Finding the cache
If the cache is in a very pubic place be careful of being too obvious about what you are doing. And, when you do find the cache, avoid the urge to let out a yell. Even if you are in a rural setting, possibly a forrest, don't assume that no one is watching. Always make your find and replace as unobtrusively as you can. Quietly get the cache container and take it to an area where you can examine it. First find the logbook and sign it. Then look at the treasures in the container.

Select one you like and replace it with one you brought. Then carefully put the cache container back in the same place you found it. That last part is very important. Other geocachers will come looking for this cache based on the published coordinates. If you put the cache container in a different place from where you found it the published coordinates will no longer match the location of cache.

Recording your Find
As mentioned above, the most important thing to do is to sign the log book with your username. If you brought a camera with you you might want to take some pictures. Again, be careful. Don't shoot a picture right at the cache site. Move a little distance away. The geocaching.com web site permits you to upload pictures to a cache site's page. It would really spoil everyone's fun if one of these pictures "gave away" the exact location of the cache. Once you have returned home, log onto geocaching.com, go to the page for the cache site you have found, and record your find. A couple of statistics will automatically be updated. First, your personal statistics will be updated to show this find. Second, the cache site will be updated to show that it has been found.

This, in a nutshell, is how to get started with Geocaching. Like every sport, there's a lot to learn and there will a period of skill development. If you need a bit more help check the Delaware Geocachers web site section "Hints and Tips" or contact us.