Tag: Weekly Newsletter

/ Eric Schudiske /

Groundspeak Weekly Mailer– January 4, 2012

Teach Someone about Geocaching in 2012

Each New Year, millions of people around the world resolve to change something in their lives.

Common resolutions include: getting in shape, stressing less, traveling more, and spending more time with family. You can put someone on the road to accomplishing all these things simply by introducing them to geocaching.

If you are an educator, group leader, or facilitator, consider introducing geocaching to your group. Not only will they have fun going on an outdoor treasure hunt, but they will also learn about teamwork, problem-solving, navigation, and more along the way.

Visit our new Geocaching and Education page to read more on how to engage groups through geocaching.

/ Eric Schudiske /

Groundspeak Weekly Newsletter – October 5, 2011

Trackable Glossary

Geocaching Trackables add another level of fun to the game, but they also add a few terms that you may be unfamiliar with. Here is a guide to the key Trackable terms so that you know what to do the next time you come across a Trackable in a cache.

Retrieve or Grab — When you have picked up a Trackable to move it to another geocache, you must log its movement on Geocaching.com. The two logging options that you have in this situation are “Retrieve it from [cache name]” and “Grab it.” If you took the Trackable from the cache in which it is listed, choose to retrieve it. If you took the item from elsewhere, choose to grab it.

Discovered — This is a logging option for Trackables that indicates you have seen the Trackable, but have not moved it. At geocaching events, geocachers often “discover” the Trackables in others’ collections.

Missing — If a Trackable has been missing for some time, the Trackable owner or the owner of the cache in which the Trackable is listed can mark the item “missing.” This will remove it from the cache inventory and place the Trackable in an “unknown location” so that others will know it is no longer in the cache. More info.

Collectible — Trackable owners can choose to set their Trackables as “Collectible” or “Not Collectible.” “Collectible” may mean that the owner has decided to keep it in their personal collection or, if you find it in a cache, that they are okay with you keeping the item and placing it in your own collection. “Not collectible” indicates that the item should continue to travel. The Trackable’s page will state the owner’s preference. If the page indicates that the owner has not set their collectible preference, you should assume that the item is not collectible. Learn more about Collectibles, including how Trackable owners benefit from setting their preference.

/ Eric Schudiske /

Groundspeak Weekly Newsletter – September 7, 2011

Geocaching.com Video Series

Over the last year and a half, Geocaching.com has created more than 40 videos designed to help new geocachers learn about the activity, share the stories of Geocaching.com milestones and showcase the best of geocaching. Those new to geocaching should check out the “Getting Started with Geocaching” tab on the videos page, which includes videos such as “Finding Your First Geocache” and “Basics of hiding a Geocache.” For those trying to understand how to use some of the more advanced Geocaching.com features, the page also includes instructional screencasts.
The majority of our videos focus on the geocaching community. We have interviewed, gone geocaching with and even showered with geocachers from around the world to bring you the stories of some of the most interesting caches, events, people and trends in the geocaching community. These videos will inspire you to be a better geocacher and make it easy to share with friends what geocaching means to you.

/ Eric Schudiske

Groundspeak Weekly Mailer – May 4, 2011

Happy 11th Birthday Geocaching!

Can you believe that geocaching turned 11 years old this week? Neither can we! Geocaching has come a long way since the first geocache was placed on May 3, 2000. Here are some fun facts and a timeline of the history of geocaching:

• The first geocache was not called a geocache at all, but a “GPS Stash.” Although the original geocache is no longer in place, there is a plaque marking its location and a physical container with a logbook for visitors to sign.

• September 2, 2000: September 2, 2000: Geocaching.com launches. The site lists 75 geocaches worldwide.

• August 30, 2001: The first Travel Bug® is released by Jeremy. TB1 is a rubber ducky named “Deadly Duck: Envy.” Fun fact: The image on the Deadly Duck’s Trackable page is Photoshopped to replicate this mug shot of a famous Seattle-area entrepreneur and philanthropist in his younger, “wilder” days.

• September 30, 2001: Moun10Bike places the second Geocoin in a cache near Deception Pass, Washington. He keeps the first Geocoin in his personal collection. Watch him tell his story.

• December 31, 2007: Geocaching.com reaches 500,000 active geocache listings.

• March 8, 2010: Geocaching.com reaches 1 million active geocache listings. The number of listings on Geocaching.com has grown by 37% since then.

• May 3, 2011: There are currently over 1.3 million geocaches listed on Geocaching.com. They are hidden in almost every country in the world.

• May 3, 2025: The first geocache is placed on Saturn to commemorate the 25th anniversary of geocaching.

Okay, so the last one is probably not true. But it could be. How do you think geocaching will change in the next 5, 15, 25 years? Share your thoughts on Facebook.

/ Eric Schudiske

Groundspeak Weekly Newsletter – February 2, 2011

Announcing International Cache In Trash Out Weekend 2011

Cache In Trash Out (CITO) is the geocaching community’s initiative to clean up parks and other cache-friendly places around the world. While out hunting for a geocache, geocachers collect litter along the trails and properly dispose of it. The community also supports the initiative by organizing larger cleanup efforts known as CITO Events. These events may occur at any time of year, but many are held during the annual international Cache In Trash Out Weekend each spring. This year, Cache In Trash Out weekend is scheduled for April 30 & May 1, 2011.

Over the course of 2010, the community held nearly 400 CITO Events. Many of those were during Cache In Trash Out Weekend. Let’s beat that record! Start planning your CITO events now!

Benefits of Adding Home Coordinates

Please enter your home coordinates so we can provide information on new geocaches and geocaching events near you.