1 Geocaching Chief Seattle Council Program & Training Conference October 20, 2012 Instructor: Rod Gowdy

Meet your Instructor Became Scout Leader in 2003 when my son joined Cub Scouts. Currently an ASM with Troop 100 in Ballard. Began Geocaching in Caretaker of the Chief Seattle Council caches. Here’s my Geocaching “stat bar”: 2

Why a Geocaching class at the Program & Training Conference? 1)Participant Feedback from 2010 Program & Training Conference. You asked for it! 2)Great outdoor activity for Packs, Troops, and Venturing Crews. 3)There’s now a Geocaching Merit Badge! 3

What is Geocaching? Geocaching is a real-world, outdoor treasure hunting game using GPS- enabled devices. Participants navigate to a specific set of GPS coordinates and then attempt to find the geocache (container) hidden at that location. 4

When did Geocaching get started? On May 2, 2000, at approximately midnight, eastern savings time, the great blue switch* controlling Selective Availability (SA) was pressed. Twenty-four satellites around the globe processed their new orders, and instantly the accuracy of GPS technology improved tenfold. GPS receivers were now accurate to 30 feet, versus 300 feet. On May 3 rd, 2000, Dave Ulmer placed the first “stash” near Portland, OR and posted the coordinates online in an internet GPS “user group”. On September 2, 2000, the website www. geocaching.com went online. 5 *There is no “great blue switch”

What’s a “Geocache”? The “cache” is a hidden container. The size of the cache can range in size from “micro” to “large”. Micro – a 35mm film canister or smaller, such as a “nano”. Small – a sandwich sized container Regular – an “ammo” box sized container Large – a 5 gallon bucket sized container The ammo box makes an ideal cache container! 6

Typical Geocache Containers 7

What’s in a “Geocache”? At a minimum, a cache will contain a “log sheet”. You need to sign the log sheet as proof that you found the cache. There are typically other items in the cache: Trackables –Geocoins –Travel Bugs® SWAG – “Stuff We All Get” –Trading items –Small toys or collectibles for kids 8

What’s a “Trackable”? Geocoins: Geocoins are customizable coins created by individuals or groups of geocachers as a kind of signature item or calling card. Each geocoin is etched with a unique code that can be used to log its movements on Geocaching.com as it travels in the real world. Some of these items have traveled hundreds of thousands of miles thanks to geocachers who move them from cache to cache! BSA created their own geocoin for the 100 th Anniversary of Scouting! 9

What’s a “Trackable”? Travel Bugs®: A Travel Bug is a trackable tag attached to an item that geocachers call a "hitchhiker." Each Travel Bug has a goal set by its owner. Goals are typically travel-related, such as to visit every country in Europe or travel from coast to coast. Travel Bugs move from cache to cache with the help of geocachers like you. BSA created their own Travel Bugs for the 100 th Anniversary of Scouting! 10

Types of Geocaches There are actually more than a dozen “cache types”, here are the basic three: –Traditional: This is the original geocache type consisting of, at minimum, a container and a log book or log sheet. –Multi-Cache: A Multi-Cache ("multiple") involves two or more locations or “way points”. –Mystery or Puzzle Cache: This form of geocache may involve complicated puzzles that you will first need to solve to determine the coordinates. 11

Are there any caches around here? 12 You Are Here

Geocaching Websites There’s more than one choice: – The most popular site The only one which tracks Geocoins and Travel Bugs® 1,918,139 caches worldwide (as of 10/17/12 9:20 pm) The Chief Seattle Council “Cache to Eagle®” caches are listed here. – – 13

What’s on a Cache Page? 14

What’s on a Cache Page? (cont) 15 In addition to the type (traditional, multi, etc) description coordinates size difficulty/terrain ratings attributes There is (usually) one more piece of vital information: The Hint!

What’s on a Cache Page? (cont) 16 Difficulty 1.Easy 2.Average 3.Challenging 4.Difficult 5.Extreme Terrain ratings 1.Handicapped Accessible 2.Suitable for Small Children 3.Not Suitable for Small Children 4.Outdoor Enthusiasts Only 5.Extreme

What’s on a Cache Page? (cont) 17 Attributes

Use your Smart Phone* Thanks to the advent of smart phones, it’s even more convenient to go geocaching. 18 *GPS-enabled mobile phone

GPS’ are now Smart! 19 Screenshots taken from an Garmin Oregon ® GPS

GPS or Smart Phone? –GPS Pros –Better “positioning” than smart phones –No need for cell signal Cons –Need to transfer cache data from a computer –Smart Phone Pros –No need to transfer cache data from a computer Cons –Dependant upon strength of cell signal –Susceptible to water, dirt, etc. 20

What’s a “Muggle”? A non-geocacher. Based on "Muggle" from the Harry Potter series, which is a non-magical person. Muggles are mostly harmless. 21

Let’s go Caching! At its simplest level, geocaching requires these 8 steps: Register for a free Basic membership on Visit the “Hide and Seek a Cache" page. Enter your postal code and click "search." Choose any geocache from the list and click on its name. Enter the coordinates of the geocache into your GPS Device. Use your GPS device to assist you in finding the hidden geocache. Sign the logbook and return the geocache to its original location. Return to your computer and “log” the cache online. 22

23 Questions about Geocaching?

Get in The Game! Geocaching was promoted by the Boy Scouts of America for the 100th Anniversary of Scouting as “Get in the Game!” Pillars of Scouting – Scouting themed Travel Bugs® released Cache to Eagle® – Geocaches placed near Eagle Scout projects Treasures of Scouting – Scouting themed geocaches created Race to 2010 – Pinewood Derby cars released as Travel Bugs® Cache in Trash Out – Combining geocaching with environmental stewardship 24

Chief Seattle Council Geocaching 25

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Map of “Cache to Eagle” caches 27

Geocaching Merit Badge Cache to Eagle® Series Requirement 8a: If a Cache to Eagle® series exists in your council, visit at least three of the locations in the series. Chief Seattle Council created these caches 3 years ago! 28

Geocaching MB Requirements 1. Do the following: a. Explain to your counselor the most likely hazards you may encounter while participating in geocaching activities and what you should do to anticipate, help prevent, mitigate, and respond to these hazards. b. Discuss first aid and prevention for the types of injuries or illnesses that could occur while participating in geocaching activities, including cuts, scrapes, snakebite, insect stings, tick bites, exposure to poisonous plants, heat and cold reactions (sunburn, heatstroke, heat exhaustion, hypothermia), and dehydration. c. Discuss how to properly plan an activity that uses GPS, including using the buddy system, sharing your plan with others, and considering the weather, route, and proper attire. 29

Geocaching MB Requirements 2. Discuss the following with your counselor: a. Why you should never bury a cache. b. How to use proper geocaching etiquette when hiding or seeking a cache, and how to properly hide, post, maintain, and dismantle a geocache. c. The principles of Leave No Trace as they apply to geocaching. 30

Geocaching MB Requirements 3. Explain the following terms used in geocaching: waypoint, log, cache, accuracy, difficulty and terrain ratings, attributes, trackable. Choose five additional terms to explain to your counselor. 4. Explain how the Global Positioning System (GPS) works. Then, using Scouting’s Teaching EDGE, demonstrate the use of a GPS unit to your counselor. Include marking and editing a waypoint, changing field functions, and changing the coordinate system in the unit. 31

Geocaching MB Requirements 5. Do the following: a. Show you know how to use a map and compass and explain why this is important for geocaching. b. Explain the similarities and differences between GPS navigation and standard map reading skills and describe the benefits of each. c. Explain the UTM (Universal Transverse Mercator) system and how it differs from the latitude/longitude system used for public geocaches. d. Show how to plot a UTM waypoint on a map. Compare the accuracy to that found with a GPS unit. If you were unfortunate enough to spend Sessions #2 and #3 with me for the “GPS” class, you know have the tools and knowledge to teach this requirement for the merit badge! 32

Geocaching MB Requirements 6. Describe the four steps to finding your first cache to your counselor. Then mark and edit a waypoint. 7. With your parent’s permission*, go to Type in your zip code to locate public geocaches in your area. Share the posted information about three of those geocaches with your counselor. Then, pick one of the three and find the cache. To fulfill this requirement, you will need to set up a free user account with Ask your parent for permission and help before you do so. 33

Geocaching MB Requirements 8. Do ONE of the following: a. If a Cache to Eagle® series exists in your council, visit at least three of the 12 locations in the series. Describe the projects that each cache you visit highlights, and explain how the Cache to Eagle® program helps share our Scouting service with the public. b. Create a Scouting-related Travel Bug® that promotes one of the values of Scouting. "Release" your Travel Bug into a public geocache and, with your parent’s permission, monitor its progress at for 30 days. Keep a log, and share this with your counselor at the end of the 30-day period. 34

Geocaching MB Requirements 8. Do ONE of the following: c. Set up and hide a public geocache, following the guidelines in the Geocaching merit badge pamphlet. Before doing so, share with your counselor a six-month maintenance plan for the geocache where you are personally responsible for the first three months. After setting up the geocache, with your parent’s permission, follow the logs online for 30 days and share them with your counselor. d. Explain what Cache In Trash Out (CITO) means, and describe how you have practiced CITO at public geocaches or at a CITO event. Then, either create CITO containers to leave at public caches, or host a CITO event for your unit or for the public.9. Plan a geohunt for a youth group such as your troop or a neighboring pack, at school, or your place of worship. Choose a theme, set up a course with at least four waypoints, teach the players how to use a GPS unit, and play the game. Tell your counselor about your experience, and share the materials you used and developed for this event. 35

Geocaching MB Requirements 9. Plan a geohunt for a youth group such as your troop or a neighboring pack, at school, or your place of worship. Choose a theme, set up a course with at least four waypoints, teach the players how to use a GPS unit, and play the game. Tell your counselor about your experience, and share the materials you used and developed for this event. 36

37 That’s it! Thank you for attending the Chief Seattle Council 2012 Program & Training Conference. After you complete your evaluations, turn them in to the instructor to receive your event patch.