Want a Reward for Finding Geocaches? Keep Reading…

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Geocaching HQ Staffer: Chris Ronan, Rock Chalk

My name is Rock Chalk and I’m addicted to GeoTours and geotrails which offer rewards.

Whew. That feels better. Now that I’ve admitted my problem, perhaps I can persuade you to follow me into a realm where one can earn geocoins and other prizes, just for finding geocaches. (As if finding geocaches isn’t rewarding enough!) I currently work at Geocaching HQ in Seattle. But long before joining the team here, I discovered my passion for GeoTours and geotrails.

GeoTours and reward geotrails are collections of geocaches that take cachers on a tour of a specific area. They’re often sponsored by local tourism boards, historical associations, and even the National Park Service. In most cases, players find a certain number of geocaches to qualify for geocoins and other prizes.

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A bunch of GeoTour and reward GeoTrail Geocoins
GeoTours and geotrails map
Click the GeoTours and geotrails map to explore

I first became hooked when we happened upon the Washington County GeoTrail while planning a vacation to Maryland a couple years ago. We spent a day visiting some amazing historical spots, finding geocaches, and capping it off by claiming a geocoin. Since then, I’ve enjoyed nearly 20 similar experiences throughout the United States.

Official GeoTours, which are organized through Geocaching HQ, have introduced me to the beauty of the riverwalk in Columbus, GA, the incredible learning opportunities at the National Museum of Natural History, and more than 50 of Washington’s amazing state parks. I grew up in Kansas, but had little knowledge of the Santa Fe Trail until their new GeoTour inspired me to follow the Santa Fe Trail through Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Oklahoma and New Mexico last summer.

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Clinton County Barn Trail (Ohio)

 

We’ve recently created a list of GeoTours and reward geotrails, so you can easily find them and learn about the cool rewards that await. We’ve also added a new forum where geocachers can discuss their adventures and ask questions about GeoTours and reward geotrails.

We hope these new resources can help your travel and geocaching become more rewarding than ever!

Check out the map and if a geotrail with a reward is missing, let us know in comments.

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Washington State Parks GeoTour (Deception Pass)

 

Washington State Parks GeoTour (10,000th find at Deception Pass)
Washington State Parks GeoTour (10,000th find at Deception Pass)

 

 

Connect with Geocachers from Around the World

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Your guide to finding #Geocaching inspiration

The best way to find geocaching inspiration is by getting out and finding geocaches. The second best way is by following Geocaching on social media. You’ll connect with geocachers from around the world, see awesome photos and videos, read amazing stories and more.

The Geocaching Pinterest boards are the perfect place to get ideas for hiding spots, containers and adventures. Our Instagram is full of photos that will inspire you to take your geocaching to the next level—or the next continent.

We’re on pretty much every social network, so follow us on your favorite (or all of them):

Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube and Facebook

And don’t forget to tag your posts with #geocaching!
(Hier kannst Du den Artikel auf Deutsch lesen)

Attend the Last Geocaching Block Party

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Geocaching Block Party 2015: The Final Episode

Geocaching Block PartyAfter years of celebrating all things Geocaching at HQ in Seattle, it’s time for a change. Join us this August to celebrate 15 Years of Geocaching at the last Block Party event.

Mark your ‘Will Attend’ now on the Geocaching Block Party 2015 geocache page. And while you’re there, make sure to mark your ‘Will Attend’ for the 2015 Geocaching International Film Festival, too.

And don’t forget: CITO weekend is April 25 and 26, so get ready to join thousands of geocachers as they clean up, plant trees or remove invasive species in local geocaching hot spots. Earn a special digital CITO souvenir for your Geocaching profile for attending a CITO Event April 25 or 26.

(Hier kannst Du den Artikel auf Deutsch lesen)

Deine Handreichung durch #Geocaching inspiriert zu werden

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Vernetze Dich mit Geocachern aus der ganzen Welt

Die schönste Art, durch Geocaching inspiriert zu werden, ist es, raus zu gehen und Geocaches zu suchen. Die zweitbeste Möglichkeit besteht darin, Geocaching in den sozialen Netzwerken zu folgen. Man verbindet sich mit Geocachern aus der ganzen Welt, bekommt atemberaubende Fotos und Videoclips gezeigt, liest umwerfende Geschichten und vieles mehr.

Die Geocaching-Pinterest-Boards sind der perfekte Platz, um Ideen für gute Verstecke, Dosen und Abenteuer zu erhalten. Unsere Seite bei Instagram ist voll von Fotos, die Dich dazu animieren werden, Geocaching auf einen höheren Level zu heben – oder zum nächsten Kontinent.

Wir sind auf fast allen sozialen Netzwerken vertreten, also folge uns gern bei Deinem Lieblingsmedium (oder einfach überall):

Und vergiss nicht, alle Deine Postings mit dem Hashtag #geocaching zu kennzeichnen!

January’s Geocacher of the Month

The time has come. Earlier this month, three amazing geocaching teams were nominated for January 2015’s Geocacher of the Month award, and a winner has been chosen.

As a refresher, here are the nominees…

 

Timpat is known throughout the New York geocaching community for his impressive hides, supportive nature, and extensive GPS and mapping expertise. With nearly 10,000 finds and 400 hides, he is a true inspiration to all. Not to mention, his kayak geocaches are amazing.

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Tinman and Timpat

family Behrens (aka FB) has helped geocaching bloom in South Africa. He (and his family) are known in the local geocaching community for their creative and challenging geocaches (all 88 of them) and for throwing well-organized, highly attended CITO events.

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T5? No problem for team Behrens

Koouye is recognized throughout the Belgium geocaching community for being a dynamic, passionate, and devoted geocacher. He is a social butterfly, known for hosting great events and for attending other’s events (133 so far!)

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Koouye and his lovely family

The Featured Geocacher of the Month is named by a panel at Geocaching HQ after reviewing community input and blog comments. It’s a tough decision, given the combined contributions of these folks to the geocaching community as a whole.

 

After tallying the sentiment and reading the comments, family Behrens has been officially named the Featured Geocacher of the Month for January 2015.

 

There’s no denying that family Behrens or “FB” is an unstoppable geocaching force in South Africa. Their father, Jamie, leads the pack with his creative geocache hides and wonderful community organized events. Many would say that their passion and excitement for the game has helped geocaching spread like wildfire in South Africa and surrounding countries.

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1000th find!

Finding one of family Behrens’ geocaches is a must. According to the community, they are beyond good, they are legendary. SawaSawa says that Jamie of FB “has become renowned for his wonderful creative caches for which he has garnered numerous Favorite Points and heaps of praise. He has also invented an original ‘trademark’ micro-cache design (100% waterproof) made from discarded plastic bottle tops which I have copied and used in many of my hides in Kenya. His ingenuity in cache design and care in preparation is now legendary in South Africa and especially Cape Town and everyone looks forward eagerly to the next FB creation.”

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Mr. and Mrs. family Behrens

If you’re in the area, you should attend an event thrown by this geocaching team. Andre & Jeanne says FB, “hosts numerous events and CITO’s. He works together with Table Mountain National Park to do path clearing and removal of alien vegetation.”

Suikerbossies sums up the winner perfectly, “We love their hides, their unique containers, enthusiasm for the game and trouble they go to to give back to the game, nature and the community! Simply put, they are a great example and we are proud of them.”

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Jamie of FB. Rain or shine, geocaching is on.

family Behrens will receive the very special Geocacher of the Month geocoin and a special prize package from Geocaching HQ, in recognition of their geocaching efforts.

Send your kudos to family Behrens and our other January Geocacher of the Month Nominees. They’ve made the hobby we love WAY more fun.

 

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