Story by Samantha Carson | Photos courtesy of Groundspeak Inc.
Want to do something a little different for Earth Day?
Geocaching is a scavenger hunt for all ages. People around the world put items inside small containers called geocaches or caches and hide them for others to find using a set of coordinates. Caches can be hidden anywhere—I’ve found them everywhere from parking lots and public parks to deep in the woods, far from any public trail. Containers can hold a variety of items but will usually contain at least a small slip of paper, known as a log, where those who find the cache can note their username and the date on which they found it. They then place the cache back where they found it, to await the next cacher.
The barrier to entry into geocaching and its community is low. Many beginners start out using either a GPS device or the official Geocaching app, which includes a map showing cache locations, coordinates, clues, and more. Cachers can also connect with fellow enthusiasts on the app or online in various forums, and on social media. Many plan meals and other outings with their fellow hobbyists, forming friendships across geographical boundaries.
And it’s not only the caching itself that brings people together—it’s also the chance to make a difference in their communities. The Cache In Trash Out (CITO) environmental initiative was started in 2002 as a way for cachers to volunteer to preserve the beauty and integrity of their little parts of the Earth and its ecosystems. CITO events partner geocachers with community groups for activities like litter pickup, tree planting, and more. These events are organized by cachers all over the world.
I have always wanted to participate, so when I learned about the CITO event held this past November at Jordan Lake, I jumped at the chance. The North Carolina Geocachers Organization has partnered with the nonprofit Clean Jordan Lake (CJL) since 2012 to clean up the lake’s shoreline. According to CJL, although the lake is a popular spot for recreation during the warmer months, most of the trash collected along the shoreline actually comes from the Haw River watershed, where stormwater carries down debris from as far away as Greensboro. Items found at Jordan Lake have included the expected bottles and cans, but also children’s toys, fuel containers, road construction barrels, and water meter covers.
I soon learned that signing up for this CITO event was the easy part. The starting coordinates were located on undeveloped game land, and Google Maps initially took me through a subdivision as I tried to find them.
I had to pull over and scrutinize the map carefully to figure out where I needed to go and how to get there. Eventually I found a dirt road and followed it until I reached a small cleared area where other cachers had already parked. There, veteran cachers welcomed the newcomers and provided donuts as well as work gloves, trash pickers, and garbage bags. While most attendees were fellow adult cachers, others were kids and teenagers volunteering for school.
Unlike some of the previous events at the lake, the weather was clear on this day, and we followed the dirt road until we reached the site of a cache. We logged it and continued onward to the site of another, logged it, and then split up to begin picking up trash. As part of a group of three, I turned off the road into the woods and headed to the site where the most recent event had left off. The first item we saw was the side of a porta-potty—which made us wonder what we were getting into—but nevertheless, we opened our trash bags and got to work.
It was clear that the lake had risen very far in July after Tropical Storm Chantal came through, for there was trash far from the shoreline in the woods. We picked up the usual beer cans and similar litter, but we also found tires, a small plastic chair, toys, and other miscellaneous items. I filled two bags before I left, and our group of three ended up filling eight bags in all. The total for the day among all attendees was 79 bags, 11 tires, and other items that wouldn’t fit in bags. After the pickup, many volunteers went out to dinner together.
All in all, it was a great event that I was happy to participate in. There are often one or two Jordan Lake CITO events in spring, so I plan to attend another to celebrate Earth Day. I hope to see you there!
