Geocaching for Fun and FitnessMOAHPERD

November 12, 2011Michelle KendrickeMINTS Program Coordinator

Geocaching for Fun and Fitness

Michelle KendrickeMINTS Program Coordinator Instructional Specialist

What is geocaching?Modern day treasure hunt – Finding a cacheUses gps technology and the Internet

GPS TechnologyGlobal Positioning Systems – developed by U.S. militaryNAVSTAR - 24 satellites Gives precise location in terms of latitude and longitude coordinates

Latitude CoordinatesHorizontal linesMeasured N and S of equatorDegrees ° Minutes ‘ Seconds”

N 39° 36.161’

Longitude CoordinatesVertical linesMeasured E and W of Prime MeridanDegrees ° Minutes ‘ Seconds

W 091° 44.472’

Ways to Record CoordinatesDegrees MinutesN39°34.852', W91°44.920‘

Degrees Minutes SecondsN39°34'51.12", W91°44'55.2“

Decimal Format – Degrees only 39.5808667, -91.7486667

What do I need?GPS DeviceCache Info and Coordinates from Geocaching.comPencilTrinketsExtra Batteries – if your device requires them

GPS DevicesGarmin, Magellan, other GPS devices – as long as they give coordinate data

Cell phone with GPS app

Mobile devices – such as an Ipad with GPS app

What’s in a Cache?

Geocaching.comhttp://www.geocaching.com

Visit the site.Create an account.Find a cache. Log your find.

Create an Accounthttp://www.geocaching.com

Find a Cachehttp://www.geocaching.com

Find a Cache

Types of CachesTraditional

Multicache

Earth Cache

Virtual Cache

Traditional

Multicache

Earth Caches

Log a Cachehttp://www.geocaching.com

Travel Bugs and Geocoins

Other GPS ChallengesGeocaching.com World Challenges

Degree Confluence Project

Wherigo

GPS Games

Terra Clues

Geocaching EtiquetteLeave the cache better than you found it.Observe property rights.Cache In Trash OutBeware Muggles.Don’t log a “spoiler”.

Geocaching Terminology

Geocaching Videos

http://www.geocaching.com/videos/default.aspx

Geocaching Resources

Geocaching for Fun and Fitnesshttp://geocachingforschools.weebly.com

eLearning Online Courseshttp://www.elearningmo.org/

Garmin eTrex

Images from: http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/303/303-204/303-204_pdf.pdf

Garmin eTrex

Images from: http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/303/303-204/303-204_pdf.pdf

Satellite Page

Geocaching for Physical EducationWhat ideas do you have for using geocaching in your classes or work?