"Cache In Trash Out® (CITO) is an environmental initiative supported by the geocaching community. Since 2002, CITO has helped preserve the natural beauty of cache-friendly spaces. In that time, there have been more than 599,000 logged attendances at more than 33,000 events where geocachers helped improve the outdoors." (from geocaching.com's blog)
- By participating in a CITO event this year, you have the opportunity to earn 2 unique souvenirs for your profile.
- CITO 2023 Season 1: March 1 - May 31, 2023
- CITO 2023 Season 2: September 1 - November 30, 2023
- This event qualifies you for the Season 1 souvenir.
- Attend as many events as you would like, but only one souvenir will be awarded per season.
But WHAT is plogging? I stumbled across this term one afternoon while lost in the deep abyss of Reddit. Apparently, other hobbies participate in clean-up activities -- geocachers have CITO events -- this one is for fans of walking, jogging and running. Formed by combining the word jogging with the Swedish term plocka, which means “to pick,” plogging is the process of purposefully collecting garbage while exercising outdoors. So technically, we've already plogged if we've attended a CITO event! These hobbyists pick up what litter that they can as they go along their route. It’s a workout that’s good for the Earth and your body. 
We will be supplying trash bags & water. Items that YOU should bring with you: Gloves, Boots, Long Pants (for Poison Ivy & Ticks), and Grabbers.
Where/ When: Saturday, May 06th, 2023 -- 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM at Ballenger Creek Park (Posted Coordinates) -- 5420 Ballenger Creek Pike -- Frederick, MD -- 21702. Park near and meet by Shelter #2. We will be cleaning the unpaved trail section to the West of the dog park and community gardens. We have loaded a link to the Ballenger Creek Park Map provided by Frederick County in the logs for reference. We'll start off together and spread out (we will have a printed map on hand that day to strategize dividing territory). We'll reconvene as a group at the end so we can pass out rewards and arrange our collected trash.
Why:
To clean up the environment, talk geocaching, and trade bugs. Those who wish to may also do some geocaching before or after the event.being located along the periphery of the park and in/around the bushes, shrubs and trees.
Extra things to keep in mind:
- If you pick up a Travel Bug or trackable coin at one of the events, make sure you log it out so it doesn't show up in the events list. If a trackable sits as being listed in the event for a couple of months, the cache owner is the one that gets the e-mail from the TB owner(s).
- Each person attending is asked to please log your 'Will Attend' if at all possible. We are planning to incentivize this cleanup by giving participants a small SWEDISH reward for collecting litter and we need to have enough on hand for everyone.
- This event will be held rain or shine. In the event of severe inclement weather an announcement will be made closer to the event date. Please keep this page watchlisted and log your "Will Attends" so that any event announcements will be sent to you via e-mail.
- ALL current state recommendations with regards to the COVID-19 outbreak WILL be adhered to. These may include class size, social distancing, and the wearing of masks.