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Regional Geocaching Policies Wiki
All geocachers should follow the Geocaching Guidelines. The Guidelines are supported with detailed articles that are found in the Geocaching Help Centre.
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For caches placed in Ontario, Canada the direction provided on this page will also apply.
New to the game? Welcome! Geocaching HQ encourages geocachers ("cachers") to find at least 20 geocaches ("caches") before setting out to hide their own.
The greater variety of geocaches that someone finds, the better they should understand how to create enjoyable experiences for others.
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Ontario - Adequate GPS Usage
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Ontario - Adoption of Cache Pages/Transfer of Ownership
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Ontario - Cache Types / Tips for an Efficient Review
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Ontario - Challenge Caches
The quotes below are from the Geocaching HQ articles linked above; text in bold has been provided by the Ontario Reviewer Team as clarification. "Challenge cache owners must demonstrate that there are plenty of qualifying caches to meet the challenge at the time of publication." "If only a few people can find and log a challenge cache, then it’s almost like a private cache. (And private caches aren’t permitted on the website)." If there are a limited/restrictive number of qualifying caches available for a Challenge Cache, it may not be Guidelines compliant. Challenges that rely on one-time Events and Awards (such as Souvenirs that can no longer be acquired) may not be Guidelines compliant. ”Challenge cache owners must show that they have met the challenge". “A challenge cache needs to appeal to and be attainable by a reasonable number of cachers. Your reviewer may ask for a list of cachers from your area who qualify." The Ontario Reviewer Team consider the "reasonable number of cachers" to be 10 (in addition to the cache owner); they should be based within Ontario. "The container must be placed at coordinates on the listing, either as posted coordinates, or as a visible additional waypoint." The coordinates of a container for a Challenge Cache must be visible; Challenge Caches cannot have puzzle elements or hidden waypoints. "Difficulty rating (should) be based on the challenge, the terrain rating on the challenge cache location." The terrain rating of a Challenge Cache should be rated as if it were a Traditional cache in the same location. "Challenge caches published after April 21, 2015 must include a link to a web-based challenge checker. At this time, Project-GC is the only website approved to host challenge checkers." All Challenge caches must have a unique Project-GC challenge checker, even if qualification could be verified by visiting the profile page/statistics of a Player. Proof of qualification in a log (e.g. GC codes or bookmarks of qualifiers) should not be requested for a Challenge cache published after April 21, 2015. The onus is on the cache owner to verify that Finders have met qualifying requirements, using the Project-GC Challenge Checker on the cache page. The Project-GC website has a Frequently Asked Questions page with more information. "Challenge Caches are sometimes difficult to review for publication due to the subjectivity involved. Meaning, one person’s opinion can differ from another's, which can cause issues in the review process. One of the goals of the 2016 guideline update for challenge caches was to reduce some of that subjectivity. However, we can’t completely remove subjectivity from the process." The Ontario Reviewer Team strives to be consistent with Reviews for cache pages in Ontario. The approach to Reviews is considered to be "provincial", not "regional" - as the arbitrary definition of a region/area can be subjective. “Please do not submit a challenge cache in an area where a very similar or identical challenge cache already exists.” A Challenge Cache may need to be relocated if a similar Challenge cache is noted to be within 50km, as measured by Google Maps shortest driving route. Items listed below with bullet points are quotes from the Geocaching HQ articles above; text in bold has been provided by the Ontario Reviewer Team as clarification.
Other guidance :
From the Geocaching Blog announcement:
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Ontario - Determine If Coordinates Are Available
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Ontario - Event and CITO Cache Pages
Event/CITO cache pages should…
Event/CITO cache pages should not…
Event/CITO cache pages may…
A CITO ("Cache In Trash Out") event should focus on the improvement parks and cache-friendly places; appropriate CITO activities include:
If local laws/guidelines require that attendee information be collected, refer to Geocaching HQ's "Collecting Event Attendee Information" Knowledgebase Article. |
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Ontario - Event StackingEvent Stacking occurs when an attempt is made to host multiple Events/CITOs in relative proximity (in location and time). With the likelihood of there being more promoted Event opportunities from Geocaching HQ, the Ontario Reviewer Team wish to make it easier for Players to host Events without them being considered "Stacked". For this reason, a 2-hour window and 32km crow-flies approach has been implemented. (In comparison, the UK Reviewer Team approach to Event Stacking requires at least 10 hours between different Events).
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e.g. If an Event is from 4PM-7PM any other Event less than 32km away should end no later than 2 hours before (2PM) or begin no earlier than 2 hours after (9PM). |
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Ontario - Event Promotion and Caches Associated With EventsAs per Geocaching HQ guidance:
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Ontario - Future Publish Requests
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Ontario - Health Score
e.g. "There have been a few DNFs, however it is a clever hide! I checked on it this morning. Check the hint!"
The number of "false positives" flagged with this process are minimal compared to the number of abandoned caches that this process will remove from the game. |
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Ontario - Land Management Permission Process
If a cache owners needs help converting their coordinates to DD MM.MMM GPS notation they should click here to visit an external/3rd party site that may help.
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Ontario - Land Management Policies* |
Last updated 01/Jan/2024 | ||
Agency | Policy | Site/Policy/Contact Resources for Permission |
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Bruce Trail Conservancy | Inquiries may be sent to info@brucetrail.org with subject ATTN: BTC Ecologist | |
Canada Post Corporation | Federal Legislation | Placements on Canada Post property (e.g. mailboxes) can be considered mail tampering which is a Federal Offense. Permission from local Postmaster would be required. |
Catfish Creek Conservation Authority | As Posted | No geocaches permitted. https://www.catfishcreek.ca/geocaching-and-conservation-areas |
City of Hamilton | Due to City permission and liability concerns, some caches within Hamilton (e.g. "Tree climb caches") may require additional permission confirmation. | |
City of London - Ecologically Significant Areas | As Posted | No geocaches permitted in ESAs (https://london.ca/ESA). Geocaching is indirectly prohibited as per Linda McDougall - Ecologist - Environmental & Parks Planning . http://www.london.ca/city-hall/by-laws/Documents/parks-recreation.pdf - Section 5.4. |
Grand River Conservation Authority | As Posted | The GRCA oversee ~20,000 hectares of holdings across Ontario. As of August 2020 - Reviewers will only Publish caches within the follow GRCA designated parks, as per GRCA policy : https://www.grandriver.ca/en/outdoor-recreation/Geocaching.aspx |
Grand Trunk Pacific Railway Railbed | Access Fee | https://www.wagnerforest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Ontario-TC-and-prices.pdf https://www.wagnerforest.com/permits/ Access to former GTP railbed (including Flett Tunnel) is now governed by Wagner Forest Management. A permit is required to use/access the former railway bed and various surrounding properties. No specific geocaching placement permits have been given by Wagner Forest Management (as of Nov 2019). |
Halton Regional Conservation Authority | As Posted | |
Hamilton Conservation Authority | As Posted | |
Hamilton Naturalists Club | As Posted | No geocaches permitted |
Nature Conservancy of Canada (Ontario) | Under Review | http://www.natureconservancy.ca - permission confirmation will be requested during Review. |
Niagara Parks Commission | As Posted | https://www.niagaraparks.com/visit-niagara-parks/nature-activities/geocaching/ |
Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority | ||
Ontario Parks | Site Specific | Posted Ontario Parks policies typically pre-date geocaching; placements within Ontario Parks would require permission from the Park Superintendent. https://www.ontario.ca/page/provincial-park-management-direction |
Parks Canada | As Posted | Placing a cache at Parks Canada - http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/docs/pc/guide/geocache/index.aspx |
rare Charitable Research Reserve | As Posted | |
Rouge Park | As Posted | This is now under the jurisdiction of Parks Canada (see above) |
Royal Botanical Gardens | Permission contact is Margaret Walton (mwalton@cogeco.ca) | |
Toronto and Region Conservation Authority | As Posted | https://trca.ca/parks-recreation/trca-geocache-request-form via https://trca.ca/activities/geocaching/ Note: This policy only applies to lands owned and managed by TRCA. |
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Ontario - Land Management Policy Revocation
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Ontario - Off-Limits Locations
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Ontario - Published Means It Is Ready To Be Found!
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Ontario - Railway Lines
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Ontario - Social Media Links (You Tube, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat etc)
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Ontario - Suitable Cache Containers
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Ontario - Works In Progress
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* This page is always a work in progress. Objects in the mirror are closer than they appear. May contain traces of nuts. Not for use as a floatation device. Do not use for drying pets. For external use, only.
Click here to send updates to CacheShadow.
January 7th 2024 - Added Table of Contents
January 1st 2024 - Ontario Wiki Refresh / URL revision as HQ has moved the Wiki environment to a cloud host.
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Ontario - Community Volunteer Reviewers |
Ontario - Useful Links
Click here to be redirected to the Cacher Hider Checklist
Click here to see the caches in Ontario with the most Favourite Points
Click here to see the geocoins/trackables near your home location
Click here for other Ontario geocache statistics
Upcoming Events and CITOs In Canadian Provinces and Territories
AB / BC / MB / NB / NL / NT / NS / NU / ON / PE / QC / SK / YT
Upcoming Giga, Mega, GPS and Community Celebration Events
Giga-Events / Mega-Events / GPS Maze / Community Celebration Events
Ontario - Learning About The Game
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Ontario - A Poem About Cache Maintenance
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