Summertime is TREASURE
HUNTING Time!
The
Georgia State Historic Sites History Trail geocaching game is
underway- you can ‘Get Out. Get Dirty. And Get Fit.’ in a Georgia
Historic Site this summer! It’s time to grab your cell phone, comfortable
shoes, and a buddy – let’s go Geocaching!
A few weeks ago the Georgia Discovery Educator Network
sponsored a day of Geocaching on the square in Decatur. It was great fun for all of the teachers
and family members who attended.
Almost everyone was brand new to the activity, and everyone had fun and
learned the basics. Have you heard people talking about Geocaching but you’re
still unsure how to get started?
All you need is a cell phone, a willingness to go outdoors and walk or
hike (you can decide how much energy you’d like to exert), and a love of
treasure hunting. Here are some
tips for beginners (otherwise known as Muggles) who want to start Geocaching.
·
Go to this
article to see a tutorial video and a few websites with basic information.
·
Go to www.geocaching.com
and read as much as you can.
·
Learn the “Leave no Trace” guidelines for
hiking and exploring.
·
Do a little homework: know that a cache can be
one of many different types- Traditional, Multi, Trackable, Offset, Night, Moving,
Challenge, etc.-- read about all
the types on Wikipedia.
·
Learn some of the creative ways people hide
caches- such as this “fake
magnetic bolt”.
·
Download the Geocaching Intro app by
Groundspeak. It is a FREE
condensed version of the $9.99 full version, and it will help you get a feel
for things before spending money.
·
Learn about the symbols on the app and explore
the app before you leave home! It is difficult to read your screen and figure
things out in the bright sunlight if you are a beginner. After you find your first cache it will
make more sense.
·
Pack a backpack with a few basic supplies-
water, a flashlight, a compass, a pencil, etc. and charge your smart
phone.
·
Recruit a friend to go with you and use the
buddy system. It is much more fun
to treasure hunt with a buddy.
·
Open your Geocaching app and find your current
location, then find the closest cache- check out the distance from your
location, the terrain difficulty, and the cache difficulty level. You’ll need to choose a low difficulty
level for your first cache. (I
suggest the “One
Foot in the Grave” cache at the Decatur Cemetery for a first-time cache if
you’re in the area- it is great!)
·
Join a Geocaching group or club.
·
Create and place your own cache!
Enjoy your time outdoors and good luck finding treasures.
Sandi Dennis is the Media and Instructional Technology
Specialist at The 4/5 Academy at Fifth Avenue in The City Schools of
Decatur.
