Geocaching
Enjoy searching for secret stuff when you go…
Family adventures, treasure hunts and going for walks in interesting places are all part of geocaching. Geocaching (say “geo-kash-ing”) involves using a mobile phone or a GPS (global positioning system) device to track down an object that’s been hidden outdoors.
To get started, ask an adult to go to a geocaching website and download an app. One of the best is geocaching.com, which has a free app. Your grown-up will have to create an account and then you can see if there’s something near you that you’d like to try to find. The app will guide you to within a few metres of the object.
The object, called a geocache, is usually a container. It could be hidden in all sorts of intriguing places, such as low down in a tree or behind a gatepost, and will be clearly marked with a label. It could be as small as your thumb or as big as a hockey stick. three more than
There are hidden geocaches million the world. around
When you open the geocache, the person who placed it there will have put a logbook inside, perhaps along with a few small things such as toys and keyrings. Always take a pencil when geocaching so that you can make an entry in the logbook to show it has been found. Also, feel free to swap one or two of the objects for other fun things you have brought along. Never put food, drinks, money or valuable items in the container. You should then put the container back exactly where you found it. Using your app, record that you have found it.
Geocaching is an exciting way to get some exercise and visit places you perhaps haven’t seen before. Start by looking for easier geocaches and work your way up to more tricky finds that are further away. Once you have found a few you might even be tempted to set up your own geocache for others to track down.
“It was fun to go for a walk and have things to look for when geocaching. Some were really hard to find but it was exciting when we did. One was hidden in a plastic carrot in a bush and another in a split tennis ball. We walked a lot further than usual because we wanted to get the treasure!”
Names: Jessie & Gus
• 2 April 2022