It didn't take long. On May 2, 2000 GPS became available to the masses. On May 3, 2000 the first 'cache' was hidden. Ten years later the millionth cache was registered (hidden). And just three years after that on February 28, 2013 the 2 millionth cache was registered, attesting to the rising popularity of a recreational activity most people don't know about. Well maybe the 5 million geocachers registered on www.geocaching.com know about it. I'm one of them.
Geocaching is like a treasure hunt but with the aid of a GPS device.
Cachers hide caches for other cachers to find. Using their GPS device cachers are able (on a good reception day and in a good reception area) to get within a 10 foot (3m) radius of the hidden cache and then the fun of trying to find the hidden cache begins.
A cache is a waterproof container that can be anything from the very small to the quite large. But each cache has one thing in common, apart from being hidden. Each cache will contain a log book for the cacher who found it to date and sign thereby proving the find. The same find can be recorded on www.geocaching.com where the membership is free. Something else the cache may contain is trinkets which are usually worthless but pure gold as far as kids are concerned.
I fell into this activity when a friend said, "Guess what I did this weekend?". It didn't take long for the bug to bite and there's nothing I like better than to introduce people to an activity that quite truthfully is fun for everyone, from kids to grandparents. In all honesty I cannot think of a better family activity. It's an outdoor recreational activity that will take you to places, often in your own neighbourhood, that you never knew about. It's a four season activity too.
The cost to get involved is minimal. In fact if you have a smart phone a ten dollar app is all you need. If you don't have a smart phone but have a portable GPS for your car you can use that. As well you can predetermine what your geocaching experience will be like as caches are rated for both difficulty of the terrain in which the cache is hidden and the difficulty of finding the cache itself.
I do presentations to families and groups about geocaching and that's why this page is here. I've found that people find it helpful to have an experienced cacher with them, at least for their first caching experience. The presentations I do are free. So if your family or group would like to know more about geocaching just click on the Contact Me button and perhaps we can set something up where you live.
For more information about geocaching here is the site to visit: www.geocaching.com
Have a look at the front page and then click on 'videos'. Once on the video page click on 'Getting Started with Geocaching'.
Oh, one last nota bene. Should you decide to register on geocaching.com you will need to come up with a geocaching name for yourself or your family. Come up with a good one and hope someone hasn't thought of it first. My geocaching name? waterloo.bob
Geocaching is like a treasure hunt but with the aid of a GPS device.
Cachers hide caches for other cachers to find. Using their GPS device cachers are able (on a good reception day and in a good reception area) to get within a 10 foot (3m) radius of the hidden cache and then the fun of trying to find the hidden cache begins.
A cache is a waterproof container that can be anything from the very small to the quite large. But each cache has one thing in common, apart from being hidden. Each cache will contain a log book for the cacher who found it to date and sign thereby proving the find. The same find can be recorded on www.geocaching.com where the membership is free. Something else the cache may contain is trinkets which are usually worthless but pure gold as far as kids are concerned.
I fell into this activity when a friend said, "Guess what I did this weekend?". It didn't take long for the bug to bite and there's nothing I like better than to introduce people to an activity that quite truthfully is fun for everyone, from kids to grandparents. In all honesty I cannot think of a better family activity. It's an outdoor recreational activity that will take you to places, often in your own neighbourhood, that you never knew about. It's a four season activity too.
The cost to get involved is minimal. In fact if you have a smart phone a ten dollar app is all you need. If you don't have a smart phone but have a portable GPS for your car you can use that. As well you can predetermine what your geocaching experience will be like as caches are rated for both difficulty of the terrain in which the cache is hidden and the difficulty of finding the cache itself.
I do presentations to families and groups about geocaching and that's why this page is here. I've found that people find it helpful to have an experienced cacher with them, at least for their first caching experience. The presentations I do are free. So if your family or group would like to know more about geocaching just click on the Contact Me button and perhaps we can set something up where you live.
For more information about geocaching here is the site to visit: www.geocaching.com
Have a look at the front page and then click on 'videos'. Once on the video page click on 'Getting Started with Geocaching'.
Oh, one last nota bene. Should you decide to register on geocaching.com you will need to come up with a geocaching name for yourself or your family. Come up with a good one and hope someone hasn't thought of it first. My geocaching name? waterloo.bob