10 Tips for Newbie Geocachers

from WestCoast Families Summer 2023

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If you haven’t tried geocaching yet, now’s the time. International Geocaching Day is August 19 so get out there and get searching! To date, there are more than three million geocaches in over 190 countries.

1. Use your eyes, hands and geo-senses

Your GPS or smartphone will only get you within about 30 feet of the cache location. When you’re close, use your eyes, hands and geosenses to locate the cache.

2. Look for something that seems out of place

Cache containers come in all sizes, shapes, colours. Look in tree hollows, under park benches, inspect that oyster shell in the forest and yes, look in that one spot you’re 100% positive is not the hiding place. Chances are, that’s exactly where the cache is.

3. Geocaches are often disguised

…as rocks, bricks, bird houses or other everyday objects, so think outside the (ahem), cache-box.

4. Think like a detective

“If I were a geocache, where would I hide?”

5. Geocaches should never be buried

That said, they won’t always be on the ground.

6. Look high, look low, look around

Leave no bench unsearched, no stone unturned.

7. Respect your surroundings

NEVER trample on flower beds, scale walls or damage property trying to find the cache.

8. Check the hint

Many cache pages offer hints that may help you figure out where to look.

9. Check the latest activity

Recent logs from other geocachers may contain valuable information such as, “I had to lean ON THE FENCE to find this one!”

10. Be patient

One last tip: Always, always ALWAYS bring a pen! Remember every single geocacher started out as a brand new geocacher and had to learn the ropes. Practice, practice, practice!

To find out more, visit geocaching.com. Download the Geocaching® App from Google Play or the Apple App Store.

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