Geocaching

Family Geocaching 101

Black Hills Family Magazine·
ArticlesBig KidsElementaryFun TimesTeen

the basics for beginners

 

WHAT EXACTLY IS GEOCACHING?

According to Wikipedia, it’s an outdoorΒ recreational activity in which theΒ participants use a Global PositioningΒ System (GPS) receiver or mobile deviceΒ and other navigational techniques to hideΒ and seek containers, called β€œgeocaches” or β€œcaches”, anywhere in the world. InΒ short, it’s a real-world treasure hunt usingΒ your GPS or iPhoneβ€”and it’s happeningΒ all around the Black Hills!

 

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU START

  1. Difficulty Levels: each cache has a level from beginner toΒ expert that will be marked on the owner’s profile. Make sure youΒ and your explorer can handle the terrain and the size of the cache.
  1. Where is the treasure? Not all caches have treasures in them–some just have a logbook. Read the comments below the cacheΒ profile to set your kids up with proper expectations.
  1. One-for-One: only take one item from the cache. Children canΒ take turns with taking and replacing items for each cache you visit.

 

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DOWNLOAD THE APPS BEFORE YOU HEAD OUT:

  1. Geocaching: $9.99 (for iPhone or Android)
  2. Google Maps or MapQuest, to use as aΒ geo-locator: price range from free, and up.
  3. Geobucket or Geocaching Toolkit: price rangeΒ from free, and up.

*Note: you may not need this one right away,Β but if you’re a geocaching pro, it may be justΒ what you are looking for!

 

THINGS TO TAKE WITH YOUΒ GEOCACHING:

  1. Pen or pencil: to sign the logbook!
  2. Phone: you need to know where you’reΒ going–and to share photos!
  3. SWAG: a toy or treasure to swap.Β If you take one, replace it with somethingΒ similar or better!

 

THE HUNT BEGINS FOR YOUR FIRST GEOCACHE:

  1. Create an account at Geocaching.com. You will useΒ your login info with the Geocaching app.
  2. Launch the app and hit the β€˜Find Nearby Geocaches’ button.
  3. Review the cache details for difficulty, trinkets needed, etc.
  4. Choose one from the list and head out on your adventure!

 

DOCUMENT YOUR GEOCACHING ADVENTURE

  1. Sign the logbook at the cache location with yourΒ geo-name (your username on geocaching.com)
  2. Mark it off your cache list! This lets the cacheΒ owner know you found it.
  3. Take a picture and Instagram it, use hashtagΒ #BHPtreasure @bhparent. (but don’t give awayΒ the location!)

 

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ACRONYMS

First to Find. Congratulations!Β You were the first to find a new geocache!

BYOP: Bring Your Own Pen/Pencil.
If you see this on the cache profile, thereΒ is no pen/pencil at the cache location.

D/T: Difficulty/Terrain. GeocachesΒ are rated in two categories on a 5-pointΒ scale. Knowing the difficulty level of theΒ cache location will help in planning yourΒ treasure map.

TFTC: Thanks for the Cache. Let theΒ owner of the cache know about yourΒ adventure and thank them for the find!

SWAG: Stuff We All Get. These are theΒ trade items you find within the geocache.Β For examples of what geocachesΒ look like check out geocaching.com.

 

 

Compiled by Jenna Carda