This geocache used to be called "A Good Place to Start." I originally designed it for new players. Then the county cut all the bushes down to the ground in fall of 2021 and piled the brush on top of the container. It is still an okay place to start, but not as good as it was. The container is big and reliable. You will just need to climb over some brush to get to it.
About the Container
You are looking for a dark brown container about the size of a watermelon. It says "geocache" on the outside. There is room for trade items and travel bugs. It will be very findable in summer but much more difficult if there is snow on the ground. It's held in place with a steel cable, so you can be pretty sure it's there. If you don't see it in the first place you look then try spreading out your search.
Please leave the container so it isn't obvious to anyone who isn't looking for it.
About the Location
The geocache is hidden next to the Oak Leaf Trail where it runs along the east edge of Estabrook Park. There is free parking right next to the location on Wilson Drive. You'll have to leave the paved path but only by about twenty feet. You will need to climb over some brush on the ground. This area can get muddy when it rains.
You may be visible to people passing by on the path. Please be stealthy.
About the Trade Items
The geocache is stocked with trade items. Part of the game is to take souvenirs from the caches and leave something in exchange. Usually the rule is to leave something at least as good as what you take but if this is your first time and you don't have anything to trade then I don't mind if you take something anyway. If you decide to keep geocaching then pay it forward by leaving an extra item in another geocache someday. Tell me if the stock runs low and needs to be refilled.
In my experience, the prospect of free trinkets works very well when you geocache with kids. If you have kids then bring items from home that they can trade. Pocket change is okay in a pinch. Please don't put leaves into the container because they rot and make everything in the container smell terrible.
Tips for New Geocachers
Here are a few tips for people who are just getting started.
- Carry a pen. Every geocache you find will have a log to sign but most of them won't have a pen inside. Most of the ones you find in the city will be too small to hold one
- GPS units can be off by ten or fifteen feet. They can be affected by things like weather, tall buildings, and power lines. If you can't find what you're looking for, try expanding your search outward in a spiral pattern
- Be a good geocaching citizen. Leave the containers as well as you found them. If you take a trade item, leave something in exchange. Report problems so the cache owners can fix them. When you log your finds online, be fun or at least courteous
- Travel bugs are not to keep. You might find items with tracking numbers attached. Those items are on a journey where they move from one geocache to another. You can help by moving them along but don't keep them for too long. Drop them off quickly in another geocache
- Find 50 geocaches before you hide one. At some point you might want to hide your own geocache. That's exciting and we would love to have more geocaches in the community. It's best to start by being a good finder. Soak up the culture of the game. Learn what makes geocaches great and what sometimes makes them frustrating
What to Do Next
Go find another one! There are over 30,000 active geocaches in the state of Wisconsin. There are some that you can walk to from this spot. If you are using a smartphone app then it might not let you find all of the geocaches to start. You might find more by going to the website at geocaching.com. Some of the best geocaches are only visible to paid members so if you like the game and you want to keep doing it, just know that there is more to see.
Welcome to the geocaching community! We're glad to have you join us.
Permission
This geocache is placed with permission of the Milwaukee County Parks Department. Permit 564.