 International Geocaching Logo | |
| Nicknames | Caching, treasure hunting |
|---|---|
| First played | May 3, 2000[1] Beavercreek, Oregon, U.S. |
| Characteristics | |
| Team members | Optional |
| Type | Recreational activity |
| Equipment | GPS receiver or GPS-enabled mobile device, writing implement |
| Presence | |
| Country or region | Worldwide |
Geocaching (/ˈdʒiːoʊkæʃɪŋ/, JEE-oh-KASH-ing) is an outdoor recreational activity, in which participants use a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver or mobile device and other navigational techniques to hide and seek containers, called geocaches or caches, at specific locations marked by coordinates all over the world.[2] The first geocache was placed in 2000, and by 2023 there were over 3 million active caches worldwide.[3]
Geocaching can be considered a location-based game. A typical cache is a small waterproof container containing a logbook and sometimes a pen or pencil.[4] The geocacher signs the log with their established code name/username and dates it, in order to prove that they found the cache. After signing the log, the cache must be placed back exactly where the person found it. Larger containers such as plastic storage containers (Tupperware or similar) or ammo boxes can also contain items for trading, such as toys or trinkets, usually of more sentimental worth than financial.[5] Geocaching shares many aspects with benchmarking, trigpointing, orienteering, treasure hunting, letterboxing, trail blazing, and another type of location-based game called Munzee.
- ^ BBC (April 29, 2009). "Geocaching". BBC. Archived from the original on September 8, 2019. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
- ^ Geocaching. "Geocaching - The Official Global GPS Cache Hunt Site". Geocaching. Archived from the original on September 28, 2019. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
- ^ "Fast Facts". Geocaching Newsroom. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
- ^ Geocaching. "Geocaching - The Official Global GPS Cache Hunt Site". Geocaching. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
- ^ Society, National Geographic (January 21, 2011). "geocaching". National Geographic Society. Archived from the original on September 20, 2021. Retrieved December 29, 2016.