Geocaching
Get In to The Game!!!!Geocaching is a relatively new topic in Boy Scouting - having recently been added as a merit badge. You may be wondering, what's Geocaching all about? An encyclopedia defines it as follows: Geocaching is an outdoor sporting activity in which the participants use a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver or other navigational techniques to hide and seek containers, called "geocaches" or "caches", anywhere in the world. A typical cache is a small waterproof container containing a logbook. Larger containers such as plastic storage containers (tupperware or similar) or ammo boxes can also contain items for trading, usually toys or trinkets of little value. Geocaching is often described as a "game of high-tech hide and seek," sharing many aspects with benchmarking, orienteering, treasure-hunting, letterboxing, and waymarking. |
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So in Scouting terms, it's a HIGH TECH TREASURE HUNT! Using your GPS unit, a person could key in the coordinates of ask the GPS to find caches that are near you, and away you go. Be sure to register (it's free) with the online site - Geocaching.com. The site will allow you to find out details about the cache that are hidden throughout the world. It will also allow you to make notes and details about the ones you find and the cache that you hide too. Some caches are in plain sight and easy to locate and some will have you double checking if not triple checking the area before you find it. Many caches will give hints to make finding it a little easier. When you find the cache, simple log your name into the enclosed log book and "swap some swag". (Swag is small odds and ends, trinkets, keychain). Sometimes, you might get lucky and find a traveling bug. A traveling bug is usually a coin with a trackable code on it. When you get back home, be sure to log in to Geocaching.com and enter that code. You will log where you found it and then you help "the bug' travel along by depositing it into another cache. The Hoosier Trails Trading Post has everything in stock that you need to get out there and start Geocaching. We have Geomate Jr, Official Geocaching waterproof containers, compasses, waterproof log books and journals. And much more in stock!!!! Hoosier Trails Council also has one cache hidden on the Scout Center property and more will be hidden soon throughout the council. Valuable coupons for the Trading Post will be placed in the caches on a regular basis. So Stop In, Get Supplied, and then Get Outside and Get In The Game!! |
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