Sometimes you find really cool stuff or really stupid stuff placed in Geocaches. When you find a cache with items for trade, you can take something and leave something. Always try to leave something as good as or better than the item you take. You can leave something without taking but never take without leaving or soon the cache will be empty. There are some really good ideas for swag and some really bad ones. Let’s look at the bad ideas first.

Never place these items in a cache, EVER:

Food may seem like a good idea sometimes but the creatures and critters have better noses than we do. They will find it first and the cache can be destroyed or hauled off to an animal den.

Nothing dangerous like knives, guns, needles, etc. for obvious reasons.

No drugs of any kind. It just isn’t a good idea.

Nothing illegal of course!

Nothing that could be deemed for adults only.

You never know who or how old the next cacher will be.

Lighters, matches, or fuel. Again, do you want a 10-year-old with matches in the woods near your house?

These aren’t banned but not preferred either:

Junk that no one wants, like parts off of other things.

Broken toys.

Stuff picked up on the trail on the way to the cache, like rocks or rabbit poop.

Trash of any kind.

Dirty items because they get everything else in the cache dirty.

Flyers, business cards, religious material etc. It’s just not the place for it and it leaves a bad impression on those who find it.

Coupons are iffy… unless it is for a local business (not yours)

Some great ideas for swag:

Foreign Coins

Erasers

Matchbox Cars

Neat Cookie Cutters

New Pens or Pencils

Flashlights

Mini Tools

Small Camping Gear

Books

Novelty Items

Costume Jewelry

Ornaments

Office Supplies

Small or Miniature Decorations

Collectibles

Gift Certificates or Coupons for Local Businesses

Dog toys for those who bring their best friend with them!

The main thing is to think about is who will be the next cacher when you are picking out your swag to trade. The various dollar stores have some neat stuff and some junk so pick according to what you or your kids would want to find. Another great place to look is a goodwill or a thrift store. The hunt for great swag to trade can be just as much fun as the hunt for a swag-filled cache. Some people don’t include swag in their caches even when there is plenty of room, some reasons I heard for not adding swag is that it gets expensive, people don’t leave stuff when they take things, if it gets wet it could ruin the cache or it could become garbage if the cache gets broken or muggled. All valid reasons but the very first cache had swag and I feel every cache big enough for swag should have it, we all know the feeling we get when we find a cache with something cool in it and the kids love it!!