When you submit a cache, the reviewer goes through it and publishes it on the geocaching.com website. If there are any problems with it and it can't initially be published the reviewer will write a log telling you what needs to be fixed. You can get your cache published quickly if you make sure you've followed the guidelines. In the UK there are some specific guidelines that apply which may not be obvious. Here are some reasons why your cache could get initially refused.
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| The guideline says commercial caches are not allowed. This means you cannot mention a business by name however trivial. Nor can you have a cache in a business premises if finding it involves interacting with employees. Even a seemingly innocent mention such as, park at Tesco or the path starts at the Dog and Duck pub make reference to a business. Oblique references may also not be allowed. For example park where every little helps is clearly a reference to Tesco. | ||||||
Charity or agenda on cache page | This guideline is also quite clear you cannot use the cache page to promote an organisation or charity. Nor can you mention any charitable organisations or make reference to them. Obvious errors would be something like this, cache placed by the entrance to the Home for Old Dogs, a great place that looks after dogs the owners no longer want. Or even this, the cache is by Home Farm where they are planning to build 6 massive wind turbines. These will destroy the view and make a lot of noise. | ||||||
Cache in a sensitive natural or historical location without permission | Caches may be placed in some sensitive locations but the reviewers will want to see proof that you have got permission from the landowner or manager. The types of area where this applies are shown in the Protected Land Areas page in this Wiki which includes detail on how to identify such locations. | ||||||
The cache is too close to another cache | Caches should not be too close together to avoid 'saturating' an area with them. The guideline gives a recommended distance of 161 meters (528 feet or 0.1 miles). This applies to ANY physical part of a cache such as a traditional, the final or any physical stage of a multi or unknown cache. You should check your location first before planning a cache to see what is there. You can use the planning map which shows you caches on a map with a 161 meter red circle around them (more information on the map in the Help Center). You won't be able to see where hidden stages are (and the reviewers won't tell you!). You'll need to go and find those caches yourself. | ||||||
| People often use take away food containers or ice cream containers. These are normally only designed to be used once and are pretty flimsy in construction. They are not suitable at all as cache containers and you will be asked to change it. This article in the Help Center explains about containers. This is an example of sturdy 'click lock' or screw top type containers which can easily be bought from supermarkets. Metal tins are also not ideal as they will rust and become hard (or impossible to open). The reviewers may ask you to change the container before the cache can be published. | ||||||
| Plastic bags (zip lock, carrier bags or bin bags) are entirely unsuitable as either camouflage or protection as they are often biodegradable and after only a few days will become wet and messy and unpleasant to unwrap. They eventually just become plastic litter. This thread in the Geocaching forums may be of interest too as the use of bags is discussed at length. If your cache is in such a bag it won't be published until the bag has been removed. | ||||||
Unknown/Puzzle cache - no solution provided | A guideline update now requires you to tell the reviewer how the puzzle works. Don't worry, the note is deleted before the cache is ?published. | ||||||
| Holiday or a cache placed while travelling | A cache placed while you are on holiday or travelling in an area away from your home location is unlikely to be published unless you have a maintenance plan for it. This means either that you will be able to respond to maintenance issues yourself and visit the cache within 4 weeks or so or you have a local cacher or person able to look after it for you. You need to provide the names and details of a local maintainer when you submit the cache. Guideline | ||||||
Other reasons | There are many other locations where caches may not be allowed for reasons of security or sensitivity. These are detailed on this page in the Wiki and include, schools, playgrounds, military bases, hospitals, church yards and cemeteries. |
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There are many organisations who help and actively promote geocaching on land they own or manage. The following is a list of those that may be mentioned on the cache page as an acknowledgement if they have given permission. You may only mention the name, you cannot give any other information about them or the work they do. You may also link to a relevant webpage on their site about the cache location, for example with a wildlife trust, the reserve where the cache is. Websites that have an obviously placed "Donate" button may not be allowed.
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