“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).