Category: Learn

Whether you’re about to find your first geocache or your ten-thousandth, you’ve come to the right place to learn more about the game.

/ Eric Schudiske /

Tips for the Four-Season Geocacher

Mailer_01202014_GeocachingInWinter_vFINAL_Blog

The Weather Outside is Frightful but…

… geocaches don’t find themselves. It’s true. And we don’t want to live in a world where they actually do find themselves (didn’t you see the movie Terminator?). So the question is, how do you brave the winter (or summer if you’re in a sizzling hot climate) and still feed your need for smileys? We’ve got you covered.We talked to a geocacher with a streak of more than 700 straight days of finding a geocache. There’s been extreme heat, snowy whiteouts and pouring rain. Jon Stanley, better known as Moun10Bike, tells all about geocaching in tough winter climates in this blog post.

jonsnow

Learn winter tips like:

  • Look for geocaches with the “Available in Winter” attribute
  • Geocaches that are off the ground or otherwise protected from snow coverage offer the best chance for success
  • Dress warmly, be ready and willing to turn back if conditions turn against you

Here are tips for the other extreme: heat

•  Wear proper sun protection, a hat, sunscreen, etc…
•  Avoid being outside for long periods during the hottest part of the day
•  Geocache in the early morning or after the sun goes down
•  Stay hydrated
•  Bring a friend and always tell someone where you’re geocaching (don’t have a 127 Hours situation)
•  Mostly, use common sense: although geocaches don’t find themselves (thankfully), they’ll still be there the next day for you to find them safely
Geocaching mountain image
What’s your advice for maintaining your need for geocaching in all seasons? Leave a comment on the Geocaching Facebook page or in comments on The Geocaching Blog.
/ Eric Schudiske

How to Spell Geocaching “Inspiration”

mailer blog image geocache of the week geocacher of the month

You won’t find GOTW and GOTM in any “normal” dictionary, just like your won’t find TFTC or BYOP. But we geocachers speak our own language of adventure. GOTW and GOTM are what you need to stay on top of the latest hiding and finding trends and to see the adventurers who are shaping our growing geocaching community. GOTW and GOTM stand for “Geocache of the Week” and the “Geocacher of the Month.”

Every Thursday, Geocaching HQ selects a much-loved and creative geocache from the 2.2 million active geocaches hidden around the globe. It’s then featured on The Geocaching Blog. The Geocache of the Week is a great way to explore the world and discover new potential geocaching adventures. It’s also an inspirational resource for geocache makers to discover new ways to hide a clever geocache.

Once a month, the worldwide community also meets three amazing geocachers. They’re nominated by their friends or family to be the featured Geocacher of the Month. You help select the outstanding geocacher who receives the award. Each nominee walks away with worldwide recognition and a prize package from Geocaching HQ.

Now it’s your turn. To nominate an outstanding geocaching hide for Geocache of the Week, leave a comment on the latest Geocache of the Week blog post. Find details here on how to nominate the next Geocacher of the Month.

GOTM-Montage-1
Click on the image to learn more about the Featured Geocacher of the Month
/ Annika /

The First Lesson: We Were All Beginners Once

 

WeeklyMailer_111813_BeginnersGuideVideo_vFINAL_FB

Remember your first geocaching find? That fist-pumping moment when you finally spotted the hidden container? Let us answer for you: Of course you do! Whether you’ve found 10,000 or 10 geocaches since, your first geocaching experience won’t be forgotten. That experience of being a beginner geocacher was also your first lesson in geocaching. Now beginners have a new TOTT*. It’s the latest video from Geocaching HQ, “The Beginner’s Guide to Finding a Geocache.”

 

Continue reading →

/ Eric Schudiske /

Tips on Geocache Hints

WeeklyMailer_10282013_WritingBetterHints_vFINAL_Blog

 

Sometimes geocaching hints create a confusing chorus that doesn’t lead anyone closer to the actual geocache. “Hints” like, “It’s in the obvious place” or “Yes, it’s really there” or “You don’t really need a hint” lead to a little confusion and a lot of shoulder shrugging. The hint shouldn’t spoil the exact location of the geocache, but be should be used as a good clue as to where it can be found. If you’re a geocache hider, consider a clue that would help someone who’s finding their first geocache step closer to the container.

The hint can still be clever and require geocachers to think about their surroundings. If you’re new to geocaching, or even a seasoned pro, sometimes the hint takes a little decoding. Here’s some help:

• Tie Your Shoe = Bend down and look at a lower level
• Attractive = Magnetic geocache
• Troll = Under a bridge
• SPOR/UPR = Suspicious Pile of Rocks/Unusual Pile of Rocks
• Handyman Special = Magnetic bolt

 

Do you still have more questions about hints? We’ve got you covered. Another great destination to decipher and share your favorite hints is the Geocaching Facebook page.  Inspire a geocache owner, leave your favorite tips on hints below in comments!

/ Annika /

Geocaching in Space Event Center

[Click here for information the Seattle Geocaching in Space event]

Mark your calendar for early November, 2013! Geocaching is rocketing into space once again. Astronaut Rick Mastracchio will deliver a Travel Bug® to the International Space Station. Mastracchio will be using the Travel Bug as an educational tool to help teach students around the world about geography and provide other educational lessons. The mission is currently scheduled to launch from Kazakhstan at 4:08 GMT on November 7  and we want you all to be there (at least in spirit). That means the launch is planned to liftoff at 5:08 a.m. in Berlin and November 6 at 8:08 p.m. in Los Angeles. Find out here what time the launch is in your part of the world!

Continue reading →