Caches in children's playgrounds

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Goldenwattle
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Caches in children's playgrounds

Post by Goldenwattle » 23 May 15 9:09 pm

Recently I was in the UK and attended a get-together of local geocachers. I was interested to be informed that in the UK caches in children's playgrounds are not allowed. I know that many geocachers, myself included, dislike caches in playgrounds. I think a rethink is needed on whether that is an appropriate place to hide caches here. What do others think?

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Agent Basil
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Re: Caches in children's playgrounds

Post by Agent Basil » 23 May 15 9:43 pm

I choose to ignore them. Very wrong for a bloke to be seen loitering around a playground without kids in tow. Then again, I ignore most urban caches for a similar reason. Looks very suss at every level!

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noikmeister
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Re: Caches in children's playgrounds

Post by noikmeister » 23 May 15 9:58 pm

Agree. Plenty of other places you can hide a cache.

Goldenwattle
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Re: Caches in children's playgrounds

Post by Goldenwattle » 23 May 15 10:23 pm

Agent Basil wrote:I ignore most urban caches for a similar reason. Looks very suss at every level!
I often find that when caching alone, where other people are about. It doesn't look so bad when in a group, or even with one other cacher, but alone, searching for some caches does look very suss.

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noikmeister
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Re: Caches in children's playgrounds

Post by noikmeister » 23 May 15 10:32 pm

Goldenwattle wrote: I often find that when caching alone, where other people are about. It doesn't look so bad when in a group, or even with one other cacher, but alone, searching for some caches does look very suss.
Yes, an interesting phenomena. When caching alone I really just want to find the cache as quickly as possible, but when with others I'm happy to have a good long search.

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Agent Basil
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Re: Caches in children's playgrounds

Post by Agent Basil » 24 May 15 5:05 pm

Agree with the comments about caching in a crowd ......... except for a bunch of blokes in a playground without kids is even more suss !

sharnie's tribe
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Re: Caches in children's playgrounds

Post by sharnie's tribe » 24 May 15 6:14 pm

We tend to avoid caches in or near playgrounds unless we have the right accessory, helps when we can borrow a grandchild for a caching expedition. One of our caches was near a playground in our home town but we archived it after giving it a bit more thought, decided it was a bit dodgy looking.

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CraigRat
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Re: Caches in children's playgrounds

Post by CraigRat » 24 May 15 8:04 pm

Playground hides can be ok (if you've got kids or a pet or whatnot).

Would I do them caching solo, hell no.

But then again, you don't have to find EVERY cache, do you?

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Richary
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Re: Caches in children's playgrounds

Post by Richary » 24 May 15 9:37 pm

I got enough suss looks checking out the top of a lookout today (no playground involved) where I was down in the bushes searching for a hide. Where it turned out I didn't need to be anyway. One family decided to go to the other side of the hilltop when they came over and saw me down in the bushes. [-(

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Re: Caches in children's playgrounds

Post by caughtatwork » 25 May 15 9:37 am

They're not appropriate, but we shouldn't ban them either. This pandering to the crowd is what is making life less and less enjoyable. Not every person you see around is a pedo.

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Re: Caches in children's playgrounds

Post by LouiseAnn » 25 May 15 11:32 am

There are heaps of family cacher teams out there that love the playground caches. I think it is just that people DO feel they have to find EVERY cache, then it is a problem.

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oldfella
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Re: Caches in children's playgrounds

Post by oldfella » 25 May 15 11:38 am

I am an old dude >60 and do most of my caching on my own. I will leave the playground cache hides alone depending if they are on playground equipment or very close. I am happy to give them a miss if the hides are in an area that I do not normally visit. Eventually I will have a go at a hide if it is one of my areas that I visit on a regular basis and then I usually have my wife and or geocacher daughter and my geocacher grandson so I am less obvious and usually my 8 year old grandson wants the honor of finding it. I think it is a personal choice.

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jusojara
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Re: Caches in children's playgrounds

Post by jusojara » 25 May 15 2:35 pm

I have been accosted in a playground when I did have my kids with me. We had found the cache (a Nano under the platform) and were then playing with the kids around the playground when a person (un-accompanied male) walking past stopped and attempted to enquire as to what we were doing.

Tuena
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Re: Caches in children's playgrounds

Post by Tuena » 25 May 15 3:15 pm

I'm > 60 & do majority of my caching alone. I cut out micros from my PQs for all states & pretty well got rid of playground caches. The only exceptions are on long trips. Currently have a PQ for all sizes within 40Ks of Sarina. I will look for caches in playgrounds only if there is no one about. Eventually will cut out GC micros altogether - no loss as my interest on the Groundspeak side is now Waymarking. My GCA Queries still include all sizes.

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Re: Caches in children's playgrounds

Post by Big Matt and Shell » 25 May 15 4:57 pm

caughtatwork wrote:They're not appropriate, but we shouldn't ban them either. This pandering to the crowd is what is making life less and less enjoyable. Not every person you see around is a pedo.
Much my thoughts, I use the old PBL trick.


1. Decide if you want to find cache
2. Apply Peg if Yes
3. Sign Log
4. Move on

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