Geocaching, Outdoor Fun for the Whole Family!
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As the weather is getting nicer outside our desire to get outdoors is becoming greater. One great reason to get outdoors and spend time with family is to get into “geocaching”. Geocaching has become very popular over the last 10-15 years, and it is no wonder why.
- It is free; there is no cost to you to enjoy geocaching
- It teaches players how to utilize current technology; ie smartphones, GPS devices
- It is great for younger kids to focus their attention & fun for the whole family
- It is rewarding to find the “hidden” treasures
- It is not only nation-wide, but a global fascination
- It gets you outdoors!!
But what is geo-caching you ask? Geocaching can basically be summed up as a “targeted scavenger hunt”. Geocaching is a real-world, outdoor treasure hunting game using GPS-enabled devices. Participants navigate to a specific set of GPS coordinates and then attempt to find the geocache (container) hidden at that location. Geocachers seek out “treasures” hidden by others, all while exploring interesting locations.
Geocaching can officially be traced back to May 2000, when the U.S government discontinued its use of Selective Availability in order to make GPS more responsive to civil and commercial users worldwide. GPS enthusiast DAVE ULMER, decided to test the accuracy of GPS technology and placed a container in rural Portland, OR and published the GPS coordinates online. Within days, readers learned of this hidden stash and shared their experiences online. The idea caught on quickly and has evolved ever since.
Geocaches can be found all over the world. These locations can be quite diverse. They may be at your local park, at the end of a long hike, underwater or on the side of a city street.
To get started, follow these simple steps:
- Visit geocaching.com to create a free account online and install the app.
- Find a geocache – use the app (or GPS device) to navigate to a nearby geocache, and don’t forget a pen/pencil.
- Share your experience – sign & date the logbook, place the geocache EXACTLY where & how it was found, log the experience online.
Just remember, this is a social game with many others playing:
- If you take something from the geocache (or "cache"), leave something of equal or greater value.
- Write about your find in the cache logbook.
- Log your experience at www.geocaching.com.
- Remember that not everyone is playing so be discrete about locating your geocaches, as some of them could be placed in public areas.
Geocaches vary greatly in size and appearance. In the field you will see everything from large, clear plastic containers to film canisters to a fake rock with a secret compartment. So, how do you find the cache? The first step is to get a general idea of the cache's size. The size is shown on each cache page. A general overview of the cache size graphic is found below. Please note that these are just examples; sizes can vary.
Micro - Less than 3 oz. Examples: a 35 mm film canister or a tiny storage box typically containing only a log sheet.
Small - 3 oz or larger, but less than 1qt. Example: A sandwich-sized plastic container or similar.
Regular - 1 qt or larger, but less than 5 gal. Examples: a plastic container or ammo can about the size of a shoebox.
Large - 5 gal or larger. Example: A large bucket.
These are just the basics to get started on your new geocaching adventure, be sure to visit www.geocaching.com to learn more about your new favorite hobby!