+JSmiles07 Posted July 6, 2016 Share Posted July 6, 2016 I'm nine days into geocaching, going to hit my 100th cache tonight, and I am at a point where I feel I would like some company on my adventures. I've done the majority of my caching alone, and on occasion have had some people who don't care about it along for the ride. I'm looking to find another cacher who enjoys it as much as I do. I would like to find someone local, a high school or college-age dude (I'm mid-twenties, a dude. How do I go about meeting fellow cachers? I understand there are events, I noticed one I might be able to attend early in August. But is there any way to seek someone out in my area right now? I'm in central Iowa, by the way. I checked the Midwest forum, but it's just people posting caching organizations, and I didn't find one for Iowa. Any suggestions? I'm literally about ready to just meet someone on the street while caching or put up fliers, HAHAHA. Anyone have advice on this? Thanks! JSmiles07 Quote Link to comment
+niraD Posted July 6, 2016 Share Posted July 6, 2016 Around here, the informal gatherings and geocaching trips were organized in a local forum. (Not a local forum here on the Groundspeak forums, but an actual local forum on a separate server run by someone in the local group.) But now, people seem to use Facebook or person-to-person communication (email, phone calls, text) for such things. If you can't find a local Facebook group (or if you don't use Facebook), then your best bet is probably to get to know folks through the formal events, and then plan geocaching trips with them. Quote Link to comment
+cerberus1 Posted July 6, 2016 Share Posted July 6, 2016 Like niraD, we had a couple of local caching groups for some time. Actual friends, we'd hold events, take new folks under wing to learn the hobby, and chatted on our own local sites. A couple of young folks wanted to steer away from the old farts, and formed a group (with the same names no less) on a popular social site. Newer members, used to this so-called social thing (where everyone has hundreds of "friends", but none have been to your home), found the site there. Our local cache group is now long gone... - At your age, if social sites are your thing, I'd say look there first. Looking to meet fellow cachers is as simple as attending events in your area. The toughest part for newer folks (besides age), is what type of cacher you're looking to cache with. You say, "enjoy it as much as you do", but many local cachers either have found every cache you're just now looking to grab in the area (and then some), or may be more interested in completely different cache types. For example, I'd rather stay home, or hit another hobby than do urban, or roadside hides. Good luck in your search. Quote Link to comment
+JSmiles07 Posted July 6, 2016 Author Share Posted July 6, 2016 Like niraD, we had a couple of local caching groups for some time. Actual friends, we'd hold events, take new folks under wing to learn the hobby, and chatted on our own local sites. A couple of young folks wanted to steer away from the old farts, and formed a group (with the same names no less) on a popular social site. Newer members, used to this so-called social thing (where everyone has hundreds of "friends", but none have been to your home), found the site there. Our local cache group is now long gone... - At your age, if social sites are your thing, I'd say look there first. Looking to meet fellow cachers is as simple as attending events in your area. The toughest part for newer folks (besides age), is what type of cacher you're looking to cache with. You say, "enjoy it as much as you do", but many local cachers either have found every cache you're just now looking to grab in the area (and then some), or may be more interested in completely different cache types. For example, I'd rather stay home, or hit another hobby than do urban, or roadside hides. Good luck in your search. Thanks for the information! I have been exploring social media for some local groups and things, and most people recommend events. So I'm going to try to check out an event at the beginning of August in my area. I don't even know how an event works, so hopefully I learn some more before then! Being new, I'm pretty much all about getting all of them, hahaha. Even if I hate them (roadside ones are awkward!), I do them. I've knocked out a lot of local ones in my surrounding small towns, and have found quite a few in the main city as well. Now that I've got the hang of it, I'm looking to go after more challenging caches. Thanks for the help! I appreciate it, both of you guys! Quote Link to comment
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