Welcome to Central Jersey Geocaching!
- Details
- Category: Website News Website News
- Written by Central Jersey Geocaching Central Jersey Geocaching
You have found the home of Central New Jersey's finest cachers, stashers & website crashers!
Jersey was too big for only a North and South group so the Central group was formed with the idea that we'll be the loose format, low maintenance group. The other groups are great but this leaves us more time for caching!
If you're brand new to the sport, here's a quick summary that answers the question "What is Geocaching?". It's more than using billion dollar government satellites to find junk in the woods!
Central Jersey Geocaching meets every month at various locations around Central Jersey. Check out the Event Calendar for the latest events. We're always looking for suggestions on a new place to meet up!
There is active chatter in the Chat Room throughout the day but if "eventual message" is more your thing you can browse the Log Book - the official forum of Central Jersey.
We've been busy adding "required reading" content to the site - frequently asked questions, downloadable log books, buying advice and more. Also be sure to check out the Events Calendar & Photo Gallery as well. Plus, after you sign up, you'll be able to partake of our Private Stashes - A series of real caches listed and logable only on this site!
So, browse around if you like. When you're ready to sign up, we're happy to have you... but really... your time is better spent outdoors. 
What is Geocaching?
Geocaching is the art/sport of using a handheld GPS receiver to locate the hiding spot of hidden caches.
A geocache (pronounced GEE-oh-cash) is a small (hopefully waterproof) container containing at least a log book for you to sign when you find it. Caches often contain small items - trinkets, toys, key-chains, coins, etc - and cachers are encouraged to trade. We call this stuff "Swag".
Here's how it works from the beginning...
A cacher will find an interesting spot, scenic view, new park or anything else that others would probably like to discover for themselves. They'll hide a cache nearby - usually under a log or among some rocks - but never buried. The cacher will then use a GPS receiver to get the exact latitude & longitude coordinates at that spot. Those coordinates are loaded into a website where other cachers can use them to find the new cache.
Even with "exact" coordinates and the latest hardware, you can only get within 20 feet of accurate so finding the caches can sometimes prove quite challenging. The cache hiders don't always make it easy either employing any manor of concealment from camouflage to carpentry. The cache containers themselves range from the size of a film canister to 5 gallon buckets and everything in between. Small Tupperware® or Lock-n-Lock® containers are common as are military surplus ammo cans.
With millions of active geocaches world wide, there's probably a few in your neighborhood. If you have a GPS & are curious to give geocaching a try, head over to geocaching.com and sign up. Come on back here for personal recommendations on which caches to visit. Geocaching is a free activity and, if we have anything to do with it, it always will be. You have nothing to lose except your ignorance of that great location right around the corner.
New Jersey State Parks & Forestry Geocache Hiding Permit
- Details
- Category: Geocaching News Geocaching News
- Written by Nik Caporossi Nik Caporossi
All caches on property administered by the NJ State Parks and Forestry need to have a permit.
Forms are available for download and at park offices.
The full policy can be downloaded at the NJ State Parks and Foresty website.
Frodo_Underhill has put together an excellent map of state land on his Cache42.com website.
The Icon Generator has been updated to help add the State Park Permit image/link to your cache page.
The basics:
Any person who wished to place a cache on State Park Services lands is required to get a permit and Geocaching Identification Number.
Read more: New Jersey State Parks & Forestry Geocache Hiding Permit
