This topic contains 24 replies, has 15 voices, and was last updated by 
hack1of2 7 years, 9 months ago.
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Becky and I both received communication recently from someone who was told by the management of a cemetery that they did not allow geocaching on their property. This person wanted to know why there were already some caches published on that particular cemetery. It appears that the original placers did not have permission, although we don’t really have any way to know this. Please be aware that you need to have permission to place a cache in any location, and this is particularly important when the location is not owned by the public.
Because of this issue and others like it in the past, Becky and I are going to start asking hiders for confirmation of permission in privately owned cemeteries, just like we do on other private property locations. If you want to speed up the approval process, I would suggest you determine the ownership of any cemeteries and gain permission prior to submitting your cache. You also would want to include that information in your cache description, with a sentence like “Permission for this hide granted by Reverend Smith of the Antioch Baptist Church”.
Note that we are NOT going to be actively looking for existing caches which might have been placed without permission. However, if you are accosted in a cemetery by employees/owners and asked to leave the property, please let us know so that we can close any problem hides down. We don’t want to get in a situation like they had in South Carolina, where the state passed an law banning geocaching in cemeteries and instituting criminal penalties.
I realize that most of you are already getting permission for your hides. It is pretty common for me to see unsubmitted listings with notes like “Still negotiating with the caretaker”. For those of you in this group, please don’t consider this a penalty or some sort of discouragement of cemetery hides. This is really something we have to do to avoid getting a bad reputation.
If you need help determining ownership of a cemetery, we can usually help. Just drop us an email with the coordinates if you can’t determine who to ask.
HMMM? Maybe just lots of puzzles or multis based on info IN the cemetery with the final located in the signpost in the road right of way. 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆
In Minnesota, any cemetery cache is placed in this way, for the most part.
I had a different kind of cemetery caching experience over the weekend. We did a cache on the way up to Duluth in the small Minnesota town where about half of my ancestors are buried. I have been there many times, of course, and knew they were there, but it’s been many years, and seeing Grandma and Grandpa’s headstones, along with countless other family, had me with a bit of a catch in my throat. It gave me a little different perspective on cemetery cache placements (which we do usually enjoy). I noticed a new series in another area of “zombie” caches, placed in or near cemeteries. I know the cachers intend it as fun, which they say, but had I encountered my grandparents while searching for a “zombie cache”…..I am not sure I’d see the humor. And I think most who know me know I have a pretty laid back sense of humor about most things, including zombies….in their rightful place. I think if you have to comment in your write up that “no disrespect is intended,” maybe you should reconsider your placement and theme.
So I guess this is the long way of saying, always think respectfully when placing these things, from permission to placement to cache write up. We try to do exactly what CJ suggests, create a puzzle from a visit to a noteworthy stone, and place the cache on the fringes.
It helps if you don’t use the word “game” when talking to someone about a cemetery placement. Emphasize the opportunity to learn something, maybe a bit of history or local lore. And always mention that caches won’t be hidden near stones, people will be advised to come back later if mourners are present, etc., like the statement that is included on the WSQ cache pages.
This is a good thread and needs to be expanded.
First, we have had great success explaining caches as “visitor logs” to caretakers.
Second, I have seen too many poor cemetery caches–poor placement, poor taste based on people treating cemeteries like your average city park. No wonder caretakers complain! These are the kinds of things that get you into trouble. In my personal opinion these are the 5 cardinal rules of cemetery cache placement.
1. -Cemeteries are NOT playgrounds.
2. -Caches should be placed in a hiding spot that isn’t going to cause searchers to wear a path in the grass circling the gravestones. On the fringes is a good idea as T&B mentions. We have found some SHOCKING container placements.
3. -Caches hid in cemeteries should be easy finds and not D5s to avoid people looking and looking and looking… If in doubt, use an explicit hint: see rule #1.
4. -Caches should highlight something about the cemetery and not simply be a convenient place to grab a number.
5. -Large cemeteries do not need caches spaced every .1 mile!!!!!In case you’re wondering, yes I do think I know it all…
On the Left Side of the Road...Nice points gotta run, but here’s the challenge as I see it. I can’t control the action of others. The majority of cachers I know have a great respect for cemetery hides and the impact of their actions. It’s “the rest” that concerns me.
<- 😯 🙂 😀 😆
CodeJunkie’s idea of the cemetery puzzle is a very good idea. I always cringe when I see a cemetery cache where the description is just “plain vanilla”. The idea is to highlight the history contained within the cemeteries, not just to find another spot to drop a pill bottle.
And thanks to everyone for the positive feedback. I sent back my first two cemetery caches tonight, and I’m sure I will be thoroughly trashed in the forums, but that’s ok. I enjoy getting abused.
Gotta Run said it very well. There have many times we have cringed at the placement of a cache to close to a grave when there was a perfectly good spot on the edge. We have questioned the placement in a couple of caches logs. We have wished for some general rules for hiders since some people just don’t seem to have a sense of basic cemetery manners. We really enjoy a unique cemetery visit to see something historic or thought provoking.
@codejunkie wrote:
Nice points gotta run, but here’s the challenge as I see it. I can’t control the action of others.
That’s the assumption behind my points CJ. I try to design cemetery hides for the most careless cacher out there because it will happen. I’m thinking of one we looked for recently. There were plenty of opportunities on the perimeter and trees away from graves in the center. But instead the placer chose to hide a bison tube in a HUGE cedar that was planted right next to a headstone. Making matters worse was that another cedar tree, also right next to a headstone, was about 20′ away (well within the “search zone”), and it was clear both areas were heavily searched.
It’s those kind of placements–ones where caching tours are going to have several people with their heads stuck into the shrubbery for some length of time–that are going to draw the concern of the neighbors and the justified ire of the caretakers.
On the Left Side of the Road...Considering I can’t control the level of respect of others within a cemetery where respect is needed, I have only 1 option. 😥
I think you are misinterpreting GR’s comments. He isn’t saying that you need to somehow guarantee that finders won’t act disrespectfully in a cemetery. There will always be knuckleheads. But we do need to avoid encouraging people to act disrespectfully, by hiding caches in a reasonable fashion in respectful locations. Some of the caches in my area have you tripping over gravestones as you make your search. That is just too close. Another one was a nano attached to a small piece of gravel hidden in a landscaped area with similar gravel used as groundcover. This sort of hide is pretty much unacceptable anywhere except your own yard (due to expected damage to surrounding decorative plants and shrubs) and completely wrong in a cemetery.
I perfectly understand what gotta run is saying and I agree 100%. I also agree 100% with getting permission and in the case of the ones I’ve archived I didn’t get that (shame on me for not following the rules). I’m archiving them because I didn’t set a good example.
@Team Deejay wrote:
…Another one was a nano attached to a small piece of gravel hidden in a landscaped area with similar gravel used as groundcover. This sort of hide is pretty much unacceptable anywhere except your own yard (due to expected damage to surrounding decorative plants and shrubs) and completely wrong in a cemetery.
Glad that one was disabled (August 25). Here’s a big thank you for that!
…It’s just about time to archive it as well as clearly the owner didn’t get permission yet.One of my pet peeves regarding cemetery hides is “clever” or evil hides. Not appropriate. Usually I’m not so publicly opinionated about things, but this is about the one spot where I’ll make an exception to my laid back attitude. Granted, sometimes the placer doesn’t think it will be that way, but after a few seekers have trouble, it should be evaluated so as to maintain a respectful situation. We had one like that…..when people had trouble with something we thought was easy, we just archived it and did a new one, which has seemed to work well.
And yes…we had permission. From the caretaker and the neighbor lady, who found the concept really interesting. My other main pet peeve in general is any hide placed in such a way that people get aggressive in messing up the location in their search. The sport, as it has evolved, seems in some cases to have become “just how hard can I make this for someone to find?” not “can I make this so someone can find it?” A hide can be clever and difficult, with the emphasis on clever being key.
As always, in those moments when I express an opinion, it is mine alone, not to be confused with the WGA Board role I play right now. (which is basically to take notes!)
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