April 2, 2015 / Derek H /

Oh, the huge manatee! — Bubbles! (GC1VQ12) — Geocache of the Week

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Aww. Hugs for Bubbles. Photo by geocacher lorriebird

Geocache Name:

Difficulty/Terrain Rating:

1.5/1

Why this is the Geocache of the Week:

It’s been said that the best part of geocaching isn’t what you find, but who. And while out geocaching, you never know who (or what) you’ll meet. In the case of the Geocache of the Week, you’ll meet Bubbles, a giant manatee that likes to dress up for different holidays.Who knew manatees were so stylish?

What geocachers have to say:

“Found this morning. Bubbles had her Easter hat on. How cute! Thanks sheppardnik for bringing us here. We took several pictures with Bubbles.” – Livingourdream 2

“Great place for a cache and great photo op. Found the cache and posed for a quick pic with Bubbles. This one gets a favorite from us. TFTC” – Grand Illusion Crew

“How cute is this for a geocache!? Love it!” – HelloSweetie

Photos:

I never knew there were Irish manatees. Photo by geocacher jkandkt

Rabbitee? Manabbit? Either way, here's Bubbles. Photo by geocacher Teachbs65 — Rabbitee? Manabbit? Either way, here’s Bubbles. Photo by geocacher Teachbs65

Bubbles is ready to party. Photo by geocacher safechrisLaurie

What’s your best we-met-while-geocaching story? Tell us in the comments.

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

March 31, 2015 / Derek H /

Journey to the Center of the EarthCache

Earlier this year, the Geocaching HQ video team followed a team of brave geocachers on an endeavor that is unprecedented in the Geocaching world. Their ultimate goal: to find the most difficult EarthCache in the world. The video detailing their journey is now live for the geocaching community.

EarthCaches were created as a joint partnership with Geocaching.com and the Geological Society of America. There’s no physical container, but each EarthCache teaches you an Earth science lesson. Once at the coordinates, geocachers must answer certain questions in order to log a find.

Find an EarthCache near you.

Ready to join the team? Get your HardCORE EarthCacher shirt and decals at Shop Geocaching.

March 31, 2015 / Janelle /

It’s Time for Tick Talk

Yes indeed - this image of ticks is disgusting - Image (c) California Department of Public Health — Yes indeed – this image of ticks is disgusting – Image (c) California Department of Public Health

It’s time to get serious about staying safe in the outdoors this year. It’s time for Tick Talk.

Most ticks do not carry diseases, and most tick bites do not cause serious health problems. But it’s important to avoid, check for, and remove ticks as soon as you find them. Removing ticks may help you avoid complications such as Lyme disease. Avid geocacher (and dedicated nurse) Kelley Piekarek* put together these safety tips so all outdoor enthusiasts can keep themselves safe during tick season.

Different types and sizes of ticks – Image (c) eMedicineHealth.com

How to prevent ticks:

Cover as much of your body as possible in grassy or wooded areas by wear a long-sleeved shirt, long pants (with the legs tucked in to your socks), and a hat
Wear light-colored clothes – ticks are easier to spot on light colored clothing plus it’ll keep you cool
When you come in from the outdoors, check your entire body from head toe
When you come in from the outdoors, also check your entire pet from head to paw
Heat and sunshine can kill the ticks on clothing. Put your clothes in a hot dryer or lay them in direct sunlight for at least 15 minutes
Consider using insect repellents that contain DEET
Remember to check any gear (cameras, backpacks, dog collars) you were wearing for ticks, too!

Pants inside socks is actually quite fashionable – Image (c) marisaincopenhagen.tumblr.com

GAH! I found a tick! How do I remove it?

Use fine-tipped tweezers or a tick key or – do not handle the tick with bare hands
Grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible
Pull the tick straight away with even pressure
Do not grab the tick around its swollen belly or squeeze it – that could push infected fluid from the tick into your body
Do not twist the tick – this may break off the tick’s body and leave the head in your skin
After the tick has been removed, wash the area of the tick bite with lots of warm water, soap, and rubbing alcohol
Apply an over the counter antibiotic ointment on the bite
Dispose of the tick by flushing it down the toilet or placing it in a sealed bag or container
If you cannot remove a tick, call your doctor or veterinarian

If you’ve been bitten by a tick and develop a rash, headache, joint pain, fever, or flu-like symptoms with a few weeks, you may have a tick-borne illness. A healthcare provider or veterinarian should evaluate you to determine the best course of treatment.

Stay safe out there my friends, and cache on! How do you stay safe while enjoying your favorite hobby?

This blog post was written with help from geocacher extraordinaire Kelley Piekarek. If her name sounds familiar, it may be from this story that made national geocaching news.

March 30, 2015 / Alex /

Komm mit auf die Reise zum Mittelpunkt des EarthCaches

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Werde Teil des harten Kerns der EarthCacher

Anfang dieses Jahres folgte das Videoteam des Geocaching-Hauptquartiers einer Gruppe von mutigen Geocachern bei einem bisher einmaligen Unterfangen. Ihr ultimatives Ziel: den schwierigsten EarthCache der Welt zu finden. Das Video ihrer Reise ist jetzt fertig. Schau es Dir hier an.

EarthCaches sind aus einer Partnerschaft zwischen Geocaching.com und der Geologischen Gesellschaft der USA entstanden. Es gibt dabei keinen gegenständlichen Behälter. Dafür vermittelt der EarthCache Dir eine geowissenschaftliche Lektion. An den angegebenen Koordinaten müssen Fragen beantwortet werden, um einen Fund zu loggen.

Schau das Video an und folge diesen begeisterten Geocachern auf ihrer Reise zum Mittelpunkt des EarthCaches.

MailerImage_CITO_vFINAL_blog

CITO-Wochenende verlängert

Du hast jetzt zwei weitere Tage Zeit, um das CITO-Souvenir für 2015 zu erhalten. Zwischen Freitag, 24. April, und Montag, 27. April, bekommst Du das Souvenir für die Teilnahme an einem CITO-Event.

Durch CITO (Cache In Trash Out) [Cache rein, Müll raus] erhalten Geocacher ihr Spielfeld, also die Erde, in einem großartigen Zustand. CITO-Events sind Treffen, bei denen Geocacher Müll und eingewanderte Arten entfernen, Wege bauen und Gebiete restaurieren.

Finde ein CITO-Event in Deiner Umgebung und logge Deine Teilnahmeabsicht.

March 30, 2015 / Alex /

Help Name the March 2015 Geocacher of the Month

The earned, never for sale, Geocacher of the Month Geocoin.

You know you’re a geocacher if…

When you get asked, “Cash or Card?” you hand the teller a lock-n-lock…
You wake up early to be first in line for ammo can sales…
You’ve been to a CITO event (Cache In, Trash Out), and…
You’ve been nominated for Geocacher of the Month!

This month, these three awesome people know for certain that they’re geocachers (in case they had any doubts before).

Here’s your opportunity to help decide who will take home the earned, never for sale, Geocacher of the Month geocoin (at left). Each featured Geocacher of the Month will receive the exclusive special edition geocoin, a hat and profile icon. They’ll also receive a certificate acknowledging their contributions, signed by two of the founders of Geocaching.com.

Without further ado, here are the March 2015 nominees for Geocacher of the Month.

Schlurie
Schlurie is famous in Rheinland-Pfalz for creating fun and inspiring geocache hides. His particular specialty is birdhouse caches, which have generated a lot of “WOW” moments for geocachers over the years. His nomination comes from Gruet: “Es sind alles selbst gebastelte Vogelhäuschen der Extraklasse. Raffinierte Tricks zum Öffnen, versteckte Mechanismen und integrierte Elektronik. Alles mit Erlaubnis der Gemeinde in einem wunderschönen Waldgebiet installiert. Über 40 Favoritenpunkte in nur einem Monat sind selbst erklärend!” All the caches [in the series] are homemade birdhouses of the highest order. You’ll find clever tricks required to open them, hidden mechanisms, and even integrated electronics. All placed with permission from the land manager of a beautiful area of forest. Over forty favorite points in just one month!

7f2c421b-050b-4fbd-8edf-e6f610c21dee_l Fivebales
Idaho geocaching team Fivebales are all about strengthening their location geocaching community. Their nomination comes from you+me_makes4, who says, “I’d like to nominate Fivebales as Geocacher of the Month because of the amount of work that they put in behind the scenes. One half of Fivebales has been the Event Manager for the Yuma Mega Event for the past two years. It’s a largely thankless job that requires countless hours of work for an amazing annual Mega Event. The second half (and, I’m sure in her words, better half) of Fivebales has served as Secretary for South West Arizona Geocachers (S*W*A*G), the group that organizes the annual Mega. She also organizes a monthly newsletter that is sent out to every member of S*W*A*G to keep up on local happenings and events. The Yuma, Arizona geocaching community would not be where it is without them, and this is our way of thanking of them for all the hard work.”

14e6df56-9b3f-4855-8a52-9d5ffc1574b4_l chuck80196
Missouri-based cacher chuck80196’s nomination comes from Stearman5: “This geocacher has found just about every geocache within the local area and is often traveling to other states to get his daily geocache. Chuck80196 has a current geocache find streak of over 1600 days with a find, and he is motivated to keep that steak going. After he passed 1,000 consecutive days with a find he was surprised at a local ice cream event with a golden ammo can; GC4F08J. He has over 880 first to finds and of late holds back to allow others the chance to get their first FTF; especially if he has already gotten his geocache for the day. He has over 4,900 finds and should pass 5,000 finds by April 5th of this year. He not only gives out favorite points but also receives them. Out of his 181 caches he has received 205 favorite points that is an average of 1.1 points per cache. And out of the caches he has found he has given out 460 of his 491 favorite points available that’s 94% given away. Chuck80196 is ALWAYS willing to help another geocacher out and if you know him he is probably the number one PAF [Phone A Friend] option on your list. And at events he is easily one of the most outgoing social persons at the event. Everyone loves to geocache with him and enjoys chatting it up when you cross paths with him.”

Comment below to tell us who you think should be the March 2015 Geocacher of the Month.

If your nominee wasn’t recognized here, please submit your nominations again next month. We’re always looking for the next Geocacher of the Month. To nominate a geocacher,

If you know an outstanding geocacher who should be considered for the honor, simply fill out this webform. You’ll need to include the following information:

Your name, the name of your nominee, their username
A picture of the nominee
Description (200 or more words) explaining why he or she deserves to be the Featured Geocacher of the Month

Please inform your nominee that you have submitted them for the award. Once Geocaching HQ has received the nominations, we will choose the top candidates and post them on the blog. You will then get a chance to champion your favorite. Our goal is to involve the entire geocaching community in this process so that we might learn from each other.

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