walk 1.5 miles to find GC324G in neighboring town Santa Elena, but the long walk is worth the find! Meet Feliz, the sweetest “geocache watcher” you will ever meet. She awaits geocachers in her little stone house and will shout clues as you search her front yard for the smiley.
Meet Feliz
Just across the border lies Guatemala, a country full of history, volcanoes, colorful textiles, and approximately 100 geocaches.
Spend sunup to sundown in Tikal National Park where the ancient Mayan city will leave you in an enchanted daze. Travel back to 300 BC when Tikal was a thriving capital with pyramids, temples, and competitive sports events.
Tikal
GC2A86 was the first physical geocache placed in the country of Guatemala. It was hidden in 2001 and has been found by only 155 lucky geocachers. On the way to the geocache, you’ll encounter howler monkeys, wild turkeys, and some of the most spectacular structures you will ever come across.
Wild Turkey
Additional find: Virtual geocache GCGCX7 takes you to Mundo Perdido or the “Lost World.”
Antigua is a city of great historical importance in Guatemala (and it’s surrounded by three volcanoes.)You could spend days wandering the cobble-stoned streets, eating delicious food, and learning spanish at one of the local schools.
Antigua
Pack your walking shoes because Multi-Cache GC39G2Y will take you all over the city. The final coordinates will lead you to a stellar view.
The volcano Pacaya is an active and complex volcano just south of Guatemala City. It first erupted 23,000 years ago and has erupted at least 23 times since the Spanish invasion in Guatemala. The last eruption was in 2010 and the evidence is there.
Pacaya
If you’re up for a challenging hike, this will be your favorite of the six geocaches. You can choose to go at sunrise or sunset, and they both are breathtaking experiences. The molten rocks up at the top are very hot, so bring your leftovers to heat up or some marshmallows to roast.
Lake Atitlan is a crystal blue lake located in the Guatemala highland. Atitlan is the deepest lake in Guatemala and also the most picturesque with its surrounding volcanoes. It is ringed by small lake towns, all great places to visit.
Atitilan
You can take a boat from Panajachel to Santiago to grab this geocache. Soak in the beautiful surroundings and enjoy the unique village of Santiago. You won’t regret it!
Myself and Lake Atitlan
No matter where you go in the world, adventure is waiting and there’s always a geocache to be found. What is your dream geocaching vacation?
Remember the year 2000? In the United States a pound of bacon only cost $3 and a gallon of gas set people back $1.26. The iPhone was still 7 years away from being introduced. But on September 2, 2000 some hearty adventurers, tired of being tied to an office cubicle day after day, launched Geocaching.com. The adventure to inspire outdoor play through GPS technology began.
Just like any story-worthy journey Geocaching.com’s beginning was filled with uncertainty. Before geocache joined the ranks of approved Scrabble words or a Geocaching game piece rocketed to the International Space Station, Geocaching.com launched with only 75 geocaches. Today, the site lists the locations and descriptions for nearly 2.5 million geocaches hidden around the world. Adventure is truly waiting to be discovered all around you, as long as you’re in the 180+ countries where geocaches are waiting to be discovered [hint: you are].
Here are some more little known facts about the game you love:
The activity of geocaching was originally known as the GPS Stash Hunt.
What we now know as the 1st geocache was hidden on May 3, 2000.
Running Geocaching.com was originally funded by the sale of 144 donated t shirts.
More than 9 million people have created Geocaching profiles.
As a parent, you learn to appreciate the little victories in life, whether that means celebrating a win after a soccer game or reveling in the triumph of getting your child to eat all their vegetables. However, nothing quite beats the satisfaction of watching your child grin from ear to ear as they win their own small victory by exploring and discovering the world around them through geocaching. With over 2.4 million geocaches waiting to be discovered worldwide, every location can be turned into an adventure and each family outing a victory.
Recently I sat down with real-life Geocaching dad Monte Michaelis to discuss his experiences geocaching with his children:
How do you explain to kids what Geocaching is?
“I tell kids that Geocaching is like a treasure hunt that’s happening all over the world, all the time, even in their own neighborhood. I have them imagine playing a videogame where they are the main character, only the game isn’t played on a screen. It’s real life, in real places, and there’s no telling what they might find.”
How do you keep kids motivated to start or stay Geocaching?
“I think the secret is to make Geocaching a family activity. The kids should feel involved in choosing the geocaches you look for, ones that cater to their interests. I would also encourage parents to use Geocaching as a reason to try things for the first time.”
Why should parents Geocache with their children?
“I’m the father of two daughters, and I want to spend time with them. I want to talk to them about what’s going on in their lives. I want to share experiences and have adventures. Geocaching is the perfect way to do these things, because the whole point of it is to be in the places you love with the people you love.”
Kid SWAG
So are you ready to hit the trails? If you want to know what kind of geocache you should look for on your first kid-expedition, you came to the right place! Make your child’s first adventure a success by choosing geocaches that are age-appropriate. Geocaches are ranked by difficulty and terrain, so start easy by choosing ones with one or two stars. Try to select geocaches with multiple favorite points, as they sometimes prove to be the most intriguing. Before heading out, do a little research by checking the Recent Activity log of the geocache to see if it has been found in the past few weeks. Bonus points for combining a day of geocaching with other family activities, like a walk to the local library, a trip to the zoo, a short day hike, or even a stroll around the neighborhood.
Getting in Touch with Nature
Here are some insider tips from Monte and other geocaching parents to make your first time geocaching with your little tyke a success:
Let the kids be your guide. Children are eager to participate, so let them take the lead through navigating or looking under each rock and bush for an elusive geocache.
Be enthusiastic. Enthusiasm is contagious. If you are genuinely excited about geocaching, your kids will be, too. So start practicing your happy dance and be ready to break out those moves when you find one!
Become a pirate. Choose regular to large-sized geocaches that will provide fun toys and trinkets that your kids can trade for. Remember to trade up or equal, so have your little ones bring along some knickknacks to leave behind.
Make memories to last a lifetime. Bring a camera to capture all those memorable moments.
Bring snacks. They can mean the difference between a fun day at the park and a before-dinner meltdown.
No matter where you go or what you find, geocaching can make every family adventure into your own little victory.
There’s something truly spectacular about our planet earth. This month, the 7 Souvenirs of August (and the Nature Lover Souvenir) encourages you to get in touch with the extraordinary world around you through EarthCaching.
EarthCaching is the magical combination of geocaching and geological discovery. The purpose of an EarthCache is to share information about a particular (and typically jaw-dropping) geological feature. EarthCaches do not contain physical containers like most geocaches. They do, however, carry a piece of geological history that can date back millions and millions of years.
EarthCaches are the most popular geocache type. They are found more often and receive more favorite points than the average geocache.
EarthCaching is currently celebrating its 10th Anniversary. The first EarthCache was published in Australia on January 10th, 2004.
In partnership with Geocaching HQ, The Geological Society of America facilitates the listing of EarthCache locations around the world and offers a ‘Masters Program’ where you can receive a title (and pin) based on your level of EarthCache expertise.
Now go out into the world and learn something new…
Using “Advanced Search” on geocaching.com, you can customize your geocache search. Under the “Search for” option, select “EarthCache”. Type in your postal code or home coordinates and voilà, nearby EarthCaches!
Bring a camera (most EarthCaches encourage selfies).
Be prepared to investigate. You will have to search out the answers for the educational portion of the geocache.
For inspiration, here are 11 stunning EarthCaches around the world:
