Spring Geocaching by Team Northwoods

Deer are out in the fields leaving the balsam and browse of their wintering grounds. Toms are out strutting to grab the attention of a hen while Jakes are running in groups trying to muck things up. The geese are flying north and the crows jaunt from here to there. All of the migrating ducks still showing off their breeding colors. Slowly working their way up the thawing rivers and lakes.

Cabin fever has driven you outside a couple times but those low lying caches are quite difficult to find. Some are frozen in a stump, tree hole, or tree crotch. But, now it is time to get out. The poison ivy, stinging nettles and wild hog weed are at bay and the wet rotting leaves have a nice square clump to display.

Down the ditch and into the tree line. Birds are chirping here and there. A familiar Chick-a dee-dee is heard as chick-a-dee’s whirl from tree to tree. Out jumps a mallard and so do you. A fall grouse can be planned for. A spring mallard launching off a puddle in the middle of the woods. That will get you every time.

You roughed out a route but wondered off course. Deterred by a stream, flush yellow with marsh marigolds. A bounty of morel mushrooms along the hill side. Moving along as you’re wishing for some gum. Boy that last wild onion sure was strong! A shed antler left behind for you to find.

It is amazing how far one can see in the spring. Peripherals pick up a dark brown square, just right over there. An old cabin, long deserted. No hint of a trail. That is what plastic containers are for.  Coords are taken. Checked them thrice and then twice more. Who will be first to find? It doesn’t matter. As long as the race is close prodding the banter along.

Dusk guides you out. A sense of accomplishment on a time well spent sneaks a smile upon your face. Then you feel it. Pulling over with the dome light on. A ravenous little beast crawling up your leg. You hope there aren’t any more but now you can feel them everywhere. The ride back home could not be to near. How you wish for only a mirror.

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The deer and turkeys are vacant from the field today. A large black shape appears near woods line. I am not the only thing out of hibernation this day. Crocuses are up along the road. Every tapped maple, a hanging blue bag or white bucket. I wonder if I will make it to that cache today.

“What?”

“We are doing what?”

“I don’t wanna’ go”

“That sounds boring”

Yes, those were the words I heard in the household when first presenting the idea of geocaching. You see, a few acquaintances were heavily into this great hobby, and the boys (yes all four, five if you include my husband) were afraid we would become obsessed. Well after a few trials, and errors, our family decided that they love this great activity.

Over the last two years our family changed. My husband had the opportunity to return to school for a second degree – elementary school teacher. Obviously, we needed to make some changes, most importantly, including a decreased budget. I was looking for something to do and geocaching fit that bill; it is free, and combines the beautiful outdoors with greatly needed exercise. So we all began geocaching, yes, in November of 2013. Crazy huh? Starting to cache right before the winter weather in Wisconsin? But it really turned out wonderful and I even had a few FTF’s too!

There are many things we have all learned along the way.  When planning a few hours out with your children or husband plan ahead! I can’t stress this enough.  After a few too many trips out to find out that caches have been disabled, or are a nano, or 4 or 5 level difficulties, none of which are enjoyable with children, we plan ahead. In general a park or an area in a few square miles is selected with a variety of cache types. This has to include at least one large ammo can (to find fun swag), a hard search for boy #3 (he is 10 and our best cacher!), and a few walking caches for the adults that just like to be outdoors. We always carry one small bag with a few extra bottles of water, snacks, and socks or rain ponchos (all of which come in handy) as well as extra SWAG to trade and replacement logs to help out the local CO. Also, my husband and I evaluate the area we will be going to and monitor the weather. We want to be sure the cachers have been found recently and are in good condition and that we won’t receive 10 inches of rain when we get to the site!

Another great suggestion, do some research online. My husband and I follow a few you tube channels from cachers in the United States. Not only has this helped to give us an idea of different cache types to explore, but the safest and environmentally safe way, to do so. Both of us have been very appreciative to the work that goes into these videos; and really, without them, I don’t know that we would have acquired the knowledge to continue pursuing this hobby.

Place your own cache! How will this wonderful sport be expanded further if individuals out there are not willing to put the work into placing some great hides? Yes, this can be work and slightly difficult, but if you review the rules carefully, plan ahead, and contact a reviewer with questions on a cache you are concerned of placing, it CAN be done. The first few cachers that we placed were denied. Yes, both of us were disappointed, and pulled away for a few months. After time away we both regrouped and realized that we needed to be more detailed in our cache placing and needing to change some of the wording in the description. BINGO! Our family has now placed 7 caches, 5 of which have several favorite points, one has 12 points thus far! Please be respectful to the reviewers as many hours of work go into verifying each of the caches placed. Dear Reviewers; thank you! We did have one cache muggled no less than 3 times in a matter of one month. In this case the cache size was changed and the cache listed as premium so although fewer cachers would find the hide there were less chances of muggles finding the spot. In placing a cache two other main ideas my husband and I like to consider (in addition to following rules and being respectful to local reviewers). Weather and children. In Wisconsin 6 months are spent in cold and we would prefer to place caches that are available year round. Second, many children do this sport as well; we try to create caches that they would enjoy doing too.

Geocaching does not require a GPS unit? That’s possible? What??? Yes, it IS true. We started with a very cheap smart phone and did just fine. There are free applications available for download that worked fantastic for our family. Of course, since then we have purchased a GPS unit to use in the heavily wooded or outside the area and downloaded the Premium Geocaching Application. The two together work wonderfully.

Yes, we have our pet peeves too. Namely, why on EARTH do you hide a nano or micro in the woods??  This takes that radius out for other cachers in the area; basically eliminating any other great hides that could be created. ANYONE can hide a nano in the woods. But can you hide an ammo can or other large container in the woods? CAN YOU? Also, please leave the area better than you found it. See that aluminum container over there? Put it in a bag and place it in the recycles. See that trail over there?  Please follow it if possible rather than cutting through the beautiful flowers. Lastly, be original – what type of cache would you enjoy finding? You know those film containers? BORRRRINNNGGG. Can you disguise your film canister as a large bug? Can you conceal your small cache of fun swag (not illegal candy, kool aid, knife or lighter all of which we have found this year) as a mini bush or tree? Can you create a mystery series or multi in a park and name it something fun? Be creative, yes you!

Above all else have fun (or else you are you are doing it wrong)!

Respectfully yours,

BECK#6

(Doug, Lisa and our 4 boys).

Geocaching With Kids

Written by graphicsgirl19

Being a single mother as well as an avid Geocacher, it has been interesting trying to combine them. My son was born in January, so by the time spring and summer hit, he was big enough that I could put him in a back sling and go tromping through the woods on the latest quest. I could go on a short hike, weather and bug permitting, and he could come with. He loved going outside. Granted, he did sleep through at least half of the hike. But now, he is two years old and would much rather walk himself than be carried. Which is really nice but also has made me change what caches I shoot for.
So now, I have to go for more of the easier caches. The ones that are more city based in parks and side streets. He finds those much more enjoyable than going on a hike. It has been a nice change to do some easier ones, but part of me can’t wait for him to get a little bigger to go on a hike.
Anyone who has kids can tell you that trying to maintain all your hobbies plus be a parent is challenging. You just have to find a way to combine them. A couple who are very good friends of mine, has twins. They are old enough now to know the basics of the sport. The parents have made it interesting for them, calling it treasure hunting. The kids have learned more and more about the outdoors through geocaching by going out to the nature reserves and outdoors to find them.
Geocaching has become more than just a game. It is a chance for people to get outside and learn about nature. In this day and age, kids are around technology so much. Anything we can do as parents to get them outside and learn is a blessing. Geocaching has made that possible for my son and I.