I think common sense is the real issue here,when it comes to trading items,lets face it if a muggle finds your cache, 9 out of ten times it will either get stolen or destroyed, most of the finders are true blooded cachers who really enjoy the sport and respect caches and its enviroment around, the safest advise about trading items is not to leave something that will attrack animals to the caches,like food items or any other scented items, lets face it ,animals have no respect for the time and energy  and the money that cachers put into their caches,they will destroy it or steal it, and even bite it, i should know,but making a list of no-no items is not needed, lets face it any item can be used as a stabbing weapon or a combustible if used recklessly, most of the trade items are plush items, what responsible kid raised by descent parents,wouldn't love finding a swiss or multi tool with a pen knife on it, or waterproof matches for the campers at heart,any used item could be washed out,or re-used as another trade item,lets try not to bog down this game with list of good and not, the main concern for the animals should be warned thats as far as we need to go with this,whats next a mandatory price range-no dollar store items-rubbermade containers only.the way i see it if your smart enough to use a gps and find a cache,then your smart enough to use your own judgement on what you put in,.

Lizardo, you found a kitten in a cache? I hope it had a few of the other inappropriate items - food and water and a plush toy to play with

It’s good idea to remind finders what shouldn't go in a cache. The consequences aren't always obvious - even with common sense. Even experienced cachers might forget and leave gum in a cache.

The big no-no is FOOD! That pretty much guarantees that an animal will try and get in. And really, what other cacher is going to take food out of a cache and eat it?

A finder doesn’t have to trade items. There's no sense filling up a cache with junk that’s just going to sit there. If your swag-bag is looking a little barren, it’s better to log a TNLN than throw in a business card from a Calgary laundromat or a half used lipstick just because you happen to have one in your pocket.

 

We admit we were nervous caching in the Maritimes because they had real trouble with a cache stalker who'd fill the cache with his remains - just for fun...He really destroyed caching for many cache owners and they left the game because he picked on their caches. AWFUL.

So nothing we have found really affects us that much - though I did remove a feminine product that though useful wasn't appropriate (it had been found by non-cachers and they left what they had in their possession oddly enough with a note.) In the Maritimes especially we restocked a lot of caches with extra goodies - just for the thanks for the hunt and fixed up a couple with new containers and duct tape etc. I always approach a cache like an owner would and try to fix it up or make it more attractive or to get the stuff to fit better by leaving smaller items etc. Geocoins and geocaching buttons are the BEST thing we've ever found - one of our sons is now into collecting other people's calling cards so I'm thinking of making him his own to swap with other kids...

As everyone probably knows, we have a signiture trading item, although we seldom take anything in trade.  Pins are small, non perishable, even when wet, and don't attract wildlife.  It is interesting to note how often they get picked up especially from the out of province caches we visit.  Larger items tend to over load the containers making them hard to close especially in winter when the fingers don't work very well in the cold.

Being new to the sport I was planning on making some wooden coins with my nick and a picture of a fly on on em and varnishing .... and some more elaborite ones with a grove cut into the face of the coin with an actual fly embedded and filled with varnish. What size is good for those ... I was thinking like loonie or toonie size and maby 1/4 or 3/8s thick.  Would this be considered good or ok? I dont want to seem cheap or anything ... I plan on leaving some other stuff too but untill I kind of see what is in a cache its kind of tough to know what to carry.

Thanks for any input here

Lizardo wrote:

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Those sound like awesome trading items.  Size of the coin would be at your discretion, but I would keep it within the size that would fit in one of those plastic pockets in the coin collectors books.  That is, if the coin wouldn't be too thick. I do like the shiny manufactured coins, but nothing compares to a hand crafted coin made from wood, leather, acrylic, etc. 

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You have been P M 'd.....give me a call. OOps wrong guy...ignore me now lizardo

-- Edited by slippery_1 at 21:43, 2006-07-31