Geocaching

Geocaching, pronounced gee-o-cashing, is a game of hiding and seeking treasure that is played worldwide.

Perhaps it can best be described as the high tech version of a treasure hunt due to the fact that it is an outdoor sporting activity in which the participants use a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver or other navigational techniques to hide and seek containers, called “geocaches” or “caches”, anywhere in the world.

The basic idea is to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, outdoors and then share your experiences online. It is enjoyed by people from all age groups, with a strong sense of community and support for the environment.

A typical cache is a small waterproof container containing a logbook where the geocacher enters the date they found it. Larger containers such as plastic storage containers (tupperware or similar) or ammo boxes can also contain items for trading, usually toys or trinkets of little value.

Geocaching shares many aspects with benchmarking, trigpointing, orienteering, treasure-hunting, letterboxing, and waymarking.

Geocaching

The players or, to use the right term, Geocachers seek out hidden treasures utilizing Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates posted on the Internet by those hiding the cache. So to participate you will need a handheld GPS receiver.

The Game of Geocaching

Play the Game of Geocaching. Tired of just hiking the same trail? Then Geocaching may be exactly what you’re looking for! Learn about the Earth and Earth Science. Experience How Science and Technology Interact – By: Porsche Targa

Geocaches can be found all over the world. It is not unusual for Geocachers to hide caches in locations that are interesting or important to them, reflecting the special interest or skill of the cache owner.

These locations can be quite diverse. For example, they may be at your local park, at the end of a long hike, underwater or on the side of a city street. A quick online search reveals that the keyword “Geocaching” enjoys high regional traffic ranks in a number of countries including:

Global Positioning Systems are the only systems today able to show you your exact position on the Earth anytime, in any weather, anywhere. GPS satellites, 24 in all, orbit at over 11,000 miles above the Earth. The satellites transmit signals that can be detected by anyone with a GPS receiver. Using the receiver, you can determine your location with great precision. But just as important, you’ll be able to locate other things too, such as a geocache.

Geocaching

When a cache is hidden, the cache’s coordinates are submitted to the official website (www.geocaching.com) for all to see. There are 1,266,386 active caches and they are hidden everywhere in over 100 countries and there is probably one that is close by.

Once you’ve got a GPS unit, you’ll need to know where the caches are hidden. Simply enter the coordinates into your GPS and you’re ready to go.

Once you find the cache, there are a couple of simple rules. Sign the logbook and if you take something from the cache, be sure to leave something. Just be sure to follow the rules as outlined at www.geocaching.com.

Easy Steps For Geocachers…Visit www.geocaching.com:

• 1. Register for a free Basic Membership.
• 2. Click “Hide & Seek a Cache.”
• 3. Enter your postal code and click “search.”
• 4. Choose any geocache from the list and click on its name.
• 5. Enter the coordinates of the geocache into your GPS Device.
• 6. Use your GPS device to assist you in finding the hidden geocache.
• 7. Sign the logbook and return the geocache to its original location.
• 8. Share your geocaching stories and photos online.

Tired of just hiking the same trail? Then Geocaching may be exactly what you’re looking for!