Introduction to Geocaching

1. Introduction to Geocaching Doug Earl (D of “ABCDMCachers”)

2. Agenda • What • When • Where • Who • Why • How • Travel Bugs • Resources

3. What

4. Geocaching – What is it? • An outdoor adventure game for GPS users of all ages • GPS = Global Positioning System

5. What – In a Nutshell • Someone hides a weatherproof box in the woods. • The latitude and longitude of the box is published on the Internet. • Others go out and find the box using their portable GPSr. • Finders sign the log, trade trinkets. • When they get home, they log the find on the Internet.

6. What – Boiling it Down “I use multi-billion dollar military satellites to find Tupperware hidden in the woods.”

7. What Is a Geocache? • A weather-resistant container such as Tupperware, Rubbermaid, or surplus ammo box Usually

8. What Else Can it Be? • Micro Caches • 35mm film canisters • Magnetic key holders • Or smaller! (Nano caches) • Camouflaged • Fake doggie doo • Hide-a-key rocks • Hollowed out rocks • Pine cones • Plastic spiders

9. What Else Can it Be? - 2

10. What Else Can it Be? - 3

11. What’s in a Geocache? • Logbook • Trinkets to trade • Examples: toys, books, coins, tools, games, etc. • Information sheet that explains the container and has contact information.

12. When

13. Timeline May 1, 2000 Selective Availability Removed May 3, 2000 “Stash” hidden in Oregon Sept 2, 2000 Geocaching.com started with 75 caches Accuracy before: Accuracy after: 100 meters 10 meters or better

14. Where

15. Where are They Hidden? • All over the world • 479,372 active caches in over 200 countries (as of 11/1/2007) • Well over 500 in the metro-Milwaukee area

16. The World

17. United States

18. Wisconsin

19. Milwaukee

20. Where – Kinds of Places • Places with natural beauty • Parks – state, county, city • Hiking and biking trails • Areas with historical significance • Urban areas • Park and rides, waysides • Interesting places you didn’t know existed even in your own backyard

21. Where - Specifically • Hollow trees and logs • Handrails, fence posts • Hanging in trees • Usually under or behind something, but never buried

22. Where Won’t They Be? • National Parks • Private property unless owner gives permission • Under bridges • Less than .1 mile from another cache • Less than 150 feet from railroad

23. Who

24. Who Participates? • All ages, walks of life • Singles, Couples, Families, Retirees • People who enjoy the outdoors • People who like technology

25. Who Hides Them? • Anyone who has a geocaching.com account • All caches must be approved • Maybe you? • Get experience finding before hiding your own - find at least 20

26. Why

27. Why Geocache? #1 • The journey to the cache – beautiful areas and interesting places

28. Why Geocache? #2 • Family activity

29. Why Geocache? #3 • The challenge of the find, the thrill of the hunt

30. Why Geocache? #4 • The numbers game

31. Why Geocache? #5 • Read about others’ adventures

32. The Packers: 8-1 OK, no caching Sunday afternoons Why Geocache? #6 • Turn off the TV and enjoy the outdoors! Get some exercise while you’re at it.

33. Why Geocache - Different Ways to Enjoy Traditional Caches – Most common Like hikes? – Multi-caches Like puzzles? – Mystery caches Like socializing? – Event caches Like history? – Virtuals Like challenges? – Try higher difficulty Like traveling? – Try county or Delorme challenge

34. Mystery/Puzzle Caches • Before finding the cache, you need to solve a puzzle, sometimes on the cache webpage, sometimes at the cache site

35. Mystery/Puzzle Caches (2)

36. How

37. First Steps • Create a geocaching.com account • Buy or borrow a GPS receiver

38. Find Nearby Caches • Search by zipcode or latitude/longitude

39. Find Nearby Caches - 2 • Use Google Maps from geocaching.com or Google Earth

40. Find Nearby Caches - 3

41. Read About the Cache Cache type, name, Who placed it Size Difficulty/Terrain Unique Identifying code (AKA waypoint) Latitude, Longitude Distance from home Download Lat/Lon file (so don’t have to manually enter) Attributes Hints! Travel Bugs / Geocoins

42. Enter the Coordinates into the GPSr Waypoint Name Waypoint Note (Optional) Latitude and Longitude(Coordinates)

43. Follow the Arrow When the arrow points straight up, you are going in the right direction. How far you have to go Direction you are going(Typically only works while moving) Direction you SHOULD go(bear right)

44. Look Around • Look for anything unusual or out of place. • Look in places that YOU think would be good to place a cache. • No luck? Enlarge your search area • Heavy tree cover affects signal • Use a compass – only high-end GPSr’s have a built-in compass

45. Woo Hoo! Found it! • Sign the log book • Trade items if you wish • Family-friendly, no food • Leave something of equal or greater value compared to what you take • Re-hide the cache back in the same spot • Log your experience on geocaching.com and “collect a smiley”

46. Hiding Your Own • Show off a favorite area • Show how sneaky and creative you can be • Get permission from land manager • DNR land - must fill out form • Be mindful of environment

47. Travel Bugs

48. Travel Bugs and Geocoins • Travel from cache to cache (not collectible!) • Usually have a goal, Examples: • Visit all baseball parks, all capitols • Have picture taken with <fill in the blank> • Final destination: Alaska, South Pole • Journey is tracked on geocaching.com

49. TB Examples • TB Tag has a unique ID# • Attached to a small item

50. TB Examples - 2 • From the “you gotta be kidding me” file