Editing Geocaching (section)

==History==
[[File:The location of the first Geocache, east of Portland.gif|thumb|A 360° panoramic view of the site of the first geocache, in [[Beavercreek, Oregon]], placed by [[Dave Ulmer]]]]
[[File:"Original Can of Beans" from first geocache.jpg|thumb|"Original Can of Beans", which was in the first geocache, at the 2012 Geocoinfest Mega Event in Colorado]]
Geocaching is similar to the game [[letterboxing (hobby)|letterboxing]] (originating in 1854), which uses clues and references to [[landmark]]s embedded in stories.<ref>{{cite web |title=Geocaching and Letterboxing |url=https://fpr.vermont.gov/recreation/activities/geocaching-and-letterboxing |website=Vermont Agency of Natural Resources Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation}}</ref><ref name="Thomas-2010">{{cite book |last=Thomas |first=Clive |title=GPS for Walkers |publisher=[[Ordnance Survey]] |year=2010 |isbn=978-0-7117-4445-5 |edition=4th |pages=64–66}}</ref> Geocaching was conceived shortly after the removal of [[Selective Availability]] from the [[Global Positioning System]] on May 2, 2000 ([[Blue Switch Day]]<ref>{{cite web |last=Marshall |first=Lucy |date=January 9, 2025 |title=Happy 25th birthday, Geocaching! |url=https://www.geocaching.com/blog/2020/05/happy-20th-birthday-geocaching/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210510143827/https://www.geocaching.com/blog/2020/05/happy-20th-birthday-geocaching/ |archive-date=May 10, 2021 |access-date=May 8, 2021 |website=Geocaching.com |publisher=Groundspeak}}</ref>), because the improved accuracy<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gps.gov/systems/gps/performance/accuracy/ |title=U.S Government: GPS accuracy |publisher=Gps.gov |date=February 17, 2012 |access-date=March 27, 2013 |archive-date=May 2, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200502030551/https://www.gps.gov/systems/gps/performance/accuracy/ |url-status=live}}</ref> of the system allowed for a small container to be specifically placed and located.<ref name="Thomas-2010"/><ref>{{cite web |title=The History of Geocaching |url=http://www.geocaching.com/ |access-date=2021-09-21 |website=Geocaching |language=en}}</ref>

The first documented placement of a GPS-located cache took place on May 3, 2000, by Dave Ulmer in [[Beavercreek, Oregon]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.geocaching.com/about/history.aspx |title=The History of Geocaching |website=Geocaching |publisher=Groundspeak |access-date=March 27, 2013 |archive-date=September 8, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190908233216/https://www.geocaching.com/about/history.aspx |url-status=live}}</ref> The location was posted on the [[Usenet]] [[newsgroup]] sci.geo.satellite-nav<ref name="Ulmer">{{cite newsgroup |title=GPS Stash Hunt... Stash #1 is there! |author=Dave Ulmer |date=May 3, 2000 |newsgroup=sci.geo.satellite-nav |message-id=02b45318.39d4645b@usw-ex0102-084.remarq.com |url=https://groups.google.com/d/msg/sci.geo.satellite-nav/mchHczyzVHo/p_SzccG87HgJ |access-date=March 18, 2014 |archive-date=September 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210920214423/https://groups.google.com/g/sci.geo.satellite-nav/c/mchHczyzVHo/m/p_SzccG87HgJ |url-status=live}}</ref> at {{Coord|45|17.460|N|122|24.800|W |region:US-OR_type:landmark}}. Within three days, the cache had been found twice, first by Mike Teague.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/oxford/content/articles/2009/04/29/geocaching_feature.shtml |title=Geocaching |last=Parry |first=Cristina |date=2009-04-29 |work=[[BBC News]] Oxford |access-date=2019-03-03 |archive-date=September 8, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190908233221/http://www.bbc.co.uk/oxford/content/articles/2009/04/29/geocaching_feature.shtml |url-status=live}}</ref> According to Dave Ulmer's message, this cache was a black plastic bucket that was partially buried and contained various items, such as software, videos, books, money, a can of [[baked beans|beans]], and a [[slingshot]].<ref name="Ulmer"/> The geocache and most of its contents were eventually destroyed by a [[lawn mower]], but the can of beans was the only item salvaged and was later turned into a [[trackable|trackable item]] known as the "Original Can of Beans".<ref name="Geocaching.com-2003"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.geocaching.com/track/details.aspx?id=83154 |title=O.C.B.© |date=2003-09-07 |website=Geocaching.com |access-date=2018-02-21 |archive-date=February 21, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180221222449/https://www.geocaching.com/track/details.aspx?id=83154 |url-status=live}}</ref> Another geocache and plaque, called the Original Stash Tribute Plaque, now sits at the site.<ref name="Geocaching.com-2003">{{cite web |url=http://coord.info/GCGV0P |title=GCGV0P- Original Stash Tribute Plaque |date=2003-09-07 |website=Geocaching.com |publisher=Geocaching HQ |access-date=March 27, 2013 |archive-date=February 18, 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130218002046/http://coord.info/GCGV0P |url-status=live}}</ref>

Geocaching company Groundspeak allows extraterrestrial caches, e.g. the [[Moon]] or [[Mars]], although presently, the website provides only earthbound coordinates. The first published extraterrestrial geocache was GC1BE91, which was placed on the [[International Space Station]] by [[Richard Garriott]] in 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?wp=gc1be91 |title=GC1BE91 International Space Station |website=Geocaching |access-date=March 27, 2013 |archive-date=May 30, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130530072130/http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?wp=GC1BE91 |url-status=live}}</ref> It used the [[Baikonur]] launch area in [[Kazakhstan]] as its position.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.geocaching.com/map/#?ll=45.95357,63.34176&z=14 |title=Geocaching map |website=Geocaching |access-date=January 24, 2014 |archive-date=January 5, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140105082629/http://www.geocaching.com/map/#?ll=45.95357,63.34176&z=14 |url-status=live}}</ref> The original cache contained a [[Travel Bug]] (the first geocaching trackable item in space), which stayed on the station until it was brought back to earth in 2013. Due to fire restrictions on board the station, the geocache contained no official paper logbook. As of June 2024, only one confirmed geocacher (on November 17, 2013) has actually found the geocache,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Geocaching |title=GC1BE91 - International Space Station |url=https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC1BE91 }}</ref> although others have claimed to have found it providing varying amounts of evidence. To commemorate the occasion, Groundspeak allowed specialized geocaching events to be published across the world, allowing attendees to obtain a virtual souvenir on their profile.

The second geocaching trackable in space is TB5EFXK<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.geocaching.com/track/details.aspx?tracker=TB5efxk |title=Mars Perseverance Rover |publisher=geocaching.com |access-date=February 19, 2021 |archive-date=February 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210222201800/https://www.geocaching.com/track/details.aspx?tracker=TB5efxk |url-status=live}}</ref> which is attached to the SHERLOC calibration target on board the [[Mars Perseverance Rover]], which landed on [[Mars]] on 18 February 2021.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://mars.nasa.gov/news/8812/5-hidden-gems-are-riding-aboard-nasas-perseverance-rover |title=5 Hidden Gems Are Riding Aboard NASA's Perseverance Rover |website=NASA's Mars Exploration Program |date=December 8, 2020 |access-date=February 22, 2021 |archive-date=February 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210222070907/https://mars.nasa.gov/news/8812/5-hidden-gems-are-riding-aboard-nasas-perseverance-rover/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Geocachers were given the opportunity to virtually discover the trackable after the WATSON camera sent back its first photographs of the calibration target that contained the tracking code number. The code is printed on a prototype helmet visor material that will be used to test how well it can withstand the Martian environment. This will help scientists in creating a viable Martian spacesuit for future crewed missions to [[Mars]]. {{citation needed|date=September 2023}}

The activity was originally referred to as the ''GPS stash hunt'' or ''gpsstashing.'' This was changed shortly after the original hide when it was suggested in the gpsstash [[eGroups|eGroup]] that "stash" could have negative connotations and the term ''geocaching'' was adopted.<ref>{{cite web |title=Cache vs Stash |first=Matt |last=Stum |date=May 30, 2000 |url=http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/gpsstash/message/62 |publisher=[[Yahoo!]] |access-date=May 21, 2007 |archive-date=April 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110404060945/http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/gpsstash/message/62 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Over time, a variety of different hide-and-seek-type activities have been created or abandoned, so that "Geocaching" may now refer to hiding and seeking containers, or locations or information without containers.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/234769555 |title=Hide And Seek GPS And Geocaching In The Classroom {{!}} Download Citation|website=ResearchGate|language=en|access-date=2019-03-28|archive-date=September 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210920214423/https://www.researchgate.net/publication/234769555_Hide_And_Seek_GPS_And_Geocaching_In_The_Classroom|url-status=live}}</ref>

An independent accounting of the early history documents several controversial actions taken by Jeremy Irish and Grounded, Inc., a predecessor to Groundspeak, to increase "commercialization and monopolistic control over the hobby".<ref>[http://geocaching.gpsgames.org/history/ The History of Geocaching] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130801031433/http://geocaching.gpsgames.org/history/ |date=August 1, 2013}} ''GPSgames.org;'' retrieved January 12, 2013</ref> More recently, other similar hobbies such as [[Munzee]] have attracted some geocachers by rapidly adopting smart-phone technology, which has caused "some resistance from geocaching organizers about placing caches along with Munzees".<ref>{{cite news |last=Spencer |first=Susan |title=New game in town, Nerds gain more revenge with Munzee |newspaper=Telegram & Gazette |date=November 10, 2012 |url=http://www.telegram.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20121110/NEWS/111109916/1246 |access-date=January 20, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130607095312/http://www.telegram.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20121110%2FNEWS%2F111109916%2F1246 |archive-date=June 7, 2013}}</ref>