/ Carly /

HCue: How To Make a Hollow Book Geocache

Do you consider yourself a book nerd and a geocaching connoisseur? If yes, then this HCue video was created just for you. Grab yourself some glue, a few cutting tools, and a thick book (of witchcraft and wizardry), and you’ll have all of the necessary tools to create your own “Chamber of Secrets!”

What You’ll Need:

  • Thick Book – Make sure it’s large enough to fit a logbook, Trackables, and other geocaching trinkets
  • Box Cutter or X-Acto Knife*  
  • Saran Wrap
  • Straight-Edge Ruler
  • Pencil or Pen
  • Power Drill – Optional but very helpful
  • White Glue/Water Mixture  – 70/30 ratio mixture
  • Paint brush
  • Band-aids… Just in case

Instructions:

  1. Select a page near the beginning of the book and use Saran Wrap to cover that page, the pages before it, and the front cover. This saved page will be used later on in the process.
  2. Firmly hold down the remaining pages and brush the outer edges with the glue/water mixture. The Saran Wrapped pages should be protected from the glue mixture.
  3. Place some sort of heavy object on top of the book and wait for the glue to dry. This should take around 15-30 minutes.
  4. After the glue dries, open the book to the first glued page. Draw 1/2 inch border inside the page edges using a writing utensil and ruler.
  5. If you have a power drill, drill a hole in each corner of the border. Using the ruler and cutting tool, start carefully cutting through the layers. Safety always comes first (as you saw in the video) so take your time cutting!
  6. Cut until you reach the back of the book. Do not cut the back cover. Then remove stray paper debris.
  7. Brush the inside edges and top of of the cut-out pages with glue/water mixture.
  8. Carefully remove the Saran Wrapped pages that you set aside step #1 and placed the saved page right before the cut-out pages onto the wet glue mixture.
  9. Close book, add weight, and let dry for another 15-30 minutes.
  10. Cut through saved page.
  11. Your hollow book geocache is now complete! You know what to do from here. And if you don’t, go here.**

*These should only be used by adults with experience handling these tools.

**These containers are placed commonly in libraries and other wonderful “book-filled” environments.

/ Chris /

Shamrock Cafe — Geocache of the Week

Traditional
GCP8FN
by saso_362, saso792 & Hunter
Difficulty: 
1.5
Terrain: 
2
Location: 
Kansas, United States
N 39° 06.111 W 096° 22.340

Why is this Geocache of the Week:

Thousands of people criss-cross America’s heartland on Interstate 70 each day. However, only a rare few are aware of a highly-rated Kansas cafe. It’s located just a mile or so from the highway. But you won’t find this hot spot in any travel guide. It’s certainly not Michelin-rated. Nevertheless, it hosts a geocache that’s earned a favorite point from nearly 50 percent of those who’ve found it!

Shamrock Cafe is nestled among the renowned Flint Hills, the world’s largest remaining continuous area of tallgrass prairie. From here, you can see a beautiful sunset, or watch thunderstorms roll across the prairie. But come early, because seating is limited!

What the Cache Owner, saso_362, has to say:

Can you share a bit of history about the cache?
“I stumbled onto this spot while taking back roads to a virtual cache located a few miles north of here. As soon as I found the location, I knew it was just perfect for a cache. Quiet, remote, quirky and an awesome view. The property is owned by a local ranch – Shamrock Farms. They are aware of the cache and have been very supportive.”

When is the best time to visit?
“Sunset is best. But anytime is good, unless the Kansas weather is acting up.”

What do you hope people take away from this geocache?
“I just hope they take a minute to enjoy the view from the “Cafe.” This is one of those caches that make you realize it isn’t always about the numbers.”

Photos:

Yep, the Cafe is open 24/7.
Yep, the Cafe is open 24/7.
Kansas' tallgrass prairie.
Kansas’ tallgrass prairie.
Uh oh, the weather is acting up!
Uh oh, the weather is acting up!
Kick back and enjoy the scenery.
Kick back and enjoy the scenery.
Enjoy the view of the Flint Hills.
Enjoy the view of the Flint Hills.
A welcome from the land owner.
A welcome from the land owner.
IMG_5706
You can’t miss it. Just go to the intersection of Tallgrass, Tallgrass, Pavillion and Pavillion.
Flagging down a waiter might be difficult!
Flagging down a waiter might be difficult!

Continue to explore some of the most amazing geocaches around the world.
Check out all of the Geocaches of the Week on the Geocaching blog. If you would like to nominate a Geocache of the Week, fill out this form.

 

/ Paige Edmiston /

Celebrate Get Outdoors Month 2016!

Every geocacher has experienced the magic of the great outdoors. That magic — whether it’s diving into a cold alpine lake at the end of an arduous hike or watching the sun disappear over the horizon from a hidden beach — is the reason we’re teaming up with the American Recreation Coalition for National Get Outdoors Month this June. And you’re invited to join us!

Here’s how you can get involved in Get Outdoors Month:

  1. Earn the Get Outdoors Day souvenir! To do so, find any geocache or attend any geocaching event on Saturday, June 11, 2016.
  1. Participate in one of the Get Outdoors Month activities (listed here) or host your own geocaching event to introduce your friends to the great outdoors. Please note that there is no souvenir for participating in these events, except on June 11, Get Outdoors Day.
  1. Celebrate the National Park Service’s second century by exploring the “Find Your Park” GeoTour. Do you have a fourth grader in your family? The “Every Kid in a Park” initiative grants free admission until August 2016 to each and every fourth grader (and their guests) across the country to check out their public lands and waters in person.
  1. Inspire others to get outdoors by sharing your Get Outdoors Month experiences on social media! Tag your posts with #Geocaching #GetOutdoors for a chance to be reshared by Geocaching.
Frequently Asked Questions

Will there be a souvenir for attending a Get Outdoors Month event?

There is no souvenir for attending a geocaching event during June, with the exception of Get Outdoors Day. If you attend a geocaching event in the USA on June 11, 2016, you will receive the Get Outdoors Day souvenir.

I don’t live in the US. Can I still earn the Get Outdoors Day Souvenir!

Yes, you can! The Get Outdoors Day souvenir is part of a bigger initiative with the American Recreation Coalition and other US-based outdoor organizations to get more Americans outside during National Get Outdoors Month. Given the interest expressed by geocachers all over the world in participating in Get Outdoors Day, we’ve decided to make the souvenir available to anyone who finds a geocache or attends an event (anywhere in the world!) on June 11, 2016.

/ Guest Writer

This Week’s HCue Lesson: Put a Lid On It!

We all know what happens when a geocacher puts the logsheet in the base of a micro or nano container, right? They explode. Metaphorically of course. We try in vain to fish them out with small objects as they cram in further causing people to then smash them on hard surfaces. No one wants this in their lives. For the sake of geocachers everywhere, put those tiny logsheets where they belong: in the lid.

The latest HCue video makes this tip easy to remember.

And for those moments when you need to tightly roll the smallest nano or micro logsheets with ease, check out The Ultimate Log Roller in the Geocaching Shop.