Table of Contents

Geocaching at Nebraska State Park Areas

Geocaching, also known as GPS Stash Hunt or GeoStash, involves "hiding" items, usually containers holding various "treasures" and then providing specific Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) coordinates for each "cache" on a web site. Visitors to these web sites can choose which "cache" they would like to locate using their own personal GPS. Cache searchers typically bring along their own "treasures" and make an exchange once the cache has been located.

Virtual Caching involves locating not a cache, but a specific landmark, feature, park sign, etc. These should be encouraged at State Parks and Recreation Areas in lieu of physical caches. However, neither geocaching nor virtual caching will be permitted at Nebraska State Historical Parks.

Procedures concerning geocaching in Nebraska State Parks and Recreation Areas are as follows:

I. CACHE PERMITS:

1. Placement of a cache on Parks property must be secured with a Special Occasion Permit.

2. The person applying for a permit must provide a valid address, telephone number, email address, vehicle license number, and the web site address on which the cache will be posted.

3. The location of the cache must be pre-approved by the Park Superintendent whose main concern will be public safety and the prevention of undesirable impacts to natural and cultural resources. Superintendent will advise of any off limits areas, other permitted caches and possible proscribed burn areas for the calendar year.

4. Once the cache is placed, the applicant is to return to the facility office to record the exact cache location, including GPS coordinates, which will be added to the permit. Applicants are encouraged to include an explanation of "Geocaching" in the cache for non-participants.

5. All permits will be in effect for the calendar year. A new permit will be applied for and authorized each year. NOTE: If, during the effective period of a permit, a permit holder wants to change the location of the cache, a new permit must be issued and the effective permit cancelled.

6. Upon expiration of a permit, the permit holder is responsible for removing the cache and for removing the cache location from all web sites and any information source.

7. If the permit holder fails to remove the cache, it will be removed by park staff and held for ten (10) days, after which staff will dispose of the cache. Confiscation and disposal by park staff will be recorded in an incident report.

II. CACHE CONTAINERS AND CONTENTS

1. Cache containers must be non-breakable, waterproof and have some form of latch or other closing mechanism to prohibit content exposure to wildlife.

2. Caches may not contain inappropriate or dangerous items. Such items include, but are not limited to, food, medications, personal/hygiene products, pornography, weapons of any type, etc. Log books are encouraged in Nebraska State Parks caches in lieu of exchange items.

3. All caches are subject to random inspection by Park Superintendents. Park staff have the authority to immediately remove any item held in a cache deemed unacceptable.

4. Non-permitted caches will be removed by area staff and held. An attempt will be made to locate the cache owner. If the cache is not claimed in 30 days, area staff will dispose of the cache.

III. CACHE LOCATIONS:

1. The location of a cache must be pre-approved by the Park Superintendent.

2. Physical caches are prohibited inside any state park facility or structure.

3. Caches may not be placed in locations that may lead to the creation of spur trails.

4. Caches may not be placed in dangerous, inappropriate, or protected areas and habitats, on cliffs, underground, or underwater.

5. No digging is permitted. Caches cannot be buried, nor may soil, vegetation or stones be disturbed to place a cache.

IV. COMPLIANCE

1. The use of metal detectors in cache searches is expressly prohibited.

2. If geocaching activities as a whole are found to have a negative impact on park resources or if safety becomes an issue in geocache searches, the Park Superintendent may ban geocaching from certain areas or from the entire park.

3. Failure to comply with park guidelines will result in the revocation of effective geocaching permits. Continued failure to comply with these guidelines will prevent the issuance of any further geocaching permits to the non-compliant group or individual.

4. Geocachers are reminded a Nebraska Park Entry Permit is required on all licensed motor vehicles entering state park and recreation areas.