Table of Contents

Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) Situation / Arkansas Events & Geocaches

Update June 25, 2021:  Effective immediately, all requirements related to COVID-19 for events are suspended.  However, statements / precautions may be added at the discretion of the event host or as required by the management of the event venue.

March 30, 2021:  Although the state mandate requiring the wearing of masks was ended by Governor Asa Hutchinson today, restaurants and event venues are allowed to make their own decisions on the continuation of mask requirements.  Therefore, the following requirement continues for all events.  Event hosts must contact the appropriate party responsible for the location of an event  to obtain permission for holding the event at that location and to determine if any special requirements, such as mask wearing, apply.  Approval of anticipated group size and event activities, including food offerings, must be obtained.  Examples of persons who should be contacted include, but are not limited to, the restaurant manager, if indoors, or city parks department head, if held outdoors.  Confirmation of this contact with the person responsible for the event location must be stated in a reviewer note when the new event is submitted for review.  Any special requirements for the event location must be listed on the event page.

For example, if masks are still required by the event location, then this must be clearly stated.  For example,

"The restaurant management requires that all attendees wear a mask covering the nose and mouth and the practicing of social distancing while inside the restaurant,"

OR

"The city of (city name) requires that all attendees wear a mask covering the nose and mouth and the practicing of social distancing while attending an event at this park."

The following statement must also be provided on the event page, as it remains unchanged by the lifting of the state's mask mandate:

"Please do not attend if you have been diagnosed with COVID-19 (symptoms of COVID-19), if you are waiting for COVID-19 test results, or if you may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 within the previous 14 days."

November 1, 2020:  Due to the current surge in COVID-19 cases in Arkansas, event descriptions are to provide appropriate warnings and recommendations as listed on the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) COVID-19 webpage [ADH LINK] and CDC guidance for gatherings [CDC LINK].  Other sources of recommendations/restrictions, such as those issued specifically for cities or counties or contained in Executive Orders issued by the Governor of Arkansas, should also be considered.

The additions to your event page should include, but not be limited to:

* A recommendation for the wearing of a mask covering the nose and mouth and the practicing of social distancing, and

* A request for geocachers not to attend if they have been diagnosed with COVID-19 (symptoms of COVID-19), if they are waiting for COVID-19 test results, or if they may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19.

June 15, 2020:  The publishing of events to be held in restaurants has resumed.  This is based upon Arkansas moving to Phase 2 for dine-in operations of restaurants.  The manager of the restaurant where the event is to be held must be contacted to determine their requirements for group events.  They must provide permission for holding the event at the restaurant.  They must also approve the anticipated group size.  Confirmation of this communication with the restaurant manager should be stated in a reviewer note when the new event is submitted for review.  Any special requirements provided by the manager must be included on the event page.

May 19, 2020:  The publishing of new events in Arkansas has resumed.  However, until further notice, new events must be held in outdoor venues and meet the requirements listed in the Arkansas Department of Health's "Directive Regarding Large Outdoor Venues" which may be found at this [LINK].  The manager of the venue (for example, city parks department, state park, etc.) may have additional requirements and must provide permission for holding the event at the venue.  They must also approve the anticipated group size and event activities, such as food offerings.  This should be stated in a reviewer note when the new event is submitted for review.  Due to the limitation of group sizes to 10 for dine-in at restaurants, events to be held in restaurants will not be published until this restriction is lifted.

May 12, 2020:  The publishing of new geocaches in Arkansas has resumed.

May 5, 2020 (Tentative End of Moratorium on Geocaches):  A target date for resuming the publishing of new geocaches in Arkansas is tentatively set as May 12, 2020.  This date is conditional upon there being no changes in the state's Coronavirus status that would result in the halting any of the actions implemented under Phase 1 of the state's recovery plan.  If conditions prompt a reversal of the state's actions and the imposition of new restrictions, then the moratorium will continue until such time as these restrictions end.  Therefore, geocaches previously submitted and not published due to the moratorium should not be resubmitted again until the reviewer has posted a note to the cache page that the moratorium on new geocaches is officially over.

May 5, 2020 (Tentative End of Moratorium on Events):  A target date for resuming the publishing of new events in Arkansas is tentatively set as May 19, 2020.  This date is is conditional upon the anticipated reopening of large indoor venues starting May 18 with groups of no more than 50 people allowed.   Although large outdoor venues are being allowed to reopen starting May 4, with groups of no more than 50 people allowed, rather than making a distinction between outdoor and indoor geocaching events, it has been decided to go with the latter date.  If conditions prompt a reversal of the state's actions and the imposition of new restrictions, then the moratorium will continue until such time as these restrictions end.   Therefore, new events should not be submitted for review until the moratorium on new events is officially over, as indicated by an announcement on this policy page.  New events will need to be scheduled to occur no earlier than 14 days after the date of official end of the publishing moratorium.  Events scheduled earlier than this date will not be published.

April 5, 2020 (Moratorium on Geocaches):  Although there is currently no state-wide “stay at home” order from Arkansas Governor Hutchinson in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, due to the continuing rise of COVID-19 cases in Arkansas and in consideration of “The President’s Coronavirus Guidelines for America”, it is prudent to revise the reviewing practices for the State of Arkansas effective April 5, 2020.

Until such time as safe practices to prevent the spread of the virus are no longer considered necessary, only new geocaches in those locations which are consistent with social distancing and do not tempt geocachers to leave home unnecessarily will be published, such as locations in extremely remote areas not near any communities or private residences.  Caches in or near cities/towns, rural residential areas, near businesses, or in locations that are officially closed will not be published.  If there is uncertainty about a particular cache location, caution will prevail and the cache will not be published.  While this approach may be imperfect, it is consistent with the Federal guidelines and preferable to stopping all cache publication within the state.

March 20, 2020 (Moratorium on Events):  As the Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) situation continues to evolve, there have been increased directives and recommendations from federal officials and city and state government officials in Arkansas emphasizing that gatherings of greater than 10 people be avoided, cancelled and/or rescheduled. Additionally, on March 19, Governor Hutchinson ordered the closure of all bars and limited restaurants to carryout/delivery, until further notice. Other public places where groups of people may gather have also been closed.

Based upon this and in consideration of social distancing, new geocaching events, including CITO events, will not be published, until further notice.

Additionally, for events which have already been published, the hosts should consider either cancelling the event or postponing it to a future date when such restrictions are lifted, and social distancing is no longer recommended.

If you decide to cancel your event, the following steps should be taken:

1. Create an Announcement log to notify users that the Event is cancelled.

2. Archive the listing.

If you decide to postpone your event, the following steps should be taken:

1. Create an Announcement log to notify users that the Event is being postponed.

2. Either archive the listing and submit a new listing,

   OR

3. Request the reviewer to retract the listing (which basically takes it from a published state)

4. Edit the existing listing to change the date, time, and any other affected information

5. Submit the revised listing for review.

Your understanding in these unprecedented times is greatly appreciated.

Arkansas State Parks

A geocache permit is required for all Arkansas State Parks. The permits are issued locally at each state park office or visitor's center. The permit number should be added to the Description section of the cache listing (example: This cache was placed with permission of Petit Jean State Park, Permit No. PT-22). Permit numbers are uniquely assigned by each state park. A list of Arkansas' 52 state parks may be found at the Arkansas State Parks home page.  Information on geocaching within the state parks, including a link to the state park geocaching policy may be found on this state park web page.

While most state parks allow the public to place geocaches within the park boundaries, geocaches may only be placed by authorized park staff at these 10 state parks:

• Conway Cemetery State Park

• Herman Davis State Park

• Jenkins' Ferry State Park

• Louisiana Purchase State Park

• Marks' Mills State Park

• Parkin Archeological State Park

• Poison Spring State Park

• Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park

• South Arkansas Arboretum

• Toltec Mounds Archeological State Park

Ozark - St. Francis National Forest

A geocache permit is required for placing a cache within the boundaries of the Ozark - St. Francis National Forest. The permits are issued locally at the district offices within the National Forest. The permit number should be added to the Description section of the cache listing (example: This cache was placed with permission of Ozark - St. Francis National Forest, Permit No. xx). Permit numbers are uniquely assigned by each district office. There are some "islands" of private property with the National Forest, so there may be locations within the forest boundaries where a permit is not required. The cache owner must provide this information, however.  Click HERE for a link to the Forest Service page where you can download the permit form.

Ouachita National Forest

A geocache permit is required for placing a cache within the boundaries of the Ouachita National Forest. The permits are issued locally at the district offices within the National Forest. The permit number should be added to the Description section of the cache listing (example: This cache was placed with permission of Ouachita National Forest, Permit No. xx). Permit numbers are uniquely assigned by each district office. There are many "islands" of private property with the National Forest, so there may be locations within the forest boundaries where a permit is not required. The cache owner must provide this information, however.

National Park Service Areas Within Arkansas

Geocaches are not allowed in the following areas which are operated by the National Park Service, unless explicit permission (including an email to the Geocaching.com reviewer) is provided by the Park Superintendent:

• Hot Springs National Park

• Buffalo National River

• Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site

• Fort Smith National Historic Site

• Arkansas Post National Memorial

• Pea Ridge National Military Park

Arkansas Game & Fish Commission Land

A geocache permit is required for placing a cache within the boundaries of any lake or wildlife management area (WMA) under the oversight of the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission (AGFC). AGFC's geocache placement policy is very restrictive and few public caches are placed on AFGC land. However, the AFGC does have some of its own geocaches placed on their land. A list of AFGC lakes and WMAs may be found on the AFGC webpage.

Army Corps of Engineers Lakes, Parks, and Recreation Areas

Most areas under the management of the Army Corps of Engineers require permission for geocaches placed within those areas.  This includes many lakes within Arkansas as well as recreation areas and parks along the Arkansas River.  Permission must be obtained from the local Corps office managing the area where the cache is to be hidden.  The permit number (if any) should be added to the Description section of the cache listing (example: This cache was placed with permission of Army Corps of Engineers, Little Rock District, Permit No. xx).

Natural Areas

Geocaching is currently not approved on any lands protected and managed within the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission's System of Natural Areas (http://www.naturalheritage.com/natural-area/map.aspx).  Approval would need to be provided by either the Commission's Chief of Acquisitions and Stewardship, Deputy Director, or Director.

Railroad Property

Geocaches placed within 150 feet of an active railroad tracks, including spur lines, are considered to be on property belonging to a railroad.  Explicit permission from the railroad company owning the line must be obtained before a geocache will be allowed within that area.  Exceptions are generally allowed for geocaches placed in public parks, recreation areas, parking lots, etc., especially where man-made physical barriers are provided between the tracks and the geocache's hiding spot.  However, exceptions are considered on a case-by-case basis for the given situation and allowance of the placement should not be assumed by the cache owner.

Hot Springs Village

Starting in late 2020, the Hot Springs Village Home Owners Association prohibited the placement of geocaches within the Village.  All existing geocaches were archived.  Non-residents are no longer allowed into the Village for the purpose of geocaching.

Event Stacking

When two or more events take place at times and in locations close to one another, this is referred to as “event stacking”.  This is not allowed as these events usually target the same attendees.  To avoid the appearance of event stacking, the “3/30 Rule” will be applied to all events submitted for review in Arkansas:

Events must be separated in time by at least 3 hours unless the events are located at least 30 miles from one another.  “Separation in time” means the time between the end of the earlier event and the start of the later event.  If events are separated by more than 3 hours, then event stacking is not a consideration.

Side Events and Mega-Events

Side-Events are events that take place near a Mega-Event, on the days before and after the Mega. The following rules shall be applied to side-events:

• There can be one additional event (hosted by the event team; not a CITO) on the same day of the Mega, but it cannot overlap in time with the Mega.  This Event can be close in location to the Mega. No other events will be allowed within 50 miles of the Mega on the same day as the Mega.
  
  
• Other side-events may be hosted by the Mega event team or by other players and take place on the days before or after the Mega. Events submitted for one day before the Mega and one day after, will be limited to two events per day within 50 miles of the Mega. These side events must be separated in time by at least 3 hours.
  
  
• For side-events that take place two days or more before or after the Mega, the event-stacking “3/30 Rule”, as defined above, will be applied. The number of such events is not limited and the 50-mile distance from the Mega location is not applicable.