EarthCache Frequently Asked Questions

How is an EarthCache different from a virtual cache?

EarthCaches are in effect a type of virtual cache. They have no physical container or log book. However, EarthCaches are different from other virtual caches in so much as they teach the visitor something about the site. An EarthCache is not just a scenic view or a locality. They present some lesson on how that place formed, about why that place is important scientifically or what that site can tell us about our planet.

There are some virtual caches that already do that. Will they be converted to EarthCaches?

There are some virtual caches that have been developed in the past that would make great EarthCaches. The owner of these caches needs to check the guidelines, make any updates then contact the EarthCache Master and request that their existing cache be converted to an EarthCache.

Why do EarthCaches have to be virtual caches?

The object of an EarthCache is to learn something about our planet. The reward is the lesson, not the trinkets in the container. Also, many EarthCaches are being developed in places where it is against the law to leave a container, such as in National Parks and at Geological Monuments.

Why do EarthCaches have this additional approval stage?

Due to the educational nature of EarthCaches, they are checked for their suitability before that are submitted to geocaching.com. The level of the language, the educational merit, logging requirements and other factors against the guidelines are assessed.

Why is it that Americans are approving caches from other countries?

EarthCaches all have one fundamental goal — to educate the visitor. This is judged by the EarthCache team, which happens to part of the Geological Society of America. The EarthCache Master is Australian, and has a small group of people internationally who discuss the appropriateness of some caches.

Are all EarthCaches that are submitted approved?

No. EarthCaches have to meet some solid guidelines. About 60% of submitted EarthCaches are approved in the first round. Many are sent back to the developers for reworking. Some suggestions may be given to how the text needs to be changed to be approved.

I submitted an EarthCache and it now exisits on Geocaching.com, but not under MY name?

Once an EarthCache is approved it is sent to Geocaching.com. This is done under the 'geoaware' name. You will be sent an adoption request via the geocaching.com website. You must accept this to obtain ownership of your EarthCache. Earthcaches that are not adopted after a month are archived.

Can we develop EarthCaches in National Parks and other public land?

EarthCaches can be developed on public land only if you have the prior approval of the local land manager. Most land managers, once they are told that concept and that no physical container will be left behind, are happy to have an EarthCache in their park, forest etc. We would suggest however, that you develop EarthCaches in partnership with the land managers, to ensure that sensitive areas are avoided, that multi-cache concepts are used with waypoints to keep people on trails and that cache-in-trash-out is advertised.

Caches of any description that are developed on public land without prior approval are undesirable, and on some land illegal.

Can I develop an EarthCache in a cave area?

Cave areas are very sensitive. For this reason EarthCaches developed around caves in North America will go through an additional approval stage with the National Speleological Society to ensure that research and other factors are not being affected by people visiting the cache.

Can I develop an EarthCache as part of a museum or other exhibit?

EarthCaches are a great tool for outdoor museums and other groups to provide an outdoor learning experience for their visitors. EarthCaches cannot be however inside Museums or visitor centres and need to be accessiable after hours. EarthCaches developed that require people to pay an entry fee will be discouraged.

Can an EarthCache be in other languages besides English?

EarthCaches need to be in the language of the county in which they sit. However, as many will be visited by international visitors, we request that the cache notes also be in English. All submissions must include english text.

Can I add technical notes for those visitors who are more scientific?

EarthCaches need to cater for those people who do not have scientific training. The language should not contain scientific jargon or terms unless these terms are explained. However, once an educational explanation of the site is written to meet these guidelines, more detailed or technical information is very welcome.

What do I need to have people do to log an EarthCache?

As EarthCaches are educational, visitors should log some aspect of their visit that shows they have learnt something from their visit, like a direction, size of a feature etc. These answers can be emailed to the developer. Also, photographs of visits are strongly encouraged and the number of people who were in the group. A typical log statement might be:

"To log your visit send a photograph of your group at the site and email the answer to the above question to developer@who.com"