Re: Earth Science Cache
Posted: 12 July 23 2:33 pm
Suggestions for the wiki for an ESCache.
Earth Science Caches must be educational and provide the visitor with a learning experience as to why they have been asked to visit the location. The Earth Science Cache description should provide accurate information but at the same time use simple explanations of what the visitor will experience at the site. The description, including any additional logging requirements should not assume that the visitor has any prior knowledge or understanding of this particular branch of Earth Science.
Earth Science Caches must highlight a unique feature and experience at the location. i.e. Avoid copying someone's Earth Science Cache description. The experience and learning opportunity should be unique to this location.
When selecting a location for an Earth Science Cache, please ensure that access to the area is legally permitted and do not list Earth Science Caches on private or restricted entry property.
An Earth Science Cache should by accessible from a single location or locations that are easily accessible from the published co-ordinates. Multi-cache style Earth Science Caches are discouraged. When gathering information for your Earth Science Cache description it should come from first hand experience. Avoid using the internet, encyclopedia or expert second hand knowledge to create your description. When you write what you see, you are providing an opportunity for the visitor to experience the wonder of the location through your eyes. You must provide accurate co-ordinates for the location where your visitors are expected to gather information or specific, short, directions to where they can gather additional information. Directions should allow the visitor to travel via established pathways to other areas of interest and avoid leaving the pathways.
Mandatory Questions and Answers will form part of the Earth Science Cache description. While Geocaching Australia offer a separate form for the completion of the Q&A by the visitor to gain the appropriate codeword for logging, you must ensure that the same questions and answers are available in your Earth Science Cache description so those who are using offline devices can still access the questions to be answered.
Your questions and answers should be factual and relate directly to what the visitor will observe and learn at the Earth Science Cache location. Questions that only serve to prove a visitor was at the site without being related to the Earth Science Cache are highly discouraged. Try and make your questions only answerable by learning and experiences at the site.
You may request that a visitor confirm their presence at the Earth Science Cache location as a request over and above the codeword from the Questions and Answers, but this should not be mandated.
Earth Science Cache owners will have the ability to change a "Found It" log to a "Noted" if the requirements of the Earth Science Cache description have not been met. As the Q&A will form the majority of the verification of an Earth Science Cache, cache owners are encouraged to work with their finders to address any shortcomings before changing a "Found It" to a "Noted". (Note this may be controversial and should be discussed to determine whether this should be part of an ESCache)
There is currently no formal set of regulations that cover Geocaching Australia expectations or activities. In general we ask you to subscribe to the concept of [Leave No Trace] - https://lnt.org/ and leave no geocaching container behind at an Earth Science Cache location.
Please respect the environment and the indigenous people's rights to their land.
Earth science generally recognizes four spheres, the lithosphere, the hydrosphere, the atmosphere, and the biosphere; these correspond to rocks, water, air and life. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth_sci ... 's_spheres
The outline of the Earth Science's breakup may assist you in determining what area your Earth Science Cache falls.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth_sci ... ce_breakup
