What is Geocaching?
Geocaching is a game that has developed over the past few years. It was first invented in the US in 2000, though the idea isn't new at all. Basically, it involves recent high-tech solutions to engage the players in outdoor activities. Who can ask for more?
You have some spare time, you want to go out and seek new places, meet new people, enjoy the sense of community and maybe even some sort of conspiracy? Well, the game is for you. Just go and get yourself a GPS location unit, log on to one of the many geocaching websites for the location and off you go.
Go to do what? To experience adventure, of course. Many people before you made sure you'd have fun. The rules are simple. You're supposed to go out there and find what others left for you, record your presence to take credit for it, ideally leave something else for others who will come after you and move on to the next location.
A cache you are going to look for usually consists of a logbook (the most important item), a pen, sometimes some other small items as a reward. They are supposed to be placed somewhere nice and not easily found. The idea is to make you walk, enjoy the countryside and be rewarded for it.
In a modern society, with all our day-to-day problems, games such as this are meant to make us forget all about the over-complicated reality. Train spotting, various survival games, extreme sports… they're all apparently senseless and crazy, yet they do tend to attract people these days. What's even more interesting, not only young people. Geocaching is safe and fun. You can embark on your search taking your five-year-old with you and even make it a quality family time if you're so inclined.
It is said that the history of the game dates back to May 2000 when the GPS signal degradation called Select Availability (SA) was removed by the Clinton Administration. This act made the game possible since the GPS units were now available for private users to pinpoint locations with much greater accuracy. The enhancement meant almost ten times more accurate locations.
There is also a mention of one Nuuksion Metsäsissit who used to hunt locations in Helsinki as early as 1980s using maps with 10-meter accuracy. However, the idea of seeking out certain locations must be far older than that. Perhaps it started with the first scout teams trying to win their badges. Anyway, the first official cache was placed near Portland, Oregon in celebration of removing the Select Availability. Since then, the game has spread all over the United States and beyond to over one hundred countries.
Mike Teague, after finding this first container, built his personal web page to document these items and their locations which were posted to the sci.geo.satellite-nav newsgroup. The name geocaching was invented in July 2000, when Jeremy Irish found this first website and also found his first cache near Seattle, Washington. They then both created a new website with the name of the game.
Today, http://www.geocaching.com/ remains the main site for the gamers all over the world. However, if you open your search engine and type in the name, the search will return over 200,000 websites containing the term. Countless local organizations, forums, newsgroups, individual items tracking websites, often including photo galleries documenting locations. Not to mention advertising and selling specific items to be placed in the caches. This has become an international phenomenon, attracting more and more people each day.
What is more, there are numerous variations of the game, traceable items, tasks to be fulfilled along the way… you can think what you want, the game is nothing but dull. The communities also take care of the legal issues. You are warned to abide by all the local laws. For example, you're not to place your caches on historical or archeological sites. If your intended location is on a private land, it is recommended that you ask the owner first. You have to consider the fact that people will be going around there, looking for your cache. Make sure its presence doesn't bother anyone.
You're also not supposed to put drugs, alcohol, cigarettes etc in your cache. People of various ages will take part in the game so it needs to be kept safe and legal. Apart from that, you are virtually free to pick your locations anywhere. The point is to make it somewhere attractive. A beautiful view, a prime camping spot, a tourist attraction only add to the fun.
As to what to put into your cache, apart from some specific items made especially for the game, it can be anything. Money, small toys, pictures, collectibles… anything you think someone who finds your cache might find funny or useful. Of course, the contents are supposed to change with each visit. The only permanent thing is the logbook to track the players.
Naturally, you have to make sure your cache is safe. It means you need some water proof container to pack it. The container should also be clearly marked so that in case it's found by someone unfamiliar with the game, it's not stolen or destroyed. Once you get involved in the game, you'll be surprised to find it invokes good emotions among people.
It is not recommended to bury the container. Provided it's well packed, nothing should happen to it. You may of course make sure it's not too visible. That would be missing the whole point of the game. You can put it in a tree, mask it with branches or stones but, at the end of the day, it's for people to find it.
In case you want to start with finding a cache first, simply register with the main website, or your local team and download the location in your country or state. Take a few things you'd like to put there (although it's not obligatory – you may only want to sign the logbook), put on a pair of good boots and off you go. Once you've found the cache and noted your presence there, you go back to the website to report the cache. It's owner is supposed to check on it regularly and make sure it stays there for others to find. This is also true for any additional tasks you may be offered. In any case, you're now an official participant of the game. Welcome to geocaching!