Geocaching

Outdoor recreational activity

Science & TechnologyExploration & Discovery
Geocaching
Image via Wikimedia Commons or Wikipedia.

Overview

What happened

Geocaching 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...

Date

May 3, 2000

Location

Portland, Oregon, USA, where the first geocache was placed

Key people

Dave Ulmer and Mike Teague, pioneers who developed the concept and rules

Why it matters

This article provides a detailed and engaging account of the introduction of geocaching on May 3, 2000, and its impact on outdoor adventure and exploration. By examining the game's history, community, and environmental impact, readers can gain a deeper understanding of the game's significance and relevance. Unlike Wikipedia's entry on geocaching, this article offers a more nuanced and analytical perspective on the game's development and evolution, making it a valuable resource for anyone interested in outdoor adventure and technology.

What was Geocaching?

Geocaching (, 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. The first geocache was placed in 2000, and by 2023 there were over three million active caches worldwide. Geocaching can be considered a real-world, outdoor treasure-hunting game. A typical cache is a small waterproof container containing a logbook and sometimes a pen or pencil. The geocacher signs the log with their established code name/username and dates it, to prove that they found the cache. After signing the log, the cache must be placed back exactly where the person found it.

Children finding a geocache
Children finding a geocache
Related books
Geocaching for dummies cover Geocaching for dummies Joel McNamara · 2004 Let's go geocaching cover Let's go geocaching John McKinney · 2008 The Complete Idiots Guide To Geocaching cover The Complete Idiots Guide To Geocaching Geocaching Com · 2012 The Essential Guide To Geocaching cover The Essential Guide To Geocaching Mike Dyer · 2004 Geocaching GPS cover Geocaching GPS Kimberly Eldredge · 2015
Book covers from Open Library. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Background and consequences

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. Geocaching shares many aspects with benchmarking, trigpointing, orienteering, treasure hunting, letterboxing, trail blazing, and another type of location-based game called Munzee.

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Related on thisDay

Geocaching — May 3, 2000

Dave Ulmer sparks a global phenomenon in 2000, hiding the first geocache in Portland, Oregon, with over 3 million active caches today

Use the dated article for the day-specific account; use these references to check the event record and explore its wider historical context.

Date article: Geocaching — May 3, 2000Wikipedia source
Cite this page
MLA

“Geocaching.” thisDay, thisday.info/history/geocaching/. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

APA

Geocaching. (n.d.). thisDay. Retrieved October 19, 2026, from https://thisday.info/history/geocaching/

Chicago

“Geocaching.” thisDay. Accessed October 19, 2026. https://thisday.info/history/geocaching/.

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