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I cant seem to find the new guidelines for cemetery caches. I know there was some discussion if the forms about it but I can not find any rules set in stone. Anybody help me with the link?
@rcflyer2242 wrote:
I cant seem to find the new guidelines for cemetery caches. I know there was some discussion if the forms about it but I can not find any rules set in stone. Anybody help me with the link?
I think the rule is simply this…..you need to demonstrate permission in order to place a cache in a cemetery.
The reviewers had complaints about the placement of some of the cemetery caches and decided that any caches hidden in private cemeteries would need permission. There is nothing in writing on this. It was a good decision since all caches should have permission regardless of where they are hidden even though very few have. I’m sure that WisKid will see this topic and post his comments.
I thought there was something about public cemeteries we could hide in with out permission but church owned we could not without permission. I do not have a problem with the rule but would like some clairification on it.
The guideline is that you should have permission for any cache you hide. Regardless of whether the reviewer checks with you or not, as a hider, you have an obligation to know who is the owner/manager of the location where you hide your cache and an obligation to let said people know about your cache.
Personally I don’t think caches should not be in cemeteries – period. I just don’t feel right caching in a cemetery. It’s a Holy Ground, not a playground.
I once owned caches in cemeteries, but after getting some evil eyes from a maintenance guy at a cache, I thought to myself, he’s right. Caches have no business in a cemetery, public or private. So I pulled my cemetery caches last year.
I probably could have had a couple more smileys on my short run in Green Bay this past Tuesday, but I passed up on a couple cemeteries that had caches in them and just drove by.
I’m probably the only one here in the WGA that feels this way, but just google “geocaching in cemeteries” and you will see that it is a controversial issue so obviously others feel the same way.
IMO, caching in cemeteries should be banned.
@todd300 wrote:
I’m probably the only one here in the WGA that feels this way, but just google “geocaching in cemeteries” and you will see that it is a controversial issue so obviously others feel the same way.
IMO, caching in cemeteries should be banned.
I could live without cemetery caches.
All opinions, comments, and useless drivel I post are mine alone and do not reflect the opinions of the WGA BOD.
I feel just the opposite. I really enjoy wandering cemeteries to see the history, the artwork, the craftsmanship, and honor the many veterans that have paid the ultimate sacrifice. I also really enjoy the WSQ 9xx series that Marc initiated. Done as intended and you really get to see some great stuff and learn.
I’ve gotten rid of all my traditional WSQ caches, but kept the puzzles because they have some educational value.
I also couldn’t stand the “TFTC” or “Quick Find” logs that I got. That’s not what cemetery caching is about. It’s about experiencing the history and too many people are just doing the game for the numbers and completely miss the point of cemetery caches.
Yes, well-done caches can lead you to some pretty interesting places. I’ve seen a lot of interesting things in cemeteries. But poorly-done caches can have you standing on graves, digging in bushes, etc. Those make me uncomfortable.
All opinions, comments, and useless drivel I post are mine alone and do not reflect the opinions of the WGA BOD.
I agree 100%, but let’s not go there with poorly done caches. I think 2 other threads already got locked because of that discussion.
No, those threads got locked because people weren’t playing nice. The topic was fine.
@todd300 wrote:
I’m probably the only one here in the WGA that feels this way
I don’t think so. If a blind survey we’re done I think you’d see the camps split in favor and not.
I’ve done 2 caches in cemeteries I’ve really enjoyed. The rest I could have done without.
One was nearby my brother inside the mausoleum. It’s now archived but it was a very moving experience to visit. It also got me in to visit my brother which I hadn’t done in a long long time. It was a puzzle and you needed to locate a travel bug “key” to find the cache and open it.
The other was a virtual down in the Chicago area and led you to Al Capone’s grave.
They (cemetery caches) can be good life experiences, but for me, looking for a container at the back of random countryside cemetery is not one of those — in most cases.
An observation: In some areas of Wisconsin all there are, are cemetery caches and very few non-cemetery caches for many miles.
Cemeteries are places where the living should come and visit. Otherwise, why have them?
The personal dilemma I have is, should a game be your reason to visit? The other dilemma I have is that not all people are respectful of their surroundings regardless of where they are standing. Also, not all cache owners are respectful of their surroundings when they place a geocache.
There’s a cemetery in appleton where many people ride their bikes, jog, etc. through. Some people enjoy the scenery in old cemeteries. Some enjoy the history. They’re not meant to be “sacred” places in my personal opinion. However, they are what you make them to be. Many visitors do consider them sacred as they are visiting a memorial of someone they lost. In their eyes, it’s not a place for fun and entertainment. That’s what a park is for, right?
One of our reviewers posted in this thread already regarding permission. I’m pretty sure there wouldn’t be nearly as many cemetery caches if each one of them was placed with actual, sought out permission…
Cemeteries are not sacred places to me. Everyone here will die eventually, and if every place a body was laid to rest was made sacred then the whole world would eventually become a sacred place. These places are for reflection and remembrance. The beauty and history found in cemeteries is unmatched. I’m thankful for 95% of the caches I have found in cemeteries…the other 5% I thought were placed too much in view of the public or I didn’t like it for some other reason.
The last cache I found was in a cemetery. I spent 5 minutes looking for the cache and 30 minutes walking around appreciating the artful nature of the monuments and enjoying the history.
I know the topic of like/dislike cemetery hides in general has been discussed before but it doesn’t hurt to bring it up again.
As an amateur genealogist and general aficionado of “old stuff,” I appreciate cemeteries. Problems with cemetery hides have always come from hiders who try to do clever hides in cemeteries, causing finders to draw undue attention to themselves, and from finders who do not exercise good discretion, whether hunting cemetery caches at night or generally being disrespectful of the place.
As with so many things in life, common sense unfortunately isn’t common.
I do believe the permission enforcement decision was a good use of discretion by reviewers.
On the Left Side of the Road...@gotta run wrote:
Problems with cemetery hides have always come from hiders who try to do clever hides in cemeteries, causing finders to draw undue attention to themselves
I have seen a couple of these….these hiders really need to think before hiding. If it takes me longer than 5 minutes to find a cemetery cache than it likely should not have been placed in that way/location.
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