2. EarthCaches must be educational.

They should provide accurate but non-technical explanations of what visitors will experience at the site. The cache page, including the description and logging tasks, must assume only a basic knowledge of geology. Read more

3. EarthCaches must highlight a unique feature.

EarthCaches that duplicate existing EarthCaches or related sites may be rejected. EarthCaches must be developed to provide a unique experience to the location's visitors and to teach a unique lesson about the feature at the site. Multiple EarthCaches on the same feature should be avoided. Content, rather than proximity, will be the guiding principle for EarthCache™ reviewers. Read more

4. EarthCaches must be placed in locations where geocachers are allowed to enter.

In sensitive areas, the reviewer may ask for details of the land manager's permission to ensure the land manager is aware of the EarthCache™.

5. An EarthCache™ can be a single site or multiple sites.

You must have visited the site(s) recently (within two months) to make current, first-hand observations. You must provide accurate coordinates for each site where visitors will perform the logging tasks and ensure that these areas are accessible to the public. You are responsible for taking appropriate actions if conditions change regarding access, permission, or other concerns.

6. Logging an EarthCache™ requires visitors to undertake site-specific tasks that provide a learning opportunity related to the topic.

Visitors will use the information from the cache page, along with their on-site observations, to perform an analysis. Their task-solution logs will serve as proof that cachers have visited the site. Questions that only serve to prove someone visited the site but do not relate to its geology are not permitted. Photo requirements are permitted, but can only be included as an addition to well-developed logging tasks . Visitors must be able to send their answers to logging tasks via the cache owner's profile. The answers to these logging tasks must be included in a Reviewer Note when you are submitting your site for approval.

7. The EarthCache™ text and logging tasks must be submitted in the local language.

Additional languages are encouraged, but the local language must be listed first. You may be asked to provide text in a language your reviewer can understand to assist with the review process.

8. Respect trademarks and copyright information and only use text, images, or logos if you have permission.

EarthCaches with information that is copied from other sources, plagiarized, or used without proper attribution will not be published. Limited amounts of text may be quoted, but must be properly attributed. Visit the Help Center for more information. EarthCache™ owners are fully responsible for all content on their EarthCache™ pages, including any material created with artificial intelligence (AI) tools such as ChatGPT or other large language models. If AI tools are used to generate any part of the page—text, images, tables, or other elements—this use must be clearly disclosed on the cache page.

9. EarthCache™ sites adhere to the principles and ethics of Geocaching® and Leave No Trace.

In addition, use waypoints to ensure cachers follow appropriate pathways and use only established trails. Damage to the site is unacceptable. Please be mindful of fragile ecosystems. EarthCache™ sites will highlight the principle of collecting memories — not samples. Furthermore, no physical cache or other items can be left at the site. Read more: Geocaching® Leave No Trace

10. EarthCaches are submitted through Geocaching®.com and must meet these guidelines and adhere to the Geocache Listing Requirements/Guidelines and the Geocaching®.com terms of use agreement.

The Geological Society of America and the EarthCache™ team retain the right to edit, modify, reject, or archive any EarthCache™ that does not adhere to these guidelines, or for any other purpose that the team deems appropriate. Read more: Geocaching®.com Geocache Listing Requirements/Guidelines Terms of use agreement

How is an EarthCache™ different from a virtual cache?

EarthCaches are, in effect, a type of virtual cache. They have no physical container or logbook. However, EarthCaches differ from other virtual caches in that they teach visitors something about the site. An EarthCache™ is not just a scenic view or a locality. They present lessons on how that place formed, why it is important scientifically, and what that site can tell us about our planet.

Why do EarthCaches have to be virtual caches?

The object of an EarthCache™ is to learn something about our planet. The reward is the lesson, not the trinkets in the container. Also, many EarthCaches are being developed in places where leaving a container is illegal, such as National Parks and geological monuments.

Who reviews EarthCaches?

EarthCaches all have one fundamental goal — to educate the visitor. This is judged by the EarthCache™ team, a small group of people worldwide who review and publish EarthCaches. The team all follow the same guidelines and rules.

Are all submitted EarthCaches approved?

No. EarthCaches must meet certain solid guidelines. About 60% of submitted EarthCaches are approved in the first round. Many are sent back to the developers for reworking. Some suggestions may be given on how the text needs to be changed to be approved.

Can we develop EarthCaches in National Parks and other public land?

EarthCaches can be developed on public land only if you have the prior approval of the local land manager. Most land managers, once they are told that concept and that no physical container will be left behind, are happy to have an EarthCache™ in their park, forest, etc. We would suggest, however, that you develop EarthCaches in partnership with the land managers to ensure that sensitive areas are avoided, that multi-cache concepts are used with waypoints to keep people on trails, and that cache-in, trash-out is advertised. Caches of any kind developed on public land without prior approval are undesirable and, on some land, illegal.

Can I develop an EarthCache™ in a cave area?

Cave areas are very sensitive. For this reason, any EarthCache™ developed around caves in the United States will require written permission from the land manager, whether it is on public or private property. EarthCaches developed around caves in other countries will be subject to the normal EarthCache™ guidelines.

Can I develop an EarthCache™ as part of a museum or other exhibit?

All EarthCaches must contain an outdoor component to comply with Geocaching® GPS usage guidelines . When an EarthCache™ also includes an indoor component , it must meet all geocache hiding guidelines and all EarthCache™ guidelines.

Can an EarthCache™ be in languages other than English?

EarthCaches need to be in the language of the county in which they sit. However, as many will be visited by international visitors, we prefer that the cache notes also be in English and/or other languages. You may be asked to provide the text in English to assist in the review process.

Can I add technical notes for those visitors who are more scientific?

EarthCaches need to cater to those people who do not have scientific training. The language should not contain scientific jargon or terms unless these terms are explained. However, once an educational explanation of the site is written to meet these guidelines, more detailed or technical information is very welcome.

What do I need people to do to log an EarthCache™?

As EarthCaches are educational, visitors should log something from their visit that shows they have learned something. Please see the guidelines and Geocaching®.com Help Center for more details.

EarthCaches are virtual and involve no container, so why do I need permission to place an EarthCache™ on some public properties?

Advance permission is required to ensure that bringing people to a site does not conflict with the site's management. Many sites face multiple management issues, such as protecting rare and endangered fauna, archaeological artifacts, and geological phenomena. In many cases, that protection has been obscured (i.e., because people don't know about it, they don't visit). By placing an EarthCache™ at certain public sites, we may create a management issue, so the land manager needs to ensure the EarthCache™ fits within their management plan. Furthermore, seeking permission has raised the positive profile of caching in the eyes of land managers, opening the way for all types of Geocaching® on those lands. We realize that seeking permission to place an EarthCache™ seems like a superfluous step to many, but it is truly as important as developing great logging tasks!

As an EarthCache™ owner, can I use an "auto-response" e-mail account or a third-party website to check logging task answers and provide people with permission to post their logs to my EarthCaches?

No, this practice has been prohibited since 1 January 2013. We appreciate that you are attempting to make the logging process more efficient; however, the use of "auto-response" e-mails and third-party websites is not permitted for two main reasons: People do not need to wait for permission to log your EarthCache™. Requiring someone to wait is not supported by the EarthCache™ guidelines. People should send their answers to the logging task to you, then log your EarthCache™. When you review their answers to the logging task, if you find a problem, you should contact them to resolve it. If there is no problem, then their log simply stands. The types of questions/answers used by "auto-response" e-mails and websites are too limiting and usually do not provide a strong educational experience, which is a vital part of EarthCaching. Logging tasks that ask for highly specific, generally short answers, such as "15 meters" or "brown", do not meet the educational goals of EarthCaching and do not allow enough flexibility or interpretation. Furthermore, proper review of logging tasks is considered one of the basic maintenance duties for EarthCache™ owners. Because no physical container needs to be maintained, it is expected that EarthCache™ owners review logging submissions on their own, without automated aids. Although there have been EarthCaches published in the past that use auto-response e-mails, this will no longer occur, as autoresponders are now prohibited by the 1 January 2013 update of the EarthCache™ guidelines. EarthCaches published before 2013 that use autoresponders are not "grandfathered" and are expected to be updated by removing the autoresponder.

Where can I find reliable geoscience information to develop my own EarthCaches?

Don't just rely on the Internet. Much of the best geoscience information will be found in books and journals, some of which may not be available online. Look at your local public library, university library, bookstore, etc. Look for the most up-to-date information sources available. Geoscience is a rapidly changing field, so an old book about the geology of Georgia, published in 1962, may contain obsolete information or factual errors. Mountain Press publishes two series of books that are great for EarthCaching: Roadside Geology Geology Underfoot Many local universities have earth science departments that can be good sources of information. Check their website, look for public visiting hours, a lending library, a museum/exhibit area, or staff who have time to provide assistance. Local science or natural history museums often have exhibits, books, and staff that can provide information about an area's geology. Most countries and states/provinces have a "Geological Survey" or a similar agency that is responsible for earth science information and resources. In the United States, the U.S. Geological Survey is the national agency responsible for earth science: www.usgs.gov . The Association of American State Geologists maintains a list of state-based agencies that deal with earth science: http://www.stategeologists.org/surveys.php The EarthCache™ program is coordinated by Geocaching®.com and the Geological Society of America (GSA). Many nations, states/provinces, and even some smaller regions have their own geological societies, which can serve as a good source of local earth science information. Here is a list of societies affiliated with GSA . Here's an example of a state-based society, the West Texas Geological Society . Geologic Maps are often provided by agencies such as the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) or state geological surveys. Your local reviewer may be able to point you to resources, but keep in mind that some reviewers cover large areas. Check other caches in the area; if they provide links or resources, they may also be useful to you.

Someone logged my EarthCache™, but it appears they visited the location before it was published. Should I allow the log, or delete it?

There is no rule requiring someone to visit the location after publication to make a log. HOWEVER, in GSA's view, somebody has not actually visited an EarthCache™ if there was no EarthCache™ there at the time of their visit! GSA has no problem with a cache owner deleting a log from somebody who has clearly not visited the EarthCache™ after its publication date. If a cache owner wants to allow such logs to stand, that's fine too. (That's up to the cache owner. Maybe in some cases, they would feel as though the person logging the cache got a good lesson by combining an earlier visit with solving the cache's logging tasks afterward. The cache owner can be the judge of that.)

Can I add the EarthCache™ logo to my cache page?

Yes, you can add the EarthCache™ logo to a cache page hosted at Geocaching®.com. No special permission is required for this type of usage because the EarthCache™ logo is an official geocache icon and can therefore be used freely on Geocaching®.com. You may also add the EarthCache™ banner to a cache page. The URL of the image is: http://www.geosociety.org/Images/GSA/EarthCache™/OfficialECBanner.jpg Here is some sample HTML code for adding the banner to your cache page and linking the banner to GSA's EarthCache™ website: <a href="http://www.geosociety.org/EarthCache™"><img src="http://www.geosociety.org/Images/GSA/EarthCache™/OfficialECBanner.jpg?version=9B2285FB" alt="Official EarthCache™" /></a> To use the EarthCache™ logo on other websites, on merchandise, or in other situations, please refer to the page about Using Our Name and Logo .

What We Do

...

Earthcache

EarthCache™

Explore geological wonders firsthand.

Long landscape photo collage of scenic geological sites

What’s EarthCache™?

An EarthCache™ is a special type of geocache you can visit to learn a geology lesson developed by the community.

How To Get Started

Create a Geocaching® account
Go to 'Play' and use the filter to show only EarthCache™ locations
Visit a cache and log your find
Start now by creating your account and/or subscribing to EarthCache™ e-News

Create An Account Subscribe to e-News

Beautiful tree covered Blue Ridge Appalachian Mountains at sunset rainbow sky

EarthCache™ Achievements

EarthCache™ Master Awards

Apply for Master awards and earn badges for your profile when you reach EarthCache™ discovery and development milestones.

Bronze EarthCache™ Master

Visit & log 3 or more EarthCaches in 2 or more states/provinces/countries.

Silver EarthCache™ Master

Visit & log 6 or more EarthCaches in 3 or more states/provinces/countries and have developed 1 or more EarthCaches.

Gold EarthCache™ Master

Visit & log 12 or more EarthCaches in 4 or more states/provinces/countries and have developed 2 or more EarthCaches.

Platinum EarthCache™ Master

Visit & log 20 or more EarthCaches in 5 or more states/provinces/countries and have developed 3 or more EarthCaches.

EarthCache™ Achievements

EarthCache™ Discovery Awards

Apply for Discovery awards and earn badges for your profile when you reach EarthCache™ discovery milestones.

Quartz 50+

Log more than 50 EarthCaches.

Mica 100+

Log more than 100 EarthCaches.

Garnet 250+

Log more than 250 EarthCaches.

Emerald 500+

Log more than 500 EarthCaches.

Diamond 1000+

Log more than 1,000 EarthCaches.

Apply for EarthCache™ Awards

The information you enter will be verified against your profile. You cannot claim EarthCaches that you have personally developed as a "logged EarthCache". Forms with missing information will not be considered. Once approved, you will receive an email from earthcache@geosociety.org with the award icon to display in your Geocaching® profile and on your published EarthCache™ listings.

EarthCache™ Master Award pins and patches may be purchased through the EarthCache™ Store.

EarthCache™ Discovery Award tags (trackable through Geocaching®.com) may be purchased through the EarthCache™ Store.

You may use the same logged EarthCache™ finds for both programs.

Apply for Master

Apply for Discovery

Note: By applying for the EarthCache Masters Awards, you agree to receive communications from GSA according to our privacy policy. You may opt out at any time.

Guidelines

Frequently Asked Questions

Planetary Geology & EarthCache™ Sites

Help the Geocaching® community learn more about our solar system by developing and visiting EarthCaches that highlight planetary analogs found here on Earth.

How to Get Involved

Planetary geology EarthCache™ examples:
Odessa or Mars?
San Gabriel Anorthosite

San Gabriel Mountains California Earthcache Planetary Analogs

Create (or update) a Mars-themed EarthCache™:

Follow the instructions in the Geocaching®.com Help Center (4.6. Planetary geology on earth)
Take advantage of scientific resources compiled by GSA
Share your EarthCache™ with the community by:
Titling your EarthCache™ “Planetary Geology on Earth: _____” (If you are updating an existing EarthCache™, you may need to shorten the title to fit the character limits in Geocaching.com)
Posting it to the Mars/EarthCache™ thread in the Geocaching.com forums
Sharing it on social media with the hashtag #GeocachingToMars

EarthCache™ Partners

Supporting Organizations

EarthCache™ Fund Supporters

Outer Core

Thoto
junglehair and Tromelin
g&jcaching
Carbon Hunter
Famaxe
FlagMan
wildfowler
Firennice
Familie Ruessel98
Ladybug Kids
danieloliveira
Hanbei/Fam. Walotek-Scheidegger
GeoawareUSA7

Mantle Level

GSAF Montagne Fund
Lostnspace
bwfc1
AKiteFlier
GCEdo
SeekinKsTN

Crust Level

fresepa
Geodarts