Top 6 Reasons To Get Outside During The Winter

Icy rock formation we saw while on a road trip to claim our first out of province Geocache.
January 2018
Photo Credit: Jessie C
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It's Winter here in Canada, a magical time of year to get out and explore. Mother nature hides all sorts of gems across the country under a blanket of snow, including some Geocaches. 2018 is the first year we're attempting to find some winter Caches, follow our blog to keep seeing more winter updates as we find more Geocaches through the Winter months. Getting out of the house can be hard during the winter months, staying indoors where its warm is what many prefer, but for those that love Geocaching here are some reasons to do so in the winter. It's a lot of fun exploring when mother nature lays out a fresh blanket of snow. 

The Winter Views Are Amazing!

I love this location for a Geocache, the natural glow of snow makes the reflection on the ice beautiful. The water on the lake had frozen solid with a small amount of snow that drifted onto its surface. I've got the chance to see this lake back during the Summer months, I find winter has the ability to dramatically change the look of your favourite spots. During the winter months, the lack of humidity provides an opportunity for clear long range views. There was a Geocache hidden perfectly in the tree that rested right beside this lake looking over at an amazing view.

A New View 

You may have a trail that you prefer walking more than others, a favourite trail that holds some of your hidden treasure or favourite Geocaches. Walking those trails again during the winter gives it an entirely new look. I find that trails leading to waterfalls hold the most change during the winter with the mist of the falls freezing certain areas of the trail. Seeing the falls frozen or semi-frozen is always a beautiful sight to see. Even seeing a new trail for the first time is beautiful during the winter months, the snow makes it so magical. My favourite times to walk a trail during the winter is when a new fresh blanket of snow has fallen. When is your favourite time to walk during the winter months? 

Less Crowd In The Trails

I recently walked in a trail the day after a fresh blanket of snow had fallen, I only met up with one other hiker who was leaving the trail as I was entering, it makes for a very peaceful and quiet walk outdoors. Walking trails can be lots of fun when the weather is beautiful, it's when most people want to head out and explore. Geocaching in the winter gives you a chance to walk trails with fewer chances of being seen by Muggles. Geocaching in the winter can be a lot easier in finding certain Geocaches. Often when I arrive at a cache location I can see the previous cachers trail and footprints, it doesn't ruin the game one bit though. Some cachers know this in advance and leave a mess of footprints around the cache to keep things interesting. I would be one of those cachers that leaves a maze of footprints behind in case someone would be following in my footsteps. We never know, right? hehe. 

Double The Workout!

Walking through deep snow can give the body a great workout. Your legs will definitely be doing some double pumping by the time you finished your Geocaching Hunt. Snowshoes are always a great add-on to your winter geocaching fun. It's another great way to get out with the family and have a day filled with fun in the forest. Where I live in Canada we have some events that get other cachers out in snowshoes and skis to hunt for some winter caches that get hidden during the winter months. It keeps the game going, often the older caches freeze over and they lid becomes very difficult to remove. There are many other things to do in the meantime to keep the Geocaching spirit going, try finishing some puzzles or maybe you can work on some swag you want to leave in some Geocaches you will find when the weather warms up again. 

No bugs!!

This one is easy, who doesn't like a bug free hike in the forest? I sure know I love the bug free time of the year. 

New Challenges

Getting a Geocache out from the frozen ground Winter 2018

Winter caching requires a different type of performance than when out summer caching. Often Geocaches can be hidden well in Everygreens, under rocks, under bridges, you name it. The location chosen to hide a Geocache can vary and be very unique depending on the cache owner. Bringing a shovel and other digging tools would be a great idea to bring with you during your Geocaching hunt. Some geocaches get buried pretty far under the white blanket of snow making it difficult to locate the cache, but if you're determined and have the time you can always dig your way to the Cache making the game turn into a real-life treasure hunt during the winter months, it's a lot of fun. 

When the winter comes around often you start seeing a lot of winter friendly caches keeping the game interesting all year round. 

Geocaching in the winter can be a lot of fun, I wish everyone who played this hobby had the chance to try it out at least once. 

-33c/ This was me claiming our very first our of province Geocache for our souvenir. Winter 2018

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my blog! 😊

* Happy Caching *

Don't forget to tag us on your geocaching adventures on Instagram we would love to hear about your cache stories 

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Famous Tobacco Container

Hello Cachers!

The Famous tobacco container!

How do you feel about Tobacco Containers being used as Geocaches? They seem to be very popular containers used as Geocaching containers in the area we Geocache. 

When I first started Geocaching I was curious about all the sorts of Geocaches I would encounter along the way. There are many common types of Geocaches out there, and many unique ones that you will only find a few times during your entire travels, however, some cache owners like to keep the game as simple as it can be. I'm always surprised when I find a new type of cache container I have not found in the past. Some cache owners are very creative and others it's more on the simple side of things. Either way, it doesn't matter, the game remains just as fun. We all love finding treasure and earning a smiley.

What are the common cache types you find in your area? Leave us a comment below! 😊

There are literally hundreds or thousands of different things you can use to hide your Geocache in. The creative side is all up to you. You would only need to make sure the container you decide to chose will survive all elements of nature, like rain, snow, wind, etc,  you want to seel everything up in waterproof ziplock too that will help keep everything dry and safe. 

Some containers make better Geocache homes than others but one Geocache container you may come across is the famous plastic Tobacco can cache container. This one seems to be very popular in the area were I Geocache. Many Cache Owners will get a hold of one of these containers, they will clean them out and use them as a cache container. They are regular in size and make great containers that hide very well in the forested areas. These containers are ideal because they have a screw on top cover, and are very easily hangable by rope or wire. 
Many of these containers are covered by a camo tape or paint to make them less visible to muggles. 
As we know Geocaching.com does has rules when it comes to hiding Geocaching in Tobacco can type Geocaching containers. The container would need to be rinsed and cleaned out very well to make sure there is not any tobacco residue left inside the container. Once that is done then you're good to go and the container can now be used. I have never hidden a Geocache yet, 2018 goal of the year when it comes to Geocaching. I doubt I would ever use a Tobacco container as when top lid would break eventually with it being open and closed so often, however, I do believe it could be an okay container to use when starting off. 

Just hanging there, Summer tobacco cache container / 2017
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This tobacco container is one that we got the chance to find during the summer of 2017. We decided to hunt for a series of Geocaches hidden along a wooded trail. Most Geocaches during this series were all placed in Tobacco containers and had been hidden during the spring of 2012. They were all dry and taking care of minus they could be re-hidden a little better but other than that they seem to be decent containers to use to hide your treasure in.
Not all were dry and perfect some that we did find were moist an damp, therefore I am unsure about this sorts of the container being used to hide Geocaches in. Where I live winter months are what we see most if the Geocache gets wet and freeze it's no fun to find during the cold months.Many Geocachers in Canada like to try to make their Geocaches winter friendly to help the game go on all year round.

Cemetery Cache Container / Summer 2017
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During a travel to the countryside during the summer months, we stopped for an easy park and grab at a very old cemetery. The cache was hiding very well inside a hole in the tree. Nothing inside the cache was wet or damaged, it was hidden very well in a hole in the tree. 
I don't think this type of container would be a container that I would pick when the time comes in hiding our first Geocache. If you do use this container as a form of home for your Geocache what are your tips for keeping it safe from the weather elements? 

A little tip I was able to get when talking with cache owners that have used this method to hide geocaches is that you want to make sure to tie the string or rope to the base of the tobacco container and not the lid. It happens sometimes that the lid pops off when wear and tear of the container and if you use the lid to tie the string to chances are if that happens you will lose everything inside the container.

What are your thoughts about Cache owners using a Tobacco container as a regular Geocaching container? 

First Tobacco container we find / Summer 2017
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Thank you for reading!
                                                             * Happy Caching *

How To Geocaching Your Way To Great Health This Year?

First blog post of 2018, this is an exciting moment for me! It's the beginning of a New Year and with that comes the New Years Resolutions. Many people aim at setting fitness goals in ways in achieving a better health. Not only is Geocaching an amazing hobby to play with friends and family but it's also amazing for your health and a great way of keeping a healthy lifestyle. Nowadays people are running around the city catching Pokemon and hatching eggs, which is a great way to keep the body moving, but how did people stay in shape the old-fashion way and still get to travel around the countryside searching for hidden objects? They played an awesome game called Geocaching. 

Read my other blog post HERE on what exactly Geocaching is all about. 

In this blog post, I want to discuss the benefits of Geocaching for your physical and mental health. We've noticed a difference in our own health since we started Geocaching, getting outdoors and walking, moving the body around is very important for your well being. It's also been a great way for us to keep our children interested in exploring and being outdoors hiking with us. It's  a family hobby we all have fallen in love with. 

How Can You Get Healthy By Geocaching?

Geocaching can be a great way to get outdoors and gradually start enjoying some physical activity. With time you can always go further with how often you go outdoors to hunt for Geocaches. Remeber to take it easy if you're only starting off if you're an expert you probably already understand your bodies limits. You can even throw Geocaching into your daily workout routines to keep everything interesting. If you do want to use Geocaching as a way to get fit and better your lifestyle I'd try and aim to add Geocaching to your schedule at least once a week for a minimum of 2.5 hours. Try working towards your diet when not Geocaching, for example, try adding Fresh fruits and vegetables to your daily diet. Always remember to bring a bottle of water with you when out Geocaching, it's important to keep the body hydrated. 

Staying active is one of the most important things your body needs, it's important for your health and wellness. Ever since we started Geocaching I find walks and hikes in the forest a lot more fun, often I don't pay attention to the distance I am hiking and realize at the end how much I have accomplished which often surprises me. It definitely is a great way to keep the time moving quickly. Walking regularly can have tremendously positive impacts on the overall health and well-being after I got addicted to Geocaching walking trails is almost all I wanted to do. 

Benefits Of Walking With Nature

There are so many benefits from walking outdoor with Nature on top of getting some exercise while out treasure hunting. Whenever you're feeling down or sluggish it's always great to " walk it off ", it's a great stress-releasing method. I'm always happy and smiling when out in the woods this theory definitely is something I can relate to. Taking a walk in nature is associated with a whole host of mental health benefits. It helps decrease depression, improves the well-being and mental health, and lowers stress. Walking is something that is inexpensive along with Geocaching, I find both go great together in helping keep the body healthy and strong for the future. It's a low-risk exercise that almost anyone of any shape and size can do combined with the nature setting it can be very powerful as a stress buster. Most people today live in the city and spend not enough time outside in green, natural spaces than people did when my great grandparents were roaming the world. Geocaching allows you the chance to step away from the city and explore the trails and forest outside of the city. 

Next time you and your family are looking for something fun to do that is going to be rewarding for your health, why not try a little Geocaching in a local trail, explore and have fun while getting some exercise. 

Top 10 Favorite Geocaches We Liked From 2017

Hello, Geocachers!

This year has been an amazing year that is sadly coming to an end. We have seen so many unique and amazing Geocaches throughout the year, and look forward to all the upcoming geocaches waiting to be found.  

We took a look through our pictures and talked it over together. We wanted to create a list of the top 10 Geocaches we liked best during 2017. For those of you who don't know this year has been the year that started the entire Geocaching journey for us. We had no idea what this was before accidentally finding our first Geocache during the summer of 2017.

To read about our first Geocache find click HERE. 

Since discovering our first Geocaching we have been hooked to the game, we find it's so much fun and a great way to spend the day outdoors. 

We love how easily Geocaching can be played in any part of the world, it doesn't matter where you travel to either, there will always be some Geocaches waiting to be found. Even if its a small walk in a local park or trail, your chances are high in finding a treasure. 

I loved getting my kids ideas and input on which Geocaches they loved most of this year. Leave us a comment or tag us on Instagram letting us know which Geocaches you loved most this year. We would love to hear your stories! 😊

1. The Dream Tunnel
Sometimes you just have to trust your GPS, when we arrived at this location I was hesitant to climb inside this tunnel in hopes to find a Geocache. When I asked my son which Geocache he loved best, the first one he shouted was the dream tunnel cache we had to crawl through it in order to claim a smiley. We hunted for this one in Autumn while taking a family drive to the apple orchard. I had read about this geocache for some time, however, I was way too afraid to try it out. When we were out in the area, I thought we could at least go see it. We got there and my son had no fears and was so eager in going inside the tunnel to find the Geocache. We had the gear we needed in order to climb in. We took our flashlight and peeked inside, the cache was not too far in. Far enough to give you chills if you're afraid of small spaces, which I am. Once the cache was spotted there was no turning back we wanted to add our names to the other courageous tunnel climbers. My son came out of the tunnel with the biggest smile on his face saying it was so much fun and he wanted to go back inside to do it all over again. Geocaching gives you the chance to overcome certain fears.We claimed the Geocache and overcame a fear together. This was a fun experience I was so happy to have gotten the chance to share it with my son. My kids spoke about this one for days.

2. The button in a tree
Just looking at this picture brings a smile to my face. Deep down we all want to be treasure hunters, my son definitely was feeling that during this find when he was the one to spot this Geocache before anyone else. This may seem like a simple Geocache to other cachers, but the story behind this one is worth sharing. We were all walking around looking for the Geocache, no one could find it at all. We spent almost a half hour searching all over the place for it. We then heard a small giggle and a "found it"! My son was laughing at all the adults because each one of us passed in front of this Geocache multiple times without even seeing it. He walked in that area after us and spotted it within seconds. He's a pro at this game! I wonder if we ever would have found this Geocaching without his helpful eyes.

To see the video of this geocache click Here

3. The Magnetic Bolt
This Geocache was found during the summer of 2017, it was such an awesome hide. This Geocache definitely had us feeling like a super spy. We really liked having the chance to find it. It took us two trie's to find this cache, that how well it was hidden. We had gone a first time with zero luck. We could just not find it at all. Plus the area chosen by the cacher owner was in the middle of the main bike path. Very dangerous area for muggles to see you. We had to be very cautious and pay close attention to our surroundings. I had watched a video online and seen one just like this. I returned to this Geocache and was amazed when I saw how the geocache was hidden. This Geocache was perfectly placed behind the cement barrier where the stop sign for the bike trail is. The magnetic bolt rested between both dividers behind the stop sign making it impossible to see. You needed to squeeze your hand behind the pole to reach it and pull it out for the logbook to be accessible. It was such a great hide we loved it a lot! I couldn't belive how a Geocacher can squeeze a tiny log book inside of there! So cool!

To see video of this geocache click HERE

4. Puzzle cache
We had a lot of fun this year solving our first puzzle Geocache. We were always hesitant when coming across a puzzle cache because they seemed so complicated. We decided one day to give it a try to see what they were about. For our first puzzle cache, it was a lot of fun to solve. First, when we arrived at Ground Zero we needed to locate the container that held all the details to solve the puzzle and unlock the larger container holding the logbook and Swag. The smaller container held blocks that spelled out the word Geocaching each letter corresponding to a number that was used to unlock the lock. With a couple attempts, we were able to unlock the container and sign the logbook. We had a lot of fun doing this puzzle cache and can't wait to see the other ones we will find in the new year.  

5.Shoe in tree cache
This Geocache was right in plain sight. We could see it from the side of the road that's how obvious it was. We walked under it several times before realizing it may be the cache. Who would have thought a pair of old steel toe boots would be used as a way to hide a Geocache. It took us some time to figure out what we could use in order to get the Geocache down in its 10 feet hideout spot. Everything we needed was within 6 meters from Ground Zero, we found a long branch that other geocachers had used laying beside a tree that was long enough to reach the boots and knock them down from the tree. The fun part was getting the shoes back up in the tree. With several attempts and lots of laughs, we managed to throw them high enough for them to grab hold to the branch again and rest in its home until another Geocacher comes to find it. My daughter insisted on us adding her favourite stuffed animal in the photo, her my little pony, pinkie pie that comes to on our Geocaching adventures. 

6. Pully In The Tree 
This was a family favourite Geocache, we needed to walk a small hike in the forest to locate this Geocache. It required a little work to release the rope. My kids loved this one a lot because they got to help untie the rope and release the cache from way up high in the tree. Watching the cache slowly lower from the tree was exciting.I love how Geocaching takes you walking down trails and paths that you never would have walked or explored without heading out that way searching for a Geocache. It's a great way to discover the world we live in.

To See The Video Of ThGeocache Click Here 

7. Zipline In The Middle Of Nowhere
Just the name of this cache made the hike very exciting, we all were so excited to get to this one to see what it all was about. We had never found a Geocache that was made as a zipline before. When we arrived at the geocache one of us needed to release the geocache while the others waited at the bottom of the hill for the container to zip through the woods. We were surprised to see a little monkey zipped through the forest as he hung on the weights and delivered the Geocache to us. This was so much fun my kids shouted as we signed the logbook. I love when Geocachers take you to unique places and bring you to different caches that you don't see all the time. It definitely keeps the game fun and very interesting.  

To See The Video To This Geocache Click HERE

8. Magic House Key
These Geocaches are fairly common when solving a puzzle cache, however, we had never seen one like this before and really like being able to solve it. We had seen it appear several times on youtube Geocaching Channels, but we had never found one before. This was our very first magnetic key cache. We had a fun time drawing the pattern with the magnetic cache to solve the combination that helped solve the code that opened the door to the box. We got the chance to add our name to the other Geocachers that found this awesome cache. For a child this almost seems like magic. 

9. The Fake Log
I love the creative side to this Geocache and the work put in it for it to be able to look so real and like there is nothing out of the ordinary hidden the woods. Just a regular log hanging around. We walked up to this geocache and searched the entire area for several minuted without being able to find anything. I was standing on this log watching my children search the area as I looked up in the high branches. The log wiggled making me tumble off of it then  I knew there was something up with this log! I was so shocked when I moved the top part and seen that there was a Geocaching container inside for us to sign and that this log I was standing on was actually, in fact, the Geocache we had been looking for it had been almost thirty minutes. We all laughed afterwards, this was a fun experience. 

10. First Geocache we find of 2017 that started it all
This is one of the most simple Geocaches you will see out there while searching for Geocaches. You're probably wondering why I would post this Geocache on the list of our top10. We started Geocaching in 2017 during the Summer and this is the Geocache that started the entire journey for us. From this Geocache we have been addicted to the game, we love setting out for a Geocache adventure. They always lead to so much fun. This geocache is very special to us as its where everything started. Click HERE if you want to read more about our first find and the story behind this find. We were out enjoying a nice family hike out along the ocean floor when we accidentally found this Geocache while trying to get a better view of a waterfall.On tops of finding a Geocache, this was a Letterbox cache, at the time we had no idea what this game was and how it was played. We have since then returned to this Geocache to log it properly. We are so happy to have learnt about this new game called Geocache and cannot wait to see what the new year of 2018 has in store for us. We look forward to every new adventure that waits for us. 

These are the top 10 Geocaches we liked finding this year. Each Geocache was a lot of fun to find but these were the ones we liked the best. We started the entire Geocaching journey in 2017, this is when it all started for us. We can't wait to see what 2018 has in store for us and to see the new Geocaches we will be able to find. Being able to create this list for other Geocachers out there was a lot of fun. We can't wait to compare with the upcoming finds. Do you have any Geocaches you liked most this year?  Leave a comment below telling us or tag us in your favourite 2017 find on Instagram. You can find us HERE, we would love for reading your stories. 

Thank you so much for reading!

Happy Caching and Happy New year from Everyday.Fun.Day! We hope you find happiness, health and many many geocaches to make the best memories of 2018!

Geocaching Camping Trip Summer 2017

Hello Cachers! 

I often wish I could camp all year round that's how much I love being outdoors under the stars and surrounded by trees. When the colder months arrive I love to sit back and remember those fun camping trips. All the amazing memories that were made.
Camping is a great way to spend summer break. Both my kids are always so excited when they hear that we're planning a camping trip. We try to head out as often as we can when the warm weather starts, we have many cool days where we live that we love to take advantage of as many camping days as we can get. Before setting out we made a list of activities we wanted to do while spending some time out in the forest. I find camping and Geocaching are two activities that go perfectly together. Family camping with children can be challenging on its own, but I believe with the right preparation and planning it's something you and your family could love doing. I hope after reading my blog post you will be able to add some of our activities to your camping trip making it a smooth and pleasant activity for your entire family. 

Summer of 2017 was the first year we got to go camping all while Geocaching. It was loads of fun and a great way to see lots of new places. If you're unsure what Geocaching is! No worries, click HERE to read more and find out how we got addicted to this hobby. We went out for a weekend trip with the kids, everyone was so excited to be in a new area, being able to find new Geocachers was definitely exciting for everyone. The great thing about Geocaching is, no matter which campsite you decide to camp at as there is bound to be some Geocaches hidden in your neck of the woods, and you can go find some caches any time of the day or night or day or the week making this hobby very convenient and family friendly. 

The first thing we did when we arrived at the campsite was set up the tent and unpack the car. The kids raced around gathering sticks and twigs for the fire, keeping them busy is a must when out camping. We bring zero gadgets, everything is planned heads of time to keep them entertained the entire trip. We like bringing a game of ring toss with us, that keeps my two kids entertained for hours and it's loads of fun to play. Plastic bowling is another fun activity we loved playing while in the tent lot. Camping Bingo is a must, my kids look forward to playing this game while outside under the trees. We try to stay busy as much as we can. 

Our favourite trail we got to hike was the Bog Trail. This was a beautiful trail in the forest that lead us to a lookout, there was also a Geocache hidden at the very top. We hiked 1.8km into the bog trail, the terrain was very easy and flat which made it perfect for the little hikers. I find bogs are mysterious places. We had never walked a bog before, this was a fun experience thanks to Geocaching. During this hike we got the chance to learn some pretty cool info about the bog, we learnt that Carnivorous plants grow in bogs and that the short shaggy trees may actually be much older than those found in the forest. The plants growing in the bog are floating on top of a pool of dead or very well preserved sphagnum moss. You really want to stay on the wooded trail or you may end up losing a shoe in the squishy dirt. The first part of the bog crossed the forest leading you to a 6-meter spiral staircase.

 We had the chance to climb to the very top of the lookout, being at the top of the lookout gave you eagle eyes of the entire bog. It was so huge and covered a large area of land. Many people get the opportunity to see moose early in the morning, we arrived as it started raining and were not able to see any moose. Maybe next year! You can follow the trail and explore the entire depths of the bog which is really spectacular to see. All through the trail, you can find interpretive panels, which can be very helpful for the little one's curious minds. My children are very curious these signs come in handy as we stop to read each one. I love how Geocaching is a great hobby that can be done anywhere, anytime and it's something the entire family can enjoy without it costing you too much money. 

We got to find a Travel Bug in the Geocache that was hidden at the very top of the lookout. We found it was neat to have a trackable follow us during our camping adventures. A trackable is a tag you attach to an item that then becomes a hitchhiker that travels from cache to cache with you. We found the travel bug a new home (Geocache) before the camping trip came to an end.  

The remaining of the day included a walk to the beach to explore. We ended up seeing a huge jellyfish, there was a guided tour on the oceanfront for the kids to enjoy. They got the chance to learn so many things about the marine life. Did you know a jellyfish isn't even a fish? They're invertebrates or animal with no backbones. The water was very cold, no one wanted to go in, touching your toes in the shallow end was good enough for us. 

By the time darkness hit my children were exhausted by all the exploration they got to do. We came back to the campsite and started with a bonfire. A bonfire is a must during a camping trip, my kids wait all day for this time. The entire trip they ask several times 'when is it bonfire time'. 
Roasting marshmallows and making smores are fun things we love doing the fire. We love sharing spooky stories and talking about the fun things we liked doing during the day. What are some bonfire favourites you like doing with your family? 

Geokids enjoying roasting some marshmallows on the fire. Be sure to check out a future blog post of all other fun activities we like to do while camping.

The following day we got to hike the last trail before making ends to the camping trip. This trail was more challenging for the little hikers, they surprise me with how well they enjoy hiking the more rugged trails. This 5 km trail had five Geocaches perfectly hidden in different spots allowing you to see different views of the trail. It was a beautiful experience. 

 We had so much fun finding all five of these Geocaches hidden so well in the forest. On the way home, we had the chance to make rest stop allowing us to find a few Geocaches on the way back. I like being able to plan my route ahead of time, it allows me to create a favourites list of the Geocaches I want to find during the Camping trip. I like being able to stop at a rest spot to pull out the BBQ and make a quick meal for the family all while finding a Geocache at the same time. Often Geocachers will hide a Geocache at a rest spot knowing a travelling cacher will most likely stop to stretch their legs at one of those rest areas. 

We arrived home when the sun was setting, we often plan camping trips for a couple days at a time with our children since we all love it so much. This trip was a little shorter as it was planned towards the end of the Summer months. We had a great time exploring and enjoyed being able to add Geocaching to our camping trips. We can't wait for the next camping adventures in 2018. 

When was the last time you went camping? I recommended camping as often as you can, it definitely is a great experience certainly with your children. It leaves everyone with so many memories. I'm thankful I was able to experience such fun this year and see so many new areas all thanks to Geocaching.

Thank you for reading! Happy Caching! 

Cache In Trash Out Event

Cache In Trash out Event Summer 2017

My children are often the ones who remind me how important it is to keep the earth clean. Whenever we're out walking or hiking and they see some garbage laying on the ground they're usually the first to pick it up and throw it in the trash can or garbage bag we bring with us on our adventures. My kids obviously know the earth is a living thing and want to help make it better. When I heard about the Cache in Trash out Event I know this would be a perfect event to attend, the entire family had a lot of fun participating in this, I recommend it to all Geocachers out there. 

If you're not familiar with the CITO event "cache in trash out" you came to the right spot to find out more. We always love finding new ways to help keep the earth cleaner and trails we love better for the wildlife that lives in there too. I never knew Geocaching held such thing before being able to attend a CITO event like this during the summer of 2017 with my hubby and kids. We had so much fun being able to give back to the community and the earth by cleaning up some local trails with other Geocachers. Who knew this would be so much fun! For those who've never heard about this, I'll explain it all so we can get you also on the path for some CITO fun! I love teaching my geokids about tips and tricks on how to help save the earth, I found this event was perfect for them to learn and see others of all ages help keep the earth clean and healthier for every living being to enjoy. 

Taking care of the earth is important to our well being.There are so many little things we can do to help out in having a healthier planet, for example, we could use reusable bags, use reusable water bottles, shop in bulk, create your very own compost the list goes on as there are so many things you could do, this event was perfect for anyone wanting to give a helping hand in making a difference. 
Now, let's explain what the Cache in Trash Out Event Stands for; Cache in Trash out is an environmental initiative supported by the geocaching community to help keep the earth cleaner. The very first CITO event was held in 2002 and had helped preserve the natural beauty of cache-friendly spaces in the world. I find it feels great to be able to help out and take part in such great event, every little bit counts and makes a difference. My kids had a great time being able to be little helpers, its great to have them want to help keep the trails and areas we like to enjoy cleaner for everyone. Know that you understand what the Cache in Trash out Event is about I highly recommend you attending one in your area, it's a great experience that's perfect for the entire family to take part in. My children often remind us that the earth is our home and we all need to appreciate, respect and love our home. 
A friendly green tip, when heading out for a hike or Geocaching hike bring a bag with you to collect the garbage you may find along the way, it's an easy way to help make a difference and turn an every day Geo day into a mini CITO event for you, your friends and family, whoever you go Geocaching with can enjoy this. 😊 

How to find a CITO Event near you?
You can always check your local Geocaching community blog or website to see when the next Cache in Trash out event will be held in your area.

Did You Know: Since 2002, more than 240,000 people have volunteered at 11,000 CITO events!
CITO events can be very 
rewarding, twice per year geocachers can earn a virtual souvenir ( we will talk about those later) by hosting and attending events during the CITO weeks. You can check www.geocaching.com for the next CITO week. 

Why would you want to attend a CITO Event?

Geokids helping pick up garbage
at the CITO event 2017

Geokids helping pick up garbage
at the CITO event 2017

By attending a CITO event you're helping keep the earth you live in clean and healthier. Earth is our only home we all should want to do a small action each day in trying to keep the Earth healthier and cleaner. That's why Geocachers and the Geocaching community work hard together to improve parks and the outdoor environments. During the CITO event, we got the opportunity to attend a local trail clean up and helped clean up the litter we found on the trail and in the nearby park. Other CITO events may include planting some trees, removing invasive species, build trails and a lot more. 

You can CITO every day, How?
You can CITO on every geocaching adventure. Pick up garbage you see on the trails and around each Geocache you will find. Geocachers often love cleaning an area better than how they found it. I know this happens to me and my little helpers who love giving back to the great outdoors. Imagine how cleaner the trails, the outdoor in general would be if all hikers and outdoor lovers did a little bit of this each time they set outside on an adventure? I believe the world would improve its natural beauty. 

Most places are okay for you to clean up trash from however there are other landowners that you will need to ask permission to before cleaning up on their land. Be sure not to wander in area's that are off-limits while out on CITO event. 

Wondering what you should bring to a CITO event?
This all depends on the duration of the event, try to find out how long you will be cleaning to have a better idea of what to bring, however, if you want to plan ahead here's a list of things we bring when heading out for a CITO event; 

• Drinking water is something you will want to have with you to keep hydrated.
• Trash bags to collect the garbage that you will find
• Gloves 
• First aid, after bite, bug spray, sunscreen
• Special stick to pick up paper and grosser items
• Snacks for when your hungry
• Camera to take pictures to share with other Geocachers 
• Towel to help clean yourself up when you're finished

These events normally last for a couple hours, some may even last longer depending on the area looking to be cleaned by the host. Each person decides for how long they want to help, every little bit makes a big difference. I find it's great that Geocachers have created a CITO event, it's important to have communities like this. Earth gives us everything we need to live happily, being able to give back to the planet felt like a way we could say thank you for everything it does for us daily. We look forward to attending the upcoming CITO Events in our community.

Thank you so much for reading! *Happy Caching*


Don't forget to share your experience online 😊 
After you cleaned up from giving your share of hard work and time in cleaning up the trails and parks in your area, you also have the opportunity to share your experience and stories with other Geocachers online, be sure to take lots of pictures. Don't forget to sign back online to log the event to keep track of it in your records and to claim your souvenir for attending the event. I never imagined having so much fun attending a CITO event, it's also a great way to meet other Geocachers.