Geocaching%20and%20Cub%20Scouts

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Geocaching and Cub Scouts

• Presented by Bill Mulvihill
• Vice Chairman, Programs Huguenot Trail
  District, Heart of VA

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Who am I?

• Involved in BSA for over 30 years (Eagle Scout)
• Presently serving on Huguenot Trail District
  Staff
• 6 years as a Cubmaster Pack 861, Bon Air
  Presbyterian Church in Heart of VA Council and
  Pack 184 Transatlantic Council
• Former Den Leader, ASM
• Have planned over 60 Pack meetings
• Dad of a Eagle Scout and Life Scout

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What this presentation is not

• A How To Guide to Conducting a Geocache event

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What this presentation is

• Nothing more than tips and suggestions
• Situations and experiences that I learned from
• A pointer to good online resources
• Hopefully, a time where we can share ideas

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Agenda

• Intro What is it?
• What Do You Need
• How Do You Plan
• What Are the Benefits
• How Do I Introduce to my Den/Pack
• Geocache Rules and Etiquette
• Where Can You Find Out More Information

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What is it?

• Cub Scouts LOVE BURIED TREASURE.
• All around us, other Geocachers have hidden
  stuff with a goal of having others finding it.
• There is a free website which you can use to
  find clues and latitude/longitude coordinates
  to a cache. www.geocaching.com
• You use a hand-held GPS devise to find the
  cache. You either enter the coordinates by
  hand or download them from the free website.

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What Do You Need?

• Access to a computer to find caches
• At least 1 handheld GPS devise, preferably 2 if
  going as a den activity as the boys will want to
  lead the way
• Pen, paper, and paper copies of the clues
• Extra batteries
• Trash BagsAlways pick up trash along the way
• An inquisitive and fun attitude
• Sturdy walking shoes

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What are the Benefits?

• Opportunity to incorporate different activities
  into any outdoor event
• Gain appreciation for parks in and around us.
• Learn tracking and navigation skills
• Learn how GPS devices work
• FUN WITH A PURPOSE

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How Do I Introduce to my Den/Pack

• Teach a limited amount of terms, know-how indoors
• Scouts want to be outdoors. The sooner you get
  them on their first cache search, the more of
  their attention you will get
• Determine Parents/Leaders who have an interest in
  this
• Optimum group size for a cache search is probably
  6-8a den size group
• Use a simple box compass course to teach the
  concepts of navigation to the scouts
• Build a themed cache yourself

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Geocache Rules

• Safety is rule 1.
• Stay away from road traffic and railroad
  crossings
• Dont place caches higher than 6 ft or allow any
  dangerous climbing to retrieve any caches
• Dont require scouts to swim to reach a cache
• Enforce the buddy system
• Never bury a cache
• Avoid sensitive ecosystems
• Dont place caches in archaeological or historic
  sites
• Dont deface any object, natural or manmade
• Respect private property

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Geocache Etiquette

• Practice Cache In and Trash Out (CITO)
• Follow Leave No Trace guidelines
• Be careful of the area around the cache
• Follow all laws and regulations
• Write an entry in the logbook
• Take Something Leave Something (TSLS)
• Taking a travel bug requires you to log that
  you have it and to ultimately send it on its way
• Respect other visitors to the area
• Beware of muggles

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More Information Available

• www.geocaching.com
• www.geoscouting.com
• Geocaching Merit Badge, BSA

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Thank You!