Geo caching for beginners

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Description

Geo-caching = an activity or pastime in which an item, or a container holding a number of items, is hidden at a particular location for GPS users to find by means of coordinates posted on the internet.

Beavers, Cubs or Scouts set up an account on geocaching.com and find their first geo-cache in the local area.

Suitable for all sections but adult supervision required. Intended as an "At home" activity (though involves going outdoors obviously).


Resources

An account on https://www.geocaching.com/ (free except for access to premium services)
A mobile smart-phone with GPS capability
A geo caching app, e.g., Geocaching by Groundspeak Inc (free on Android and iPhone)
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.groundspeak.geocaching.intro
https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/geocaching/id329541503

Instructions

Responsible adult should create an account on https://www.geocaching.com/ and familiarise themselves with the basic facilities (not hard). The default after account creation click on "Search geocaches near you - go to map" which will show a map of existing geo-caches in the local area. Check out the descriptions of caches you are interested to visit (some are more interesting than others) and also see whether the cache has been found recently (to avoid a frustrating search).

Note the location of the cache you are interested in or else download and install Geocaching from Groundspeak on you mobile phone. Login using the account you created on Geocaching.com then and find the selected cache on that.

Navigate to the cache. Note that GPS co-ordinates vary in their precision so you may need to search some distance from the indicated position to find the cache. Use the hints if needed to find it. Read the description to add interest to your visit.

Optionally log your find on the paper log and/ or online.

You may not be able to find the cache (some are harder than others) so plan to visit more than one to avoid disappointment!

Have you caught the geo-caching bug yet? Once you have found a variety of caches in several location you can consider placing some caches of your own (tutorials and videos are available on geocaching.com).

https://www.geocaching.com/play/hide

Make sure you respect land ownership and that placing of caches is permitted at the location you choose. Also take care not to disturb wildlife, &c. Follow the countryside code!


Tags

  • geocaching

Badge Links

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