So you went to a recent Geocaching event, won a raffle and received a bright, shiny, “un-activated” trackable.  Now what?  Here’s some information about Trackables – How to Start Them on Their Journey.

“Un-Activated” Trackable

 What is a trackable?

A trackable is a tag, coin, t-shirt, tattoo, or other item that has a unique number used to track its travels from Geocache to Geocache, or from cacher to cacher.  It is usually attached to another item (signature item, stuffed animal, keychain, etc.)

Trackables – How to Start Them on Their Journey

Activate the trackable

Locate the small piece of paper, card, or sticker that came with the trackable and notice that it has activation information on it.  For most trackables you will go here:  www.geocaching.com/track.

• Enter the tracking code on the actual trackable (not the one on the piece of paper) in the Activate Trackable box and click Activate.
• Enter the Activation Code (on the piece of paper or sticker) and click Activate Your Trackable (NOTE:  If you did not get, or lost the activation code don’t worry.  You can click on the Retrieve Your Activation Code button, complete the next screen and your activation code will be retrieved
• For Step 2 the only required information is a Name.  You can edit the Mission, Description and Collectible status (i.e. Can someone who finds the trackable keep it for their collection) later if you want.
• Step 3 will prompt you for the Date and Location that the track
  able was activated.  Check the date and select the Country/State/Province from the drop down menus.  Click Complete Activation
• Congratulations!  Your trackable has been activated!
• Click on your Trackable’s personal home page
• On the trackable’s page you will find the information you just submitted (Current Goal, About This Item, Collectible) and some options on the right.  NOTE: Do not give out the Tracking Number to anyone!  This is how people prove that they retrieved (physically took it out of a cache) or discovered it (saw it).  You can give the Reference Number to people so that they can visit your trackable’s page.
• Select the Print Info Sheet option so that you can attach the Info Sheet to the trackable so cachers can read about its Current Goal and Description.  This will help them determine if they want to retrieve it from the cache or let another cacher get it closer to its goal.  Many trackable owners will laminate the Info Sheet to protect it from the elements.
• Select the Upload an Image option to post a picture of your trackable and whatever you attached it to.
• If you see a typo on the page or want to change anything, just select the Edit This Trackable option.

After Activation

Go find a cache!  Place your trackable inside the container.  When you log the cache online (or using your smartphone app) select the Dropped Off option under action for that trackable.  This is the start of its incredible journey!

• After you drop off the trackable in a cache and it has been moved to another one, you will see the Tracking History and View Map features on the trackable’s page.  It’s quite interesting to watch as your item moves all around the world.  If you notice that the mileage doesn’t quite add up, Choose the Recalculate Distance option under Actions on the right.
  

  Trackable attached to a USB keychain

• If you have Google Earth installed, click on View in Google Earth, then open the .KML file that was downloaded.  You will see the satellite view of where your trackable has been.  (Use Street View to see if you can see the cache!)