| Use common sense when choosing a hiding spot for your cache. |
| Try to avoid sending seekers into or through areas that might be hazardous. Be alert for things like poison ivy, etc., and never place a cache in an ecologically sensitive area which could be damaged by foot traffic. |
| Choose a waterproof container for your cache box. |
| In addition, it may also be a good idea to put any moisture sensitive items…especially the logbook…into individual ziplock baggies. |
| Clearly mark the outside of the container with "GEOCACHE" |
| or some other easily recognizable identification. This is especially important if the cache container is non-transparent and/or has an appearance that could be mistaken as having harmful content. (Keep in mind that, while most Geocachers are used to seeing and handling ammo boxes; this kind of container, especially if still labeled as containing ammunition, may look suspicious to the casual discoverer…especially if it's concealed in an urban or heavily-populated area. Since the events of September 11th, there is a heightened sensitivity toward items of possible harmful intent; so rather than opening the container to read the cache letter, a person may simply notify the police of the ominous-looking container. There have been several reported incidences of geocaches that have been blown up by bomb squads. Expenses and negative publicity caused by these kinds of incidents will be detrimental to our sport, and should be avoided.)
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| Include a logbook and pen |
| so that people can record their find, and tell about their experience and/or what they traded for. (It's also a good idea to include a pencil, since the weather in Tennessee often gets cold enough to freeze the ink in pens.) |
| Include a note explaining why the container is there |
| in case someone accidentally discovers the cache), and what the basic rules for playing are. Note: Be sure to include contact information, such as your e-mail address and/ or reference to www.geocaching.com, in case someone needs to contact you regarding the cache. (Here is one example of such a note.) |
| Give enough information in the cache description and/or encrypted hints |
| If you choose to hide a difficult to find cache, be sure to give enough information in the cache description and/or encrypted hints such that people will not be tempted to tear up or disturb the area around the cache during their search. |
| Check on its status periodically, and to pay attention and respond to the feedback |
| Remember that placing a cache is not a solitary 'event' that ends with your hiding the cache, but rather a beginning of an ongoing process of monitoring and maintaining your cache. You must be willing to check on its status periodically, and to pay attention and respond to the feedback provided to you through e-mail and/or the online logs. (If for any reason you tire of the game, or become unable to maintain your cache, you should either remove it immediately, or ask a fellow geocacher to take over responsibility for maintaining the cache. If you are unsure about who to ask, send us an e-mail, and we'd be happy to assist you in finding a new owner for your cache.) |
| Be sure that your cache offers something unique |
| Check for local caches before choosing your hiding place. If there are other caches in the area you want to hide a cache in, be sure that your cache offers something unique (view, geological feature, etc.) to make the hunt interesting, rather than being a 'copy' of an already existing cache. Be sure that it is far enough away that, given the combined error of your and the seekers' GPS receivers, nobody will accidentally stumble across your cache when looking for another (or vice versa). |