Introduction to Geocaching Doug Earl (D of “ABCDMCachers”)
Agenda
What When Where Who Why How Travel Bugs Resources
What
Geocaching – What is it?
An outdoor adventure game for GPS users of all ages GPS = Global Positioning System
What – In a Nutshell 1.
2.
3.
4. 5.
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.
What – Boiling it Down “I use multi-billion dollar military satellites to find Tupperware hidden in the woods.”
What Is a Geocache?
A weather-resistant container such as Tupperware, Rubbermaid, or surplus ammo box
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
What Else Can it Be? - 2
What Else Can it Be? - 3
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.
When
Timeline May 1, 2000 Selective Availability Removed
Accuracy before: 100 meters
May 3, 2000 “Stash” hidden in Oregon
Accuracy after: 10 meters or better
Sept 2, 2000 Geocaching.com started with 75 caches
Where
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 metroMilwaukee area
The World
United States
Wisconsin
Milwaukee
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
Where - Specifically
Hollow trees and logs Handrails, fence posts Hanging in trees Usually under or behind something, but never buried
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
Who
Who Participates?
All ages, walks of life • Singles, Couples, Families, Retirees
People who enjoy the outdoors People who like technology
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
Why
Why Geocache? #1
The journey to the cache – beautiful areas and interesting places
Why Geocache? #2
Family activity
Why Geocache? #3
The challenge of the find, the thrill of the hunt
Why Geocache? #4
The numbers game
Why Geocache? #5
Read about others’ adventures
Why Geocache? #6
Turn off the TV and enjoy the outdoors! Get some exercise while you’re at it.
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
Mystery/Puzzle Caches
Before finding the cache, you need to solve a puzzle, sometimes on the cache webpage, sometimes at the cache site
Mystery/Puzzle Caches (2)
How
First Steps
Create a geocaching.com account Buy or borrow a GPS receiver
Find Nearby Caches
Search by zipcode or latitude/longitude
Find Nearby Caches - 2
Use Google Maps from geocaching.com or Google Earth
Find Nearby Caches - 3
Read About the Cache Cache type, name, Who placed it Size
Difficulty/Terrain Latitude, Longitude Distance from home
Unique Identifying code (AKA waypoint)
Download Lat/Lon file (so don’t have to manually enter) Attributes
Hints! Travel Bugs / Geocoins
Enter the Coordinates into the GPSr Waypoint Name Waypoint Note (Optional) Latitude and Longitude (Coordinates)
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)
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
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”
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
Travel Bugs
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 • Final destination: Alaska, South Pole
Journey is tracked on geocaching.com
TB Examples
TB Tag has a unique ID# Attached to a small item
TB Examples - 2
From the “you gotta be kidding me” file
TB web page
Travel Bug Map
Trackables Page
Resources
Important Terms
FTF: First To Find Muggle: Non-geocacher TNLNSL: Took Nothing, Left Nothing, Signed Log DNF: Did Not Find CITO: Cache In Trash Out 1/1: Referring to difficulty and terrain TB: Travel Bug
Wisconsin Geocaching Association
http://www.wi-geocaching.com
WGA Picnic Event McKenzie Environmental Education Center, Poynette, WI August 21, 2004
Premium Membership
$30/year Have “Pocket Queries” emailed to you • Up to 500 caches centered on a point • Easy to transfer to your GPSr GSAK EasyGPS
Member-only caches Email notification of new caches
Similar Sites
Terracaching.com • Goal: higher quality caches
Waymarking.com • Unique locations, but no cache to find • Misspelled signs, funny mailboxes, waterfalls, water towers, etc.
Letterboxing.org • No GPSr required
Thanks for Attending
Questions?
