Every year, the third Saturday of August marks International Geocaching Day. For seasoned geocachers, the day is an opportunity to celebrate a fun, adventurous hobby. For those out of the geocaching loop, the day likely raises a lot of questions. What is geocaching? How does it work? How can I get started? Jumping into a new hobby can be overwhelming, but you can find all the answers you need here.
Since the early 2000s, geocaching has grown into a massive, worldwide phenomenon. While plenty of resources exist to introduce you to geocaching (such as the essential Geocaching.com), here is a simple guide to help beginners get started.
Geocaching definition
As the official Geocaching.com blog explains, “geocaching is a real-world, outdoor adventure that is happening all the time, all around the world. To play, participants use the Geocaching app and/or a GPS device to navigate to cleverly hidden containers called geocaches.”
Put simply, geocaching is a hobby where participants can find hidden items (geocaches) and leave hidden items for others to find. Described as “the world’s largest treasure hunt,” geocaching makes the perfect outdoor adventure. Not only does geocaching get you outside and exploring the world, but it also rewards you with interesting trinkets and connects you to other geocachers in your area. Experienced geocachers have kept up guest books in their hidden containers and even found geocaches with gift cards, polished stones, and more.
How to start geocaching for beginners
First, you’ll want to download the Geocaching app. The app offers premium plans for dedicated geocachers, but beginners can access all the important functions for free. After creating an account, you can explore a map of geocache locations near you. Beginners can start by locating one in their neighborhood. Geocache locations will be marked on the map with a green dot. Check each geocache’s profile for a difficulty rating, a brief description of its size and type, and hints to help you find the treasure.
What do you do once you find the geocache? There are many options. Often, geocaches include a guestbook that logs every person who has visited the location. Bring a pen on your geocaching adventure so you can add your name. You can also mark your find in the Geocaching app and leave future visitors hints. Once you learn the ropes of geocaching, you can even set up a geocache of your own.