Rebecca:

I have done only a little geocaching so others may be able to speak to this better.

The "treasure" to be found is placed in a container.  The container is not really buried but hidden someplace.  The idea for most caches is to find the container, take a trinket placed inside, leave a new trinket in its place and sometimes write an entry in a journal left in the container, a message for future geocachers.  We've found caches under fallen logs, in the weeds along a fence line, etc.  The most common container I have seen is a steel ammunition can.  One time it was a drywall bucket and lid painted black.  It's quite a bit of fun if the person who planted the cache has left good clues.  Its never so easy as just walking up to the GPS coordinates.  It's also good family fun that can occupy early teens, including boys.  Not many other activities can claim that. For some sites, this kind of activity may be the kind of thing that brings in more bodies.

You can indeed find out more info on geocaching at http://www.geocaching.com/  On the left hand side if you click on "Getting Started" and then on the "The Geocaching FAQ" you will learn all of the basics about the activity.  Among the pages is http://www.geocaching.com/about/hiding.aspx which lists the standard rules for placing caches.  If people are actually digging up the earth and burying containers, then they are woefully uneducated about the hobby and you have every right to keep them away.  However, I suspect that the vast majority of cachers would respect the wishes of property owners to not place caches and are very respectful of the properties they hunt on.  Don't judge them all by the actuions of a few.  The problem is always the few rotten eggs... (hunters, drivers, priests, exhibit curators)

However, I can see where this could be a problem for some sites if it increases traffic in areas sensitive to foot traffic or disrupts other activities.  

Hope this helps,

Dan Bartlett
Curator of Exhibits
Midway Village & Museum Center
Rockford, IL



---------- Original Message ----------------------------------
From:         "Smith, Rebecca L" <[log in to unmask]>
Reply-To:     Museum discussion list <[log in to unmask]>
Date:          Fri, 7 Apr 2006 15:29:46 -0400

>Hello to all:
>
>Have any of you heard of or been involved with "geocaching?" If not, it 
>is kind of like a glorified treasure hunt using a GPS device to find 
>"buried treasure." To learn more, you can access: www.geocaching.com.
>
>What I am wondering is if any of you have had any experience with these 
>people digging for treasure on your site. We have had a request for 
>someone to bury treasure on our site, but are wondering if it is a 
>nuisance or no trouble at all. These people are supposed to ask before 
>they bury on your site, but a site that we are associated with has 
>recently found out that someone has buried treasure on there without 
>asking.
>
>Any thoughts?
>
>Rebecca
>Indiana Medical History Museum
>
>=========================================================
>Important Subscriber Information:
>
>The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).
>
>If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).
>

=========================================================
Important Subscriber Information:

The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).

If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).