Top 10 Geocaching Safety Reminder

Thanks for Angela brought up a question of the safety of Geocaching. It is truly a severe issue that will directly influence this fun activity. So here I want to provide 10 safety tips of Geocaching.

No.10: Be Bare Aware
Bears can't see very well but their hearing and smell are sensational and they can outrun a horse over a short distance. Talk to people about recent local bear activity. Make some noise as you walk.
No.9: Do what the cops tell you
Geocaching often looks suspicious, especially these days. Hanging around, looking, climbing, crawling can all get you noticed. When you are confronted by the police, be nice and tell them about geocaching. Maybe the cops will help you look. Just don't be hassled.
No.8: Take extra batteries.
No.7: Carry a big stick
It's effective, innocuous and legal. It has a multitude of uses, from poking inside a dark cache to probing the trail in front of you to protection from animals (both four legged and two legged). They can also double as a crutch.
No.6: Bring a first aid kit
Scratches and bug bites are part of the charm of geocaching. It can also be dirty, so take care of any open wound. The kit doesn't need to be massive. Outdoor stores all sell small kits that will fit in a pocket.
No.5: Take your cell phone or walkie-talkies or both
No.4: Don't forget the hat and sunscreen
If you're going to be out in the sun, make sure you protect yourself. Lather on the sunscreen and keep it fresh. Then top it off with a wide brimmed hat and cool UV sunglasses.
No.3: Be tick aware
Ticks are a clear and present danger in the outdoors -- much more so than bears and snakes. They carry Lyme disease and other assorted bugs and they are everywhere. Wear long pants and long sleeve shirts. Tuck your pant lags into your socks or wear gaiters. Lyme disease is treatable but no fun. If you geocache, you're going to get ticks. Stay vigilant and stay healthy.
No.2: Bring lots of water
This one that can sneak up on you too, usually in the form of a "quick cache" which turns into a marathon. So, fill it with ice and top it off with water. You'll have ice water the whole day.
No1: Know when to back off
Geocachers are a pretty tenacious bunch. Part of this activity is recognizing limits. Whether you are wilderness caching or getting a few in the local park, you have to constantly evaluate your situation. Heat, cold, dehydration, darkness, weather, time and distance are just some of the things you have to keep an eye on. It's great to go for that one more cache but remember you have to get back. Don't compromise your safety for a cache. It'll be there tomorrow.

Also, you can read the blog below that talks about Geocaching + Electricity.
Johnnygeo's Geocaching Electrical Safety Blog

Geocaching in Education

Geocaching has been called 21st-century orienteering and the world's largest treasure hunt. But is it also a learning activity that inspires creativity and real-world problem solving? Hiding, locating, and finding geochaches is incredibly popular, but it's not just a weekend pastime-it can also be an educational opportunity for students of all ages. Geocaching can help students explore any subject. For Science, techers could combine Geocaching with their classes so that students are able to learn better about nature. Walking is one of the best exercises for lifetime fitness. So for Physical Education teachers, they could make walking more interesting and exciting through Geocaching.
People love outdoor activities. Thanks for the technologies, we can make classes more interactive.

Highlight GPS!!!

If you want to go Geocaching, the utmost important device is a good GPS!!! But it is not necessary to buy a expensive and elaborate GPS device. All you need is a easy-to-use, accessible, durable one which you can easily enter waypoints.
Nowadays, lots of cell phones supports GPS chips. If you want to use your mobile phone, you should install applications like Geocache Navigator or Groundspeak's Geocaching iPhone Application.
The first video below will introduce some of the vital features for a GPS you need to have.
About the second video, it shows some types of GPS, but mostly, I love the background music~haha
Hope you like it too.

What is usually in the cache?

In its simplest form, a cache always contains a logbook. The logbook contains information from the owner of the cache, notes from visitors and can contain much valuable, rewarding, and entertaining information. In smaller caches, a logsheet may be used.

 Larger caches may contain a logbook and any number of more or less valuable items. These items turn the cache into a true treasure hunt. You never know what the owner or other visitors of the cache may have left there for you to enjoy. Remember, if you take something, it is only fair for you to leave something in return. It is recommended that items in a cache be individually packaged in a clear, zipped plastic bag to protect them from the elements.

Quite often you may also find a trackable item. Groundspeak Trackables come in two types: Groundspeak Travel Bugs, and official Geocoins.

A Groundspeak Travel Bug is a trackable tag that you attach to an item, and which travels from cache to cache with the help of people like you. Each tag is etched with a unique code which the finder can use to log its travels on this website. Every Travel Bug has a goal given by its owner, so if you think you can help it along on its journey feel free to take it with you.

Geocoins are special trackable coins created by other Geocachers to commemorate special events or as a signature item to leave in caches. They function exactly like Travel Bugs and should be moved to another cache unless otherwise specified by their owners. 

People of all ages hide and seek caches, so think carefully before placing an item into a cache. Explosives, ammunition, knives, drugs and alcohol should not be placed in a cache. Respect the local laws. Food items are always a bad idea. Animals have better noses than humans, and in some cases caches have been chewed through and destroyed because of food items in a cache.