"Cache In Trash Out® (CITO) is an environmental initiative supported by the geocaching community. Since 2002, CITO has helped preserve the natural beauty of cache-friendly spaces. In that time, there have been more than 502,000 logged attendances at more than 26,000 events where geocachers helped improve the outdoors." (from geocaching.com's blog)
- By participating in a CITO event this year, you have the opportunity to earn 2 unique souvenirs for your profile.
- CITO 2021 Season 1: March 1 - August 31
- CITO 2021 Season 2: September 1 - November 30
- This event qualifies you for the Season 1 souvenir.
- Attend as many events as you would like, but only one souvenir will be awarded per season.
This Event: CITO 2021 Season 1: Frederick City Watershed
May 16th / 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
General Info
We are very excited that you are interested in this event!
If you are absolutely planning on or even just considering joining us, PLEASE post a "Will Attend" that includes # IN YOUR PARTY so we can get a head count and have enough supplies on hand.
This event is a little different in structure. We will not be gathering before this event to socialize. Main coordinates take you to a public parking area. The City of Frederick has graciously agreed to partner with us to remove the rubbish we are able to gather and they require that you sign a waiver if you plan to participate. BYOP to sign your waiver. We will not have a lot of extras on hand.
After signing your waiver, we have a supply kit that we have assembled for you. It includes: a map with marked waypoints, dark colored trash bags for trash, 2 white trash bags for aluminum cans, glass bottles and plastic soda/ water bottles (we will be recycling these) and nitrile gloves. Take your supply kit and head up into the mountains!
Almost everything we are gathering will be designated as "trash" (black bags). THERE ARE 3 EXCEPTIONS: Aluminum cans (to be donated to our local fire company Independent Hose #1's Auxiliary Drive), glass bottles and plastic bottles -- they will be recycled. Please do not put "other recyclables" into the white bags.
Waypoints
Please look at the waypoints. We have done a thorough survey of the section of Hamburg Road the city would like us to work in and included a waypoint for each place it would be a good idea to stop. If you are able, please load the pre-chosen clean-up spots (waypoints) into your GPS prior to the event. If you get to a pull-off location and it's occupied (even if not by a CITO person, skip it and continue to the next waypoint). There is more than enough to tackle! It will make your efforts much more productive. We are working the entire section of Hamburg Road from where the Watershed begins to where to where it ends at the top of the mountain before the intersection with Gambrill Park Road. Waypoints are intended as stopping places to leave your car, do an initial clean up and then the idea is you will work back a section of roadway, return to your vehicle and work ahead a section of roadway. If you have a partner and want to "leapfrog" your vehicles, we've done this in the past and it works very well.
If you are unsure if this event is wheelchair accessible, we have noted that Waypoints 17 & 18 will provide you with terrain 1 but we cannot guarantee where the trash is located for pickup.
COVID Guidelines
Please note, your health and safety are the top priority. ALL current state recommendations with regards to the COVID-19 outbreak WILL be adhered to. You will need to wear your mask for pick-up of supply kits and may choose to keep it on your person in the event that you need it while working in an area.
Please Consider Bringing/ Wearing:
- Boots/ Shoes you don't mind getting wet or muddy
- Long pants (please be aware of ticks, mosquitoes, poison ivy and briars)
- Some OFF repellant
- Grabby tools if you have them
- Thicker gloves (we have used the fabric ones sold at home improvement stores that are dipped on the palms with latex -- but bring what makes you comfortable)
- Hunting orange or bright yellow shirts and/ or reflective vests (Hamburg Road is 25 mph but there are more than a few blind curves, no pedestrian walkway and people do speed. We've had to jump into the ditch a few times...
- Your mask
- A FILLED re-usable water bottle
Safety Issues
The pull off areas as you head up the mountain on Hamburg Road are *very* small and some are narrow. Be conscious and aware of traffic and the mountain bikers (that can sneak up on you) as you are on and crossing the roadway.
Please take our advice about bright colored clothing and reflective gear if at all possible. You are responsible for yourself.
To make drivers even more aware of our presence, we have arranged to borrow large orange signs that will read "Crew Working" (or something to that effect) that will be placed at the beginning end and throughout our work area for drivers to see.
This area is used by picnickers, hikers, people fishing, mountain bikers and people just out to enjoy a scenic drive. We have done clean ups up here for years by ourselves and are familiar with what to expect... FYI: the pull-off areas are sometimes used by people to "relieve themselves". Watch your step.
If you have children, we are going to ask that you NOT work at the main pull-off areas. Instead, we would like to send you up to the pond (marked as waypoint 17). You will find ample parking and the kids will be able to help work away from the roadway. Please note that you will likely see discarded alcoholic containers at almost if not every spot. If this is not something you want your kids to see, we understand completely and will hopefully be able to have you join us at another event.
When You Are Done
Your black trash bags need to be placed at a location in the Watershed (still TBA/ being arranged w/ the City of Frederick). We have arranged for the city of Frederick to pick everything up and haul it out for us!
Please return to check-in and drop your white trash bags with your hosts. We are taking them home to sort. We are so very grateful that you chose to spend your morning with us helping to make our Watershed cleaner and more beautiful.
"Every time we CITO we work to create a better world. Whether we pick up trash at a park, plant trees, paint over graffiti, or build insect hotels for pollinators—we build community with our geocaching neighbors and we leave our incredible geocaching gameboard better off than how we found it." (from geocaching.com's blog)
Your Reward
If you haven't visited already, consider packing a lunch or snacks and spending the afternoon enjoying the trails and geocaches hidden in the Watershed or nearby Gambrill State Park. You earned it!
BUT to make things a little sweeter, we are having a photo contest. We will accept 1 photo entry per geocaching account of the most unusual item you found during clean up. (Y'all would not believe some of the stuff we have discovered over the years!) This image does NOT need to include your face but we do need to see what IT is. Simply post your photo with your "Attended" log by midnight the day of the event. We will have 2 non-geocachers serve as impartial judges. Winners will be announced the next evening on the event page and we will mail prizes to the winner and runner up. Truly, thank you for your efforts!