/ Eric Schudiske

Cache In Trash Out, Surf’s Up

Posted By: Lackey Nate the Great

Lackeys Nate the Great (second from left) and Powpea (far right) attending a geocaching event near Chicago

Groundspeak’s Lost and Found tour is in full swing, with Groundspeak Lackeys attending geocaching events spread throughout the world.  Earlier this month Lackey Powpea and I had the opportunity to visit the Second City for the first annual Chicagoland Cache-apalooza. The local geocaching organization, GONIL, hosted a fantastic event including 74 new geocaches placed and published over the weekend.

Before the festivities began, however, we attended a CITO event at the Lucas Berg Nature Preserve in Worth, IL. Here is a little speck of green space in the heart of a metro area whose stated purpose is as a repository for toxic soil dredged from a nearby canal. In short: it’s a dump.

Rather, it was a dump, until some geocachers caught wind of it. Thirty years of indifference and careless wind surfboard disposal (yes, really) provided geocachers the opportunity to put some of their hard-won bush-beating skills to good use. What it lacks in geocaches, it more than makes up for in potential.

No discarded BMX tire or mangled can of Fanta dared escape the eagle-eyed crew. I know at least one local resident would agree the place is much more inviting as a result.

Signal watching the CITO

However, it’s easy to see that altruism of the sort witnessed by this Lackey is not wholly selfless. Sure, getting filthy and comparing sticker-bush abrasions are their own rewards, but by demonstrating responsible stewardship of the land essential to our pastime we act as emissaries for the game. Geocachers sent a clear message to the land manager and community that geocaching is something to be welcomed and encouraged.

Worth Our Support!

What can you do in your community to spread this message?

The future of Lucas Berg Nature Preserve is still uncertain, but geocachers in the Chicago area are making an investment they hope will pay dividends down the road. At the very least, it’s a labor of love not lost on the critters in the little marshy plot of land just off SW HWY 7 and W 111th in Worth, IL.

Lackey Nate the Great

TFTH[ospitality Chicago!]

In: New life to a neglected park and potential geocaching playground
Out: Tires, busted glass, soda cans, 3/4 of a wind surfboard (no sign of the surfer!)

/ Eric Schudiske /

“The Giant’s Causeway Earthcache” GCPCPX – GEOCACHE OF THE WEEK June 3rd, 2010

This Earthcache takes you on an exploration of one of the geological wonders of Ireland.  “The Giant’s Causeway Earthcache” GCPCPX challenges geocachers to find an unusual feature  at a specific latitude and longitude, identify it and discover its “name.”

Child playing on rock formations

To verify your find send an email to the cache owner.  You’ll find photos like this one above on the Geocache Details page as well. Geocachers who’ve logged the find say it’s one of the places you have to see in your lifetime. Explore other Geocaches of the Week here.

Giant's Causeway
/ Eric Schudiske /

Geocoin – Geocaching.com’s Lost & Found Video

Meet the man behind one of the most engaging evolutions in geocaching… the geocoin. Jon Stanley, alias Moun10bike, is now a Lackey.  But almost ten years ago he forged his way as a pioneer in geocaching.  Go along with Jon as he retraces his steps in placing the first geocoin.

See all the Lost & Found videos, from a geocache in space to an 88 year old geocacher, here.

/ Eric Schudiske /

Cache In Trash Out – Geocaching.com’s Lost & Found Video

Thousands of geocachers walk into parks, onto trails and off the beaten path to cleanup the environment each year.  The environmental movement is called Cache In Trash Out (CITO).  This past April 24th and 25th were no different.  But CITO doesn’t just take place on one weekend around Earth Day each year.  Geocachers often seek a cache and clear out trash on each trip.

Here’s a video tribute to the volunteer spirit of geocachers who play a part in CITO, each year and each geocache.  It’s an easy role to play in the ongoing environmental initiative, just find a CITO near you.

/ Eric Schudiske /

GPS and Geocaching Begins an Eight Billion Dollar Upgrade

You won't be lost in the woods anymore (we hope). New GPS satellites are expected to increase accuracy.

The U.S. is upgrading its constellation of GPS satellites.  They’ll be replaced in an effort to greatly improve accuracy.  Good news for geocachers. The replacement satellites are expected to sharpen the accuracy of your GPS device from about 20 feet to just an arm’s length. They’re also touted as being more reliable – meaning you won’t lose the signal as often.

Hopefully, this means fewer Did Not Finds (DNFs) on the horizon. But it’ll take a while to reach the horizon.  The first generation of satellites will reportedly be swapped out one for one over the next decade.

The launch of the first of the next generation of GPS satellites has been scrubbed three times due to weather or technical glitches. The fourth time proved to be a charm.  The rocket carrying the satellite lifted off Thursday, May 27th from Cape Canaveral, Florida.

The satellites’ software will be upgradable while they are in space and also continue to broadcast an atomic clock, keeping time to a billionth of a second.

Besides guiding travelers to destinations, ambulance crews to emergencies and owners to lost dogs, how else do we use GPS each day?