Being a cache owner is part of the fun of caching. But as more
and more cachers join our ranks, the available locations to place
hides are becoming numbered. Here is what Groundspeak had to say on
the topic in a Weekly Newsletter published Thursday, July 14,
2011.
“Quality
Geocaches
In 11 years, geocaching has grown from a single container in the
woods of Oregon to an international activity with over 5 million
participants and more than 1.4 million geocaches. In the last week
alone, Groundspeak Volunteer Reviewers approved nearly 6000 caches.
Wow. Thanks, Reviewers!
This rapid growth means that almost anywhere in the world, you can
walk out your door and find a geocache within an hour. But it also
means that geocache saturation is increasing. In some areas, it is
becoming difficult to find a location to place a cache.
As the number of geocachers and geocaches grows, we encourage you
to make sure that each and every cache you place is of good
quality. We know that everyone has a different opinion as to what
makes a “quality hide“, but there are some steps that
you can take to make sure that others will enjoy your cache.
Find many caches before hiding one of your own. This will show you
how vastly different geocaches can be. We suggest finding at least
20-25.
Think about your favorite geocaches and why you enjoyed them so
much. Was it the location? The container? The story on the cache
page? Try to replicate the elements that you enjoyed while adding
some of your own creativity.
Make sure that the geocache container is waterproof and will
survive the elements. It is better to use a sealed container rather
than a plastic bag.
Maintain your geocache. This means replacing the logbook when it is
full, checking on the cache every so often to see that it's still
doing well and responding quickly to “needs
maintenance“ logs.
You can see which geocaches others recommend by looking at the
number of Favorite Points that each cache has received.
Favorite Points can be found on each cache page and in the search
results list. Premium Members can award 1 Favorite Point for each
10 caches that they find and can sort the search results list by
most-favorited caches.”
"When you go to hide a
geocache, think of the reason you are bringing people to that spot.
If the only reason is for the geocache, then find a better spot."
–briansnat
Typically, a geocache is hidden for
one of two reasons: To get a smiley, or to bring others to an
interesting area. As a general rule of thumb, a cache owner
should:
-
Obey all local laws – remember
trespassing is illegal and cachers will attempt to find your hide
no matter where you put it.
-
Obtain permission of public or
private land owners or land managers – It is our opinion that
this point is more critical for some caches than others. Caches
clearly hidden on private property require the permission of the
owner. Those placed near businesses and on city, county or state
owned land have a higher survival rate if the business owners or
land managers are aware of the cache before it is placed.
We’ve all heard stories (and if you haven’t yet, you
probably will at some point) about the local law enforcement
arriving at GZ to question a cacher’s behavior. By asking
permission and notifying the owners or land managers that the cache
is there, less suspicion and interest is generated when a cacher is
spotted at GZ. Also keep in mind, caches placed in Michigan State
Parks require a permit from the land manager, and areas designated
as wild life refuges or game reserves are off-limits. Permits for
hiding caches in the state parks are currently free to members of
the Michigan Geocaching
Organization (membership is free).
-
Never place a cache on a highway
overpass, on a bridge, near active railroad tracks, near school
grounds, or on or near military bases. The safety of the cacher
seeking the find should also be considered when deciding where to
place the container.
-
Never place a cache in areas
susceptible to geocaching traffic. This includes areas supporting
wildlife, nesting areas, delicate vegetation, and soil conservation
areas. As a direct path to the hide forms, also referred to as a
geotrail, plants and wildlife may be compromised.
-
Use an appropriate container for the
location. It is recommended to avoid using containers that will
become damaged by the elements over time, and never use
glass.
You are looking for a small,
camouflaged, lock-n-lock container. Please be respectful of the
area as you are searching and hide the container as well or better
than when found. The staff is aware of the cache placement, but
watch out for muggles. Please use extreme caution at GZ as there is
a steep drop just past the container placement. Starting contents
include small swag items and an FTF prize.
We would like to thank The City of Midland and the Grace A. Dow
Memorial Library, Library Director, Melissa Barnard for permission
to place this cache.
Wireless connection is also available
nearby.