Geocaching for KidsGeocaching for KidsOperation: Military KidsOperation: Military Kids

UW ParksideUW Parkside4/14/074/14/07

What is Geocaching?What is Geocaching?►A high tech treasure hunt?A high tech treasure hunt?►Hide and Seek with GPSs?Hide and Seek with GPSs?►Using a multibillion dollar satellite Using a multibillion dollar satellite

system to find tupperware in the system to find tupperware in the woods?woods?

What is Geocaching?What is Geocaching?►An adventure game using a GPSAn adventure game using a GPS►Containers (caches) are hidden around the Containers (caches) are hidden around the

world by geocachersworld by geocachers►The coordinates are posted on the internetThe coordinates are posted on the internet►Other geocachers try to find the hidden Other geocachers try to find the hidden

containers using the coordinatescontainers using the coordinates►Those finding the cache post a log of their Those finding the cache post a log of their

experiences on the internetexperiences on the internet

Where are caches locatedWhere are caches located►You can search online by zip code, You can search online by zip code,

state, or other criteriastate, or other criteria►258 active caches within 5 miles of 258 active caches within 5 miles of

herehere►5690 in Wisconsin5690 in Wisconsin►382,000 Caches Worldwide382,000 Caches Worldwide►More are added dailyMore are added daily

How does it work?How does it work?►Step 1 – Get the coordinates and put Step 1 – Get the coordinates and put

them into the GPS.them into the GPS.►Step 2 – Find the cache.Step 2 – Find the cache.►Step 3 – Sign the logStep 3 – Sign the log►Step 4 – Trade swag (optional)Step 4 – Trade swag (optional)►Step 5 – Record your experience onlineStep 5 – Record your experience online

Any Other Rules?Any Other Rules?►Rehide the cache as you found itRehide the cache as you found it►Don’t leave food, liquids, knives, or Don’t leave food, liquids, knives, or

dangerous stuff in a cachedangerous stuff in a cache►Have fun! (This one is mandatory!)Have fun! (This one is mandatory!)

What does a geocache look What does a geocache look likelike

►Ammo Box (Regular)Ammo Box (Regular)►Tupperware (All Sizes)Tupperware (All Sizes)►Film Canisters (Micro)Film Canisters (Micro)►Magnetic Key holders (Micro)Magnetic Key holders (Micro)►Pill BottlesPill Bottles►5 Gallon buckets (Large)5 Gallon buckets (Large)►Nano containersNano containers► Just about anything Just about anything

Types of CachesTypes of Caches►TraditionalTraditional►MultiMulti►Puzzle/Mystery CachesPuzzle/Mystery Caches►Virtual Virtual ►EarthcachesEarthcaches►EventsEvents

Getting a Geocaching Getting a Geocaching AccountAccount

►Go to Go to www.geocaching.com►Click on login near the topClick on login near the top►Click on “Create a new account”Click on “Create a new account”►You have to provide your Name, Email You have to provide your Name, Email

address, Geocaching Handle, and address, Geocaching Handle, and PasswordPassword

►Submit it and wait for the confirmation Submit it and wait for the confirmation emailemail

Geocaching HandlesGeocaching Handles►PermanentPermanent►Unique to youUnique to you►How the Geocaching community will How the Geocaching community will

know youknow you►Something that reflects your name, Something that reflects your name,

personality, or something about youpersonality, or something about you►Examples: Team Deejay, Blue Examples: Team Deejay, Blue

Squirtles, SpeedydeedeeSquirtles, Speedydeedee

Activity – Pick a HandleActivity – Pick a Handle

Travel BugsTravel Bugs►Special items with a tracking numberSpecial items with a tracking number►Travel from cache to cache, not to be Travel from cache to cache, not to be

kept by finderskept by finders►Sometimes they have goals, such as Sometimes they have goals, such as

getting to a specific place or having a getting to a specific place or having a picture taken at various placespicture taken at various places

►Geocoins – A special type of travel bug Geocoins – A special type of travel bug in the form of a coinin the form of a coin

Activity – Make a Travel BugActivity – Make a Travel Bug

GPSGPS►Stands for Global Positioning SystemStands for Global Positioning System►Created by the US Department of Created by the US Department of

Defense for military navigationDefense for military navigation►Works by getting signals from 24 Works by getting signals from 24

satellites satellites ►Location is provided in Latitude and Location is provided in Latitude and

LongitudeLongitude

Latitude and LongitudeLatitude and Longitude► Latitude is a measure of how far North and Latitude is a measure of how far North and

South you are.South you are.► The equator is 0°, the North Pole is 90°N The equator is 0°, the North Pole is 90°N

and the South Pole is 90°S.and the South Pole is 90°S.► Longitude is a measure of how far East and Longitude is a measure of how far East and

West you areWest you are► 0° is in Greenwich, England and 180° is in 0° is in Greenwich, England and 180° is in

the middle of the Pacific Oceanthe middle of the Pacific Ocean►We are roughly at N42.6° Latitude, and We are roughly at N42.6° Latitude, and

W87.9°LongitudeW87.9°Longitude

Rules for the hunt!Rules for the hunt!►Organize in to teams of 2-3 kids with one Organize in to teams of 2-3 kids with one

facilitator and any parentsfacilitator and any parents►No logbooks today, Stamp your sheets with No logbooks today, Stamp your sheets with

the stamps found in each containerthe stamps found in each container► Stay with your group. If you somehow get Stay with your group. If you somehow get

lost, start yelling. We will find you. lost, start yelling. We will find you. ► The field to the north of the woods and east The field to the north of the woods and east

of the building is very wet. Don’t go through of the building is very wet. Don’t go through there unless you like wet feet!there unless you like wet feet!

►Get back to the building by 2:15 PMGet back to the building by 2:15 PM