The first thing that you should know about this is that it much more than a treasure hunt like you used to go on when you were a kid.
This “treasure hunt” is not necessarily in search of treasure, though there are some pursuits that do involve a certain amount of reward. But, the rewards of geocaching are really to be found in the pursuit of the goal and discovering things along the way.
This is a unique activity, with more than five million people all over the world taking part, and two million geocaches hidden by people throughout the world. No matter how hard you try, you will never be able to find them all, even in your own local area, and you might want to focus your future travel while also incorporating a geocaching expedition at the same time.
Basics and Community
There are several ways that you can get in on the action, but one of the best ways is to hook up with the international geocaching community. Here you will learn about all the rules, what you will need, and you will be able to get started locally with your own treasure hunt. You will simply need a smart phone or some other device that is GPS enabled, and the ability to log on to the internet when you get back home.
There are several aspects to geocaching that people find interesting and challenging all at the same time. First, you will need to determine just what you are going to go looking for, and then you will need to learn how to fully utilize your GPS to determine the geocache’s whereabouts in comparison to where you are.
Then, there is the actual business of getting to the cache, which is not always as easy as you might think. Some of these are hidden in places that are either hard to find or hard to get to, and many will challenge your strength and your hiking skills. So, it is up to you to decide just what kind of caches you want to go after.
Fun Side of Geocaching
Finally, the aspect of geocaching that a lot of people tend to really enjoy is the bragging. This is when you go online and report what you have found and where, and perhaps leave notes for other people who might be pursuing that destination in the future. Many people have a lot of fun talking with other geocachers all over the world and discovering places that they have been to as a result of this hobby.
What is really unique about geocaching is that it can be done as a solo pursuit, you can do it with friends, or you can enlist your children to help you. Kids always love a treasure hunt and because this also includes technology, don’t be surprised if they are better at it than you. However, this is not necessarily a competitive event (though it can be), and you should partake simply to have fun and learn along the way.
Geocaching Rules to Follow
It is great to participate in a game where there are few rules and geocaching is one of those. But, just because it has few rules doesn’t mean that it is wild or out of control. In fact, it is quite the opposite. Geocaching is a polite game where trust and truthfulness are valued, and you can do a lot of teaching by taking part with your kids.
Rule #1
The primary rule that is used in geocaching is that if you find a geocache and take something out of it, then it is your obligation to put something in of greater value. This might not make much sense to you until you discover your first geocache, but then you will see. The reason for this is because you will not be the first or the last person to find that geocache and you want to make sure that the game is still fun and rewarding for those who come after you.
Rule #2
The second rule of geocaching is that you need to report your findings online. This is done primarily at one major web site, but if you are participating in a local or a private geocaching event, then you may need to report it at another web site.
The reason for this reporting is to let other people know that there is in fact a geocache to be found – but you don’t want to give away the secrets to finding it. You can tell stories of what happened along the way, what you did, or who you met on your travels, but let everyone discover the geocache on their own.
Rule 3: Honesty
Perhaps the most important rule of geocaching is honesty. This is not a competitive sport, but rather one that takes place among people all over the world who are all pursuing their own individual goals. So, if you are the kind of person who has to get to a geocache first or ruin the surprise for other people, then you might as well pack it in. Not only will you anger a lot of other people, but your competitiveness might not be appreciated by your friends, either.
The Goal
The goal of geocaching is different for each person. It might be that you like to do it to get outdoors and get the exercise, while other people may be doing it to learn about local plants or their area in general. You can even take part in geocaching when you are traveling for other purposes and use the sport to guide you around the terrain.
There are certainly competitions that you can take part in, but for the most part, the goal of geocaching is discovery and education. That is something that is best when people are honest, helpful, and not necessarily competitive with each other.
You will probably find that the best part of geocaching is in fact what happens after you find the cache. You can share your story, compare it to others you find online, and make some new friends along the way.
Geocaching Supplies
The geocaching supplies you will need will likely depend on how serious you are with the sport and what your overall goal is. Some people like to hide their own geocache and see who comes to visit it, while others will focus their energy solely on finding the geocaches of others. So, assuming you are new to geocaching, here is a list of items you will need:
1. GPS enabled smart phone or other GPS device
Most people start out simply by using the GPS on their cell phone, but as you grow more serious, you might want to find a dedicated device. These have come down a lot in price in recent years and so you should have no trouble finding a small, portable one that you can take on the road with you. If you want to go about this sport “old school”, then having a traditional compass with you can also be a lot of fun, especially when you are just trying to get an idea as to the location.
2. Pen or pencil
This may sound obvious, but you would be surprised by how many people get to a geocache only to find out that the pen has been taken by the previous visitor and there is no way to log in. So, just in case this happens, you should always have a means of writing and preferably one that won’t get ruined by water.
3. Internet connection
You will need to log on in order to determine just which geocache you are going to go look for and then to report back and write your findings. Some reports are very short, simply stating that somebody has found the item, while others are much longer and a great opportunity to work on your writing.
Now, if you have been doing geocaching for a while and you are ready to create your own geocache, then you will need a few more items, including:
- Official log book for the cache.
- Plastic, waterproof container.
- At least one or more pencils for the cache.
It will then be up to you to go online to the official web site and register your cache. Obviously, there are many different ways that you can set up your cache and when you go online, you will see just what you need to do, how to reports its whereabouts, and also what kinds of clues you can or cannot give in order to help people find it.
After you have hidden your cache, you should monitor the page online for your cache to see if people find it or if they are having any troubles. Often times, you will see that there is a pattern of people not being able to find it, and if so, then you might want to take a look at your coordinates. You can also see if items have been taken from the cache and restock it from time to time so that people aren’t disappointed when they get there.
How to Choose Geocaching GPS Devices
While most people start out geocaching by simply using their smart phone, if you get serious about this, you might want to invest in a dedicated GPS device. These are not nearly as expensive as they once were and thankfully they are far more reliable. The type you decide on will likely depend on your budget, but you will also want to keep in mind some other considerations.
The Area
First of all, keep in mind just what area you will be working in. Some people, especially those who are RVers will go all over the country looking for geocaches. Therefore, they will need to make sure that their GPS has maps of all states. However, if you want to save money, you can find a GPS with a more limited set of maps and you can choose to update your maps over time as you travel further.
Battery Life
Another thing to keep in mind is battery life. You might have this device in your vehicle for some time, but eventually you will want to get out and walk or get on your bike. Therefore, you will need one that will operate for a fair amount of time on its own battery and ideally be able to recharge it when you get back home or to your vehicle.
Marine GPS for Offshore Caches
Some serious geocachers take their caches offshore and that can present problems for people with lower level GPS devices. So, if you are going to be looking for caches offshore or you are going to be hiding them, then you may want to invest in a marine GPS device. These have full sets of offshore maps in addition to onshore maps and will help you navigate whether you are on land or on sea.
Waterproof
The quality of your device is extremely important and that definitely applies to just how rugged it is. There is no point in getting a fancy device if it is going to get bad the first time it is out in the rain. Make sure that you buy a GPS device that is truly waterproof and will still work if you drop it or get it wet. When you are geocaching with kids, this is especially important.
The Screen
The screen of your GPS is also something that you will need to think about. When you are in the woods, you can usually see just about any kind of screen, but if you will be in direct sunlight, you may have problems. There are some newer GPS devices that have adjustable or high contrast screens that may not be as good as your Ipad, but they will be far more visible in bright light or no light.
Finally, the weight and size of your GPS is also something to consider. Because you will be carrying this with you sometimes for great distances, you don’t want to buy one that is too heavy. Paying a little more for one that is lighter will be well worth it.