Do you and/or your child love the outdoors, exploring new places and looking for interesting things? Then you should try geocaching! It's a treasure hunt right in your own neighborhood! All you need to get started is a GPS-enabled device, coordinates for a geocache and a sense of adventure.
There are geocaches hidden all over the world. The containers range from small pill holders to large containers that hold special objects like toys and other trinkets, which you can exchange for trinkets that you bring along (optional, but lots of fun!). When you find a cache, you open it up, sign the log and then put it back exactly as you found it. It's so simple and so much fun!
There are geocaches hidden all over the world. The containers range from small pill holders to large containers that hold special objects like toys and other trinkets, which you can exchange for trinkets that you bring along (optional, but lots of fun!). When you find a cache, you open it up, sign the log and then put it back exactly as you found it. It's so simple and so much fun!
There are only a few rules to follow:
- The most important is to be discrete so you don't alert someone who isn't a geocacher to the location, then always be sure to put the cache back properly so it isn't easy for a passer-by to spot. This is to make sure the caches stay safe and intact.
- If you take something from the cache, leave something of equal or greater value.
- Always sign the log in the cache and then log your visit on www.geocaching.com.
The only equipment you really need is a GPS-enabled device, but there are a few other things that are good to bring along just in case:
- Exchange items
- Pencil (in case the cache's pencil is missing or it's too small to hold one)
- Gloves (sometimes you need to dig or move brush - easier to convince yourself to do it with gloves!)
- Snacks and water
- Notebook (to keep track of the caches for the day)
- Camera
To get started, visit www.geocaching.com, read Geocaching 101 and sign up for a free account. Then search by your zip code to see how many caches are waiting to be found right in your town!
Our First Solo Find (we had been going with experienced friends)Little One and I have been going geocaching since she was one and now that she's three, she is getting old enough to look for the caches! She had her first find earlier this week (see the video). It's a great family activity! Do you geocache? Are you going to try it out?
