How to Make a Geocache Container: Geocaching Boxes For Scavenger Hunts

Odds are if you want to start hiding some geocaching items, you don’t want to spend a lot of money. It can be pretty easy to make homemade geocache containers or geocache boxes as they are often called for very little money.

    There are any number of geocaching containers that you can buy, but you really don’t need to spend too much money to create your own. Creativity is key here. Whether it’s a normal size container, able to fit the logbook and small items, to geocaching micro-containers, you’ll be surprised that you probably have most of the materials in your home or garage.

    All it takes is a little creativity. If Martha Stewart can make a fully operational kitchen out of cardboard and some hot glue, you can make a decent geocache container. You don’t even need a bunch of tools to make this work.

    A geocache container is relatively simple. It needs to be able to hold the logbook, which doesn’t have to be a full 8.5x11 notebook, and the cache item or items. Then, all you need is to search around your house for items you’ve already purchased that would work as geocaching containers. You probably have more in your home that you even realize.

    It’s important to understand that not any item is suitable for use as a geocaching container. This isn’t really a difficult concept to take in, just takes a little common sense. It’s important to remember the environment where you will be hiding your cache and find containers that will be able to survive the elements.

    All containers should be as weatherproof as possible, especially if you are going to do something like Geo Cash is doing. Make sure that the container you choose is going to be waterproof as well. There’s nothing worse than someone finding your cache only to have it ruined by some rain. After all, you will be placing it in the elements, so it should be able to stand up to mother nature a bit. The items inside should be placed in a plastic bag for an extra layer of protection.

    Your container doesn’t need to be dark. Feel free to put a little paint on it or decorate it however you see fit, but a plain see-through container will work just as well. It’s up to you to make sure that you are able to blend it into whatever environment you choose to set it in. So, stay away from bright colors. Even though you’ve always hated your wife’s bright pink Tupperware, you don’t want it to be easily visible from far away. An easy hack for this is to get a little camouflage tape to wrap around the container.

    If your container originally had food in it, you have to wash it thoroughly. Animals have an excellent sense of smell and the last thing you want is to have a curious forest creature rip apart your geocache container thinking there is food inside.

    Duct tape is great for everything. Especially for reinforcing recycled containers that might not be as sturdy as when they were originally bought. Just wrap your container in duct tape, which will also help with waterproofing it, and you’ll have a strong container you can use for pennies.

    Your best bet is anything that has a screw on type of lid. Most people have plenty of these containers taking up too much space in the kitchen cabinets anyway, so this is the perfect time to repurpose those old pasta sauce jars into something useful.

    It’s important that you identify the container as well. All you have to do is just write “Official Geocache” on the outside of the container and you’re good to go. Make sure you put the name of the cache on the outside as well and contact information if it’s for something more formal. Inside, you can just put the log book and the items, all in plastic bags, and a pen or pencil.

    Some items that make excellent geocache containers: peanut butter jars, plastic coffee containers, ammo cans, old thermos, mayo jars, pretzel containers, tennis or racquetball cans with screw on tops, and water bottles. Remember, if it has a screw on lid, you can probably use it. Don’t forget to be extra diligent about rinsing out any food remnants. Once you remove the food, just soak the container in hot water and dish soap overnight. Then you can wash it thoroughly and you’re set.

    If you’re looking to make geocache micro-containers, spice jars are an excellent resource for these. Odds are, you have plenty of these in your kitchen. Even some of the new containers for chewing gum will fit this need as well.

    Just remember, clean them out thoroughly, and be creative. Duct tape is your friend. Now you’re ready to put your cache items out for others to enjoy. 

How to Set up a Geocache Scavenger Hunt: You Need to Start Geocaching

Once you feel comfortable with geocaching, odds are you are going to want to create and hide your own for others to find as well. This is the natural progression of geocaching. It’s important that you get a little experience under your belt, so get out there and find as many different caches as you can. This will give you a little-advanced knowledge on the subject and help you in your quest to set up your own.

How to Get Started Geocaching

Starting is pretty simple. All you need is a GPS, which you can download to any smartphone, some comfortable clothing, and the GPS coordinates. After that, it’s up to you to just get out there and explore. Once you start hiking around nature, enjoying the beautiful views, and hunting for treasure, you’ll be a true fan of geocaching.

How Does Geocaching Work

Geocaching is easy to understand. People place items in a cache box and upload the GPS coordinates to whatever site they are using to host the geocache. Other people register and use the coordinates to go out and find the cache items.

Once you find the items, you will sign the log book, and replace the found items with items of your own of equal or greater value. It’s not rocket science, but it is a ton of fun. You can get the whole family involved and spend a day off the couch and away from the electronics (except for your GPS of course).

You might be asking what do you need for geocaching? Not much really. As mentioned above, all you need is a GPS and the ability to find the cache items.

Setting up your own hunt is pretty easy as well. Just find a good spot for your cache, somewhere near some sort of natural or man-made landmark. Make sure to pick a place that people would enjoy going to even if they weren’t on a geocaching hunt. Select your container, label it, and hide it well. Include some sort of cache description and a log book for people to sign when they find your cache. Use your GPS to find coordinates, mark the waypoint, and list your cache. It’s pretty easy and you’ll be able to enjoy geocaching at a new level. 

How to Create a Geocache: Make and Place Your Own Geocaching Adventure

Part of the fun with geocaching, once you get the taste for it, is making and placing your own geocache containers. How do I create a geocache? Good question. It’s a fairly simple process. The first thing you need to know is how to make your own geocache container.

    All you need for this is a regular household container that you probably have in one of your cupboards. Peanut butter, mayonnaise, and pretzel jars all make great containers. Do you drink coffee? Well, those plastic coffee containers make some excellent geocache containers.

    The key to creating your own container is to make sure you thoroughly clean any remnants of food from the container. You don’t want Bambi and his friends of furry vandals getting a hold of your cache. If they can’t smell the food, it will be left alone.

    Containers with screw-on lids work best. Make sure you wrap the container with duct tape to help strengthen it and protect it from the elements. Camouflage tape works best and it won’t cost you much, since you’re already repurposing a container you have at home.

    Once you have your container, it’s time to create a geocache. Creating a geocache is fairly easy. You just need a couple things. You will need a log book of some sort to put in the container and an item or items that can serve as the “treasure” for the hunters who find your cache.

Read more: How to Make a Geocache Container: Geocaching Boxes For Scavenger Hunts

    What type of cache should I use? Don’t break the bank on these items. After all, the fun is in the adventure. Anything small will work as a geocache item. Guitar picks, plastic soldiers, patches, pins, plastic dinosaurs, matchbox cars, hand warmers, and individual packets of bug repellant all make great cache items.

    How to place a geocache? Placing a cache is pretty simple. Look for areas where you can hide the geocache box where the seekers will have to do a little work to find. Don’t make it so impossible that nobody can find it, but don’t make it too easy either. Under piles of small rocks, inside tree stumps, and in small crevices are all great stash locations. Make them work a little, but don’t make it so difficult they feel let down. Just have fun with all of it, get out there and enjoy.