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Have you ever wanted to hunt for treasure?

A person looking down on a treasure map with the word 'where?' written on it.

Now you can with geocaching!

It's a great way to explore the outdoors, discover new beautiful locations, and get some exercise...all while having fun!

Did you know?

Since 2000, there are more than 3 million active geocaches worldwide, hidden in more than 190 different countries on all seven continents (even Antarctica)!

What is Geoaching?

Geocaching is the world's largest modern-day treasure hunt.

tupperwear container hidden under tree branches in the woodsImage courtesy of Kitzzy Aviles

How it works:

  1. People all over the world hide "treasure" (aka geocache)

  2. They publish the GPS coordinates on Geocaching.com

  3. You use your smartphone to find the treasure

  4. ALWAYS bring a pen to sign the log when you find it

You never know what you'll find or where the coordinates will lead you, but that's part of the fun!

Let's look at 3 ways you can get the most out of your next geocaching adventure.

Did you know?

Geocaches come in all shapes and sizes–from large containers to micro canisters. They're often camouflaged, but never buried. No digging!

1. Rediscover play

Remember when you were little and you spent all day playing and any little thing made you happy?

A young woman dancing outside with subtitle, 'Unleash your inner child!'

As we grow up, we get busy and forget to play. Geocaching is a great way to bring out your inner child and find joy in the little things again.

A green geocache container opened in the woods.Image courtesy of Kitzzy Aviles

An example of a micro geocache container.Image courtesy of Kitzzy Aviles

Often what you'll find inside a cache are trinkets, but it's less about what you find than the journey to find it.  

Quiz

What MUST you bring with you when geocaching? Check all that apply:

Did you know?

Some geocaches contain small trinkets for trade, such as stickers, toys, or even games. If you take something, leave something of equal or greater value. You may also find trackables — these have a unique tracking number and move from geocache to geocache towards a goal.

2. Get some exercise

The best workout is the one you'll actually do.

Why not combine exercise with a fun activity to get your steps in?

A group of three young people hiking and pointing at things in nature.

While there are "park-and-grab" geocaches, others require walking or hiking a few miles to get to the destination: some even have multiple destinations!

A montage of various beautiful scenery.

A graphic showing two footprints. The text reads, 'Got my steps in.'

Because you'll be busy looking for the cache and taking in the scenery, you'll be surprised at how many steps you'll log without realizing it.

Did you know?

Can't find the treasure? They're usually well hidden or disguised. Check the hint or latest activity on the cache page for clues of where to look. If nobody found it recently, it may be missing.

3. Discover new places

Often the reward isn't what you find, but where you find it.

Nick Offerman walking up a grassy field. The camera zooms out to reveal a scenic landscape.

People often hide geocaches in beautiful places others wouldn't normally stumble upon on their own, like a hidden gem in their city.

Try geocaching when traveling to a new city as a fun and challenging self-tour of cool places to visit.

Let's go geocaching!

For your first geocaching adventure, you decide to explore a nearby park known for its scenic trails and hidden treasures. You've prepared all your geocaching essentials, including your smartphone, some trinkets, and a pen.

While searching, you come across a well-hidden geocache with a unique-looking container. What should you do next?

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A. Take the geocache and all of its contents as a souvenir.

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B. Sign the logbook with your geocaching username and date as proof of your find.

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C. Leave the geocache where you found it without touching it.

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D. Share a photo of the container and the exact hiding spot on social media.

Quiz

Select the best answer on what to do next after finding the geocache.

Take Action

Now it's your turn to find some treasure!

Bart Simpson says, 'On a treasure hunt.' Homer asks, 'Oh, can I come?'

License:

This Byte has been authored by

KA

Kitzzy Avilés

Instructional Designer, Leader and Facilitator

Master's Degree

English

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