GEOCACHING Tony Riehl Skyview High School, Billings, MT Jennifer Riehl Lockwood Middle School, Billings, MT

1. A sport where one uses billions of dollars worth of government equipment to locate useless dollar store items in remote locations on planet earth. Geocaching (v.):

Geocaching What is a geocaching?

Geocache - A hidden object or location that is posted by its coordinated for others to find. Geocacher - An individual that tries to locate a geocache after being given the coordinates and maybe some hints. Waypoint - Waypoints are named coordinates representing points on the surface of the Earth (latitude and Longitude). Geomuggle or Muggle - A non-geocacher. Usually this term is used after a non geocacher looks puzzled at a geocacher making circles with their GPS receiver, or when a non- geocacher accidentally finds a cache. Common Terms

On May 3rd, 2000 Dave Ulmer hid a cache in Oregon and posted the coordinates on the Internet. It became the first geocache. Geocaching is now in all 50 states and more than 200 countries. How did Geocaching get started?

The first cache location

Geocache containers

Where are they hidden?

Traditional caches Micro caches Multi-caches / Offset caches Virtual caches Event caches CITO events Travel bugs Variations on geocaches

Cache In / Trash Out CITO While searching for a cache, geocachers are encouraged to pick up and tote out trash they find along the way. Geocaching organizations often host large CITO events for picking up trash in an area.

Geocache Rules Cache contents No food No weapons (knives, ammunition, explosives) No drugs or alcohol No adult materials No solicitations (business, religious, political)

No caches close to active railroad tracks. No caches on military installations. No caches near or under highway bridges, dams, government buildings, or airports. No caches on school property without permission. No buried caches No caches near cemeteries More rules…

Cache Objectives Take people to a special location that they may never see Introduce people to a landmark or history of a location.

What do I do when I find one? Sign the logbook Take one of the trinkets Leave one of your own trinkets Replace the cache just as you found it for the next geocacher to find

Is there a cost to Geocaching? You need a GPS ($100+) Gas ($???) Premium Geocaching Membership ($30)

Travel Bug - Montana Bug3

Montana Bug3 in Hereford, UK

Where in the world are they?

Where in the USA are they?

Where in Montana are they?

Billings Area?

Billings, MT?

Billings Heights?

Are there hazards to geocaching?

Hazard #1

Hazard #2

Hazard #3

Hazard #4

The start of poison ivy.

Poison Ivy!!

Poison Ivy !!!!

Ouch!!!!!!

What Is a GPS? (Global Positioning System) Launched in 1978 by Dept. of Defense –24 satellites (plus 3 spares) 11,000 miles high in orbit 7000 mph (2 orbits under 24 hrs.) –Cost of $12 billion –Each weighs 2000 lbs and is 17ft across –Became available for civilian use in 1980

GPS receivers Garmin Magellan and many others

The Satellite Screen The GPS will begin searching for satellites. When it has found enough satellites to know your coordinates, it will say “Ready To Navigate”

For More Information Geocaching.com Geocacher’s Creed Geocacher University Buxley's Geocaching: Geocaching with Kids The Reals: