Geocaching

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Geocaching?!?!?!
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So what is Geocaching?

• a high-tech treasure hunting game
• played throughout the world
• by adventure seekers equipped with GPS devices.

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The basic idea

• to locate hidden containers, called geocaches,
  outdoors and
• then share your
• experiences online.

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Whats a cache

• A container with
• stuff
• maybe a travel bug or a travel coin
• A log book

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Who does this?

• People from all age groups
• People with a strong sense of community
• People who support for the environment.

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What do you need?

• a GPS (and extra batteries)
• time anywhere from 1 hour to many days
• sense of adventure and fun

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Where do you geocache?

• There are 683,342 active caches worldwide.

EarthCache in Central Park, NY
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Many Different Kinds of Geocaches

• Traditional Cache
• EarthCache
• Mystery or Puzzle Caches

• Multi-Cache
• Event Cache
• Cache In Trash Out Event

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Why are we doing this?

• Teambuilding
• Physical activity get outside
• Learn a new activity

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In your classroom

• You can use existing geocaches or create your
  own.
• We have some examples of how you could create
  clues based on your course
• We created a puzzle to put together as a team
  building activity after finding the geocaches as
  small groups

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Things to consider

• Participants might not find all clues
• They might take another groups clues
• Points difficult to get reading good to use a
  few GPS units when setting them up and check one
  last time when actually putting out caches
• The weather

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Lets start at www.geocaching.com
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Login

• Username Voccon2009
• Password GPS2009
• Go to HIDE SEEK A CACHE on the left hand side
  of the page
• Enter the Postal Code for Sir Guy K2G 5L4
• Map It on the right hand side

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Geocaches around Sir Guy

• http//www.geocaching.com/map/default.aspx?lat45.
  2771lng-75.9457

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Click on the cache and
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Tour dOttawa (west) a Multi-cache set on some
of the bike paths of Ottawa

• http//www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?
  guid238b8770-4ead-4298-b6e7-1ff1807a5fde

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Once youve found your geocache

• At the bottom of the information check out the
  Cache Logs
• Read what others have found, and write what you
  found

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Your region

• Take 3 minutes to explore your region around your
  school.
• Ask for help if youre having trouble!
• PLEASE LOG OUT!!!!

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So How Do You Find a Geocache?

• Upload base maps of the area
• Download the Geocaches at your GPS website (ie.
  Garmin.com)
• To map your Geocache, click on the one you are
  seeking
• You can draw a path to it
• You can use your compass

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But for today

• Youre group will be given a hard copy of a
  satellite image (map) of the area with the
  general location of the geocaches
• Youll be given the coordinates of each of the
  caches for this multicache
• Use the GPS along with some clues to locate each
  cache
• Well help you get started with your GPS unit

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What you need to know about the GPS for today

• Hold the power switch to turn it on
• OUTSIDE it has to gain the satelite signals
  (this might take a few minutes)
• Press page to find the screen with the latitude
  and longitude coordinates
• Nothing fancy is needed for today

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What to bring?

• Warm clothes mitts might be good
• Outdoor footwear for walking (youll be walking
  on snow etc.)
• GPS unit handle with care please!
• Reading glasses if you need them
• Sense of humour

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How it should work

• Well give your group an envelope
• Find your first geocache make sure it has
  your groups letter on it take the whole cache
  (bag and all)
• Continue to your 2nd using the clue from the 1st
  geocache (make sure you get your groups cache)
• If you are struggling dont give up come see
  us at the front doors
• The idea is to have fun!

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Time to Begin

• the Geocaching Experience