kid friendly?

As we head out caching we have found that the caches are getting few between for the kids to enjoy. As I pull into a guardrail I hear one of our kids ask "is this a kid one? I want a kid one!". I enjoy doing all caches, for the most part they are atleast unique but what about some that are for the kids to enjoy? Now i have be thinking of placing some new caches that are really out there for the kids, maybe some large caches, because i know how excited they get looking through the swag. So how about creating a kid friendly type challenge for placing some caches they will enjoy.

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Originally Posted by hide_from_the_kids

As we head out caching we have found that the caches are getting few between for the kids to enjoy. As I pull into a guardrail I hear one of our kids ask "is this a kid one? I want a kid one!". I enjoy doing all caches, for the most part they are atleast unique but what about some that are for the kids to enjoy? Now i have be thinking of placing some new caches that are really out there for the kids, maybe some large caches, because i know how excited they get looking through the swag. So how about creating a kid friendly type challenge for placing some caches they will enjoy.

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Sheesh! "Kid friendly"? Even some of us "big kids" enjoy pawing through a box of swag! :D:D (It's even getting hard to find a container big enough to get a TB tag into!)

we can even get the big kids included. whats your favorite type of swag?

My son made me promise no micros the last time we were out caching and it was really hard because we were in Lewiston. I found enough that weren't micros but I had to drive by some micros. It was his day so I did it.

I would love to get some ideas for placing more kids friendly caches. The kids don't neccessarily want something that is too easy to find but the really big caches can be hard to hide. They have a high muggle detection level.

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Originally Posted by hide_from_the_kids

we can even get the big kids included. whats your favorite type of swag?

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Unscratched lottery tickets! LOL!

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Originally Posted by balinda

I would love to get some ideas for placing more kids friendly caches. The kids don't neccessarily want something that is too easy to find but the really big caches can be hard to hide. They have a high muggle detection level.

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Caches don't have to be hard to find. Usually, even little kids can find a cache hidden under a big pile of sticks. Just find a place where there won;t be any muggles...

I think the hardest type of kid friendly location RULOST2? and I have encountered is the cache at the covered bridge. There are usually so many rocks a cache could be behind... It really give the kids a workout.

It is my hope to keep the caches at Hirundo, big and little kid friendly. BUT the black flies and mosquitos need to go first.......they are NOT friendly (as recent finders have noted)!

Wait until the bugs are gone and these caches, for the most part, will be containers which can contain swag. The first one is a Letterbox hybrid so there is an opportunity to teach kids about letterboxing too. The goal is to also put some out for finding in the winter on snowshoes this winter (no bugs then!).

All the caches here in CANAAN, are kid friendly and beginer friendly. They are all in great locations and good coords. OH DEER!!!!! is especially kid friendly.( just check out the logs.) This whole geocaching started as a TREASURE HUNT.Big and Little kids love treasure!!!! Micros are more about the numbers.
OH DEER!!!! ... Lil' Green Cache .... Mummamea ... Way down in the hollow tree ... IN THE BIRCHES ... Slab City and then on to Skowhegan for about 10 more!!!!!!
Opalsns

I agree, even though I don't often take anything from a cache besides sig items, the anticipation of what others have left in caches is great. It makes me feel good about the game when you find a cache full of stuff that someone else may enjoy, especially kids.

To me, kid friendly would mean more than it's safe - if you can consider any guardrail or electrified lamp post safe. If it was up to me to be what defined kid friendly, it would probably be up to .75 mile round trip of relatively safe terrain (and away from traffic and electrical wires) and a mid to large size container, and fun.

Lee and I took my honorary niece and nephew to a few caches in the Trenton area a few weeks ago. We were pleased to see some full size containers and uniquely hidden caches which were easy enough for the kids. We found caches by Ems Daniel, parmachenee, hardwareman, and gilleygirl and the GeoKids. kudos to them for hiding caches suitable and enjoyable for kids.

Lee's new cache is kid friendly as well, was designed to be fun, and takes long enough so you're not taking more time getting the kids in and out of the car than it does to log the cache. And maybe little kids might spot stage 3 faster than the big kids?

do a pocket query of the general area you would like to cache in, request the ones that have the bigger containers as those tend to have the trades in them and can avoid the micros. also, its a great way to filter out what you want in gsak.

Please bring them up to my Geo Zoo.......not for the swag inside, but for the kid friendly animals, easy finds, and general learning environment to teach them about geocaching and how to use a GPS. The zoo was intended to introduce people to geocaching and we'd love to have you come up with your family.

Dan has prepared a day long experience for the family. Combine that, after bug season, with a few of the other caches in Orrington (3 of which are on public lands with picnic tables) and you have a wonderful, fun filled, day of caching within the town. Thank you Dan for putting out this wonderful series.

we will be doing the geo zoo at some point this summer and we look forward to it. now according to this web site for maine geocaching stats there is only 22 containers marked as LARGE there are many more regular size but i think the idea i had was to get more people to place a few more large sized containers for the kids (big kids or small kids).

I will be placing New Kid friendly caches in the Calais ME./St. Stephen N.B. area over the next few weeks. I would have them out there now but the Weather hasn't cooperated with my days off. I hope to have the first one out and published by this weekend. It wil be a 2 part multi cache in Calais.:D

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Originally Posted by hide_from_the_kids

we will be doing the geo zoo at some point this summer and we look forward to it. now according to this web site for maine geocaching stats there is only 22 containers marked as LARGE there are many more regular size but i think the idea i had was to get more people to place a few more large sized containers for the kids (big kids or small kids).

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22 is the correct number. Of those, 4 have been archived. Only 12 of those are less than a 2.5 terrain. So that's not many large containers for the kids. Conversely, there are 835 micros in Maine. A slight imbalance there!

I forgot to mention the other cache in Canaan that's awesome...
BEANIE BABY CACHE ... easy and for KIDS!!!!!!!!! You gotta head this way sometime.
Opalsns

It's only seasonal but next year - a must do for kids = Gob-ler's Christmas Cache......now that's big!

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Originally Posted by brdad

22 is the correct number. Of those, 4 have been archived. Only 12 of those are less than a 2.5 terrain. So that's not many large containers for the kids. Conversely, there are 835 micros in Maine. A slight imbalance there!

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But a lot of those "regular" caches are pretty big. If you've done Laughing Terry's Jackson Pond Cache, you'll know that this "regular cache" is BIG, and filled with goodies. (Definitely "kid friendly") :D:D

OMGosh WhereRWe? - you are so very right about Laughing Terry's JPC.......that one is so MUCH fun!!! And huge! What a fun cache.

And then - of a similar size but not hidden the same way is The Relic - by Cache Maine..........that one is one of the largest (for an Ammo Box) I have seen in a container, too.

Oh - another which is nice is Gift Giver by Quilting Mike & Mom but in the University Forest. You have to go prepared to swap a wrapped gift.

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Originally Posted by hollora

Oh - another which is nice is Gift Giver by Quilting Mike & Mom but in the University Forest. You have to go prepared to swap a wrapped gift.

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Yes The Gift-Giver (GC16WRP) by Quilting mom and MIke (1.5/2) is a great cache for kids. However LA Mike doesn't quilt.:rolleyes::eek::D:p;):cool:

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Originally Posted by WhereRWe?

But a lot of those "regular" caches are pretty big. If you've done Laughing Terry's Jackson Pond Cache, you'll know that this "regular cache" is BIG, and filled with goodies. (Definitely "kid friendly") :D:D

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OK, I'll spot you 50 caches that might be listed as regular but are large. Now our ratio is much better, 62:835! ;)

The Gift Giver cache was a great idea, and a great size!

Every Christmas time for the last several years I have done a very kid friendly cache in the Lewiston/Auburn area. Christmas Stash. It's a foot locker sized container and full of kid friendly stuff. Maybe even something for the big kids.

Look for it next year.

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Originally Posted by Mainiac1957

Yes The Gift-Giver (GC16WRP) by Quilting mom and MIke (1.5/2) is a great cache for kids. However LA Mike doesn't quilt.:rolleyes::eek::D:p;):cool:

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Dyslexic - did I ever tell you - I have a problem LOL!!!!:eek::D;)

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Originally Posted by Gob-ler

Every Christmas time for the last several years I have done a very kid friendly cache in the Lewiston/Auburn area. Christmas Stash. It's a foot locker sized container and full of kid friendly stuff. Maybe even something for the big kids.

Look for it next year.

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As I believe I stated, one of my Grandchild's favorite toys which she chose at a young tender age came from this cache. I don't think her Mom will ever part with that Fisher Price Puppy dog which talks - constantly!

Thank you Gob-ler for this very special seasonal cache!

Those are fun. I actually have a micro that kids would like, A.B.C. in Auburn. The gas-saver in Minot at the Pitts mine has 3 good sized caches for the kiddos and a fun micro for the big kiddos, and rock-hunting fun to boot. But wear your head net this time of year, and pull your socks up over your pants too!

Kacky - ah, yes, ABC - that is definitely a kid fun cache:)............haven't done the Pitts Mine:( but thanks for the hint on the net......and probably needed in many areas this time of year here in our state.;)

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Originally Posted by Mainiac1957

Yes The Gift-Giver (GC16WRP) by Quilting mom and MIke (1.5/2) is a great cache for kids. However LA Mike doesn't quilt.:rolleyes::eek::D:p;):cool:

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We enjoyed the Gift Giver cache. Check out the gallery picture for this one. Moxie really got into this cache :D

Is ABC subscriber only? I don't remember doing it.

All the caches mentioned here are nice caches. Some we have done and some are on our list to do. When we go on a run we try to have a mix of caches to do for the whole family. By doing this we end up with maybe two or three on our list on a route that are big enough for trading. Its fun for me but the kids lose interest quickly after those few caches are done. It usually looks like this: micro, micro, small, micro, micro, regular, small, micro, micro, micro, micro, small, micro. Like I said I enjoy all caches I just wish there were more large ones for the kids. Areas are saturated with micros and small caches it makes it hard to do a route to keep the kids happy without going a hundred miles round trip. :(

I'm one of the big kids. I like BIG caches too and I love to look through everything. I especially like signature items or something that fits the "locale" like finding a moose "something" in a cache at a moose bog. Most of mine are at least big enough to trade. Are you coming to Eustis for the September event? I think the kids would be happy here, woods and swag.:)

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Originally Posted by kayaking loon

I'm one of the big kids. I like BIG caches too and I love to look through everything. I especially like signature items or something that fits the "locale" like finding a moose "something" in a cache at a moose bog. Most of mine are at least big enough to trade. Are you coming to Eustis for the September event? I think the kids would be happy here, woods and swag.:)

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THAT WOULD DEPEND ON SCHEDULES. SCHOOL IS BACK IN AT THAT POINT WHICH MAKES FOR A LONG WEEK AND I ALREADY TOOK MY VACATION.:(

I wonder if the lack of LARGE caches is due to the lack of LARGE watertight containers. I have seen a few large containers that are those 5 gallon buckets which are ok, but most people dont seem to know how to re-seal them the right way. I have seen a few very wet caches because of this. I have one LARGE container that is a LARGE hard plastic 25MM Ammo/mortar round container for my MOOSE COUNTRY CACHE. It seals like a regular ammo can. If more of these were available I think more large caches might pop up. But unless I could find a good large container I would stick to the 50. cal cans as they can hold a good amount.

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Originally Posted by hide_from_the_kids

All the caches mentioned here are nice caches. Some we have done and some are on our list to do. When we go on a run we try to have a mix of caches to do for the whole family. By doing this we end up with maybe two or three on our list on a route that are big enough for trading. Its fun for me but the kids lose interest quickly after those few caches are done. It usually looks like this: micro, micro, small, micro, micro, regular, small, micro, micro, micro, micro, small, micro. Like I said I enjoy all caches I just wish there were more large ones for the kids. Areas are saturated with micros and small caches it makes it hard to do a route to keep the kids happy without going a hundred miles round trip. :(

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CANAAN, MAINE 04924 :p

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Originally Posted by Opalsns

CANAAN, MAINE 04924 :p

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Canaan,,hmm, Canaan,,,,,,,hmmmmmmm,,,,seems I've heard of that mentioned before. Are there any caches there?:D:D

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Originally Posted by Opalsns

CANAAN, MAINE 04924 :p

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in some cases as i pass through i grab a cache here and there when we head that way we will be sure to do some. we would love to see more large ones placed, not just in your area but across the state. if some one wants to help start a series for the kids i can get the five gallon buckets.

You can usually get the extra large ammo boxes at the army surplus stores for... hmmm, $10 more or less, IIRC.

I think people hide the micros as opposed to large because the containers cost less, often free, and it takes much less imagination to hide one than a large container (Don't take that wrong - there are plenty of micros hidden with much imagination). When hiding something larger than the standard ammo boxes, it takes a fair amount of effort to choose a location that won't get easily muggled.

I love to see extra effort involved in a cache regardless of size.

I actually looked up Canaan as a possibility for this weekends caching trip but after reading all the logs, they seem a little to easy to find. Sorry. Unfortunately I couldn't figure out that supposedly simple puzzle cache with the splats so had to rule that one out to.

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Originally Posted by darterkitfox

I actually looked up Canaan as a possibility for this weekends caching trip but after reading all the logs, they seem a little to easy to find. Sorry. Unfortunately I couldn't figure out that supposedly simple puzzle cache with the splats so had to rule that one out to.

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We've never had a complaint and all the logs say they were GREAT CACHES!!!!!!!
Laughing Terry's SPLAT is one of his EASIEST puzzles to figure out ;)????
Are you SURE the Canaan Caches are too EASY for you :D?????????
I think you forgot about having FUN with it.!!!!!!!!!!!!
Opalsns

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Originally Posted by hide_from_the_kids

in some cases as i pass through i grab a cache here and there when we head that way we will be sure to do some. we would love to see more large ones placed, not just in your area but across the state. if some one wants to help start a series for the kids i can get the five gallon buckets.

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My OnRoadToMyersBeach cache is a 5 gallon, regular cover, and I've never had any problems with it leaking. It did get "kid-muggled" so I had to move it closer to the house. And you can buy water-tight covers for them at about $8.50. Loose Moose, which isn't mine, is also a 5 gallon, no leaks but not much in it when I was there. Size doen't guarantee there'll be anything in it! I also have a 50 cal. ammo and that works good as does big Tupperware. Keeping a kid friendly cache stocked costs money, especially when kids take the "good" toys and leave a marble. So I just have the one where I expect that to happen.

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Originally Posted by kayaking loon

My OnRoadToMyersBeach cache is a 5 gallon, regular cover, and I've never had any problems with it leaking. It did get "kid-muggled" so I had to move it closer to the house. And you can buy water-tight covers for them at about $8.50. Loose Moose, which isn't mine, is also a 5 gallon, no leaks but not much in it when I was there. Size doen't guarantee there'll be anything in it! I also have a 50 cal. ammo and that works good as does big Tupperware. Keeping a kid friendly cache stocked costs money, especially when kids take the "good" toys and leave a marble. So I just have the one where I expect that to happen.

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I agree with you on the SWAP issue. I've started buying stuff at the dollar store. I leave a pack of pencils or crayons or things like that. I break up the packs of squirt guns and bubbles, but I leave the whole dollar bag of army men or cowboys etc. I take all the loose marbles, plastic horses and the like out and put them in a baggie and when I come across an empty cache, I leave the baggie of loose things.
Opalsns:cool: