Editing Geocaching (section)

{{Short description|Outdoor recreational activity}}
{{Use American English|date=November 2017}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2014}}
{{Infobox sport
| name       = Geocaching
| image      = Geocaching.svg
| caption    = International Geocaching Logo
| union      =
| nickname   = Caching, treasure hunting
| first      = May 3, 2000<ref>{{cite news |title=Geocaching |last=BBC |newspaper=[[BBC]] |date=2009-04-29 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/oxford/content/articles/2009/04/29/geocaching_feature.shtml |access-date=2018-04-05 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190908233221/http://www.bbc.co.uk/oxford/content/articles/2009/04/29/geocaching_feature.shtml |archive-date=September 8, 2019}}</ref><br />
[[Beavercreek, Oregon]], [[U.S.]]
| registered =
| clubs      =
| contact    =
| team       = Optional
| mgender    =
| category   = Recreational activity
| equipment  = [[GPS navigation device|GPS receiver]] or GPS-enabled mobile device, writing implement
| venue      =
| region     = Worldwide
| obsolete   =
| olympic    =
}}

'''Geocaching''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|dʒ|iː|oʊ|k|æ|ʃ|ɪ|ŋ}}, {{Respell|JEE|oh|KASH|ing}}) is an outdoor recreational activity, in which participants use a [[Global Positioning System]] (GPS) [[GPS navigation device|receiver]] or [[mobile device]] and other navigational techniques to hide and seek containers, called ''geocaches'' or ''caches'', at specific locations marked by [[coordinate system|coordinates]] all over the world.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.geocaching.com/guide/default.aspx |title=Geocaching - The Official Global GPS Cache Hunt Site |last=Geocaching |website=Geocaching |language=en |access-date=2019-10-02 |archive-date=September 28, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190928022413/https://www.geocaching.com/guide/default.aspx |url-status=live}}</ref> The first geocache was placed in 2000, and by 2023 there were over 3 million active caches worldwide.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fast Facts |url=https://newsroom.geocaching.com/fast-facts |access-date=2023-07-25 |website=Geocaching Newsroom |language=en-US}}</ref>

Geocaching can be considered a [[location-based game|real-world, outdoor treasure hunting game]]. A typical cache is a small waterproof container containing a [[logbook]] and sometimes a pen or pencil.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Geocaching |title=Geocaching - The Official Global GPS Cache Hunt Site |url=http://www.geocaching.com/ |access-date=2023-08-02 |website=Geocaching |language=en}}</ref> The ''geocacher'' signs the log with their established code name/username and dates it, in order to prove that they found the cache. After signing the log, the cache must be placed back exactly where the person found it.  Larger containers such as plastic storage containers ([[Tupperware]] or similar) or [[ammunition box|ammo boxes]] can also contain items for trading, such  as toys or trinkets, usually of more sentimental worth than financial.<ref>{{cite news |title=geocaching |last=Society |first=National Geographic |newspaper=[[National Geographic Society]] |date=2011-01-21 |url=https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/geocaching |access-date=2016-12-29 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210920214423/https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/geocaching/ |archive-date=September 20, 2021}}</ref> Geocaching shares many aspects with [[benchmarking (hobby)|benchmarking]], [[trigpointing]], [[orienteering]], [[treasure hunt (game)|treasure hunting]], [[letterboxing (hobby)|letterboxing]], [[trail blazing]], and another type of location-based game called [[Munzee]].