Geocaching for Kids Operation: Military Kids UW Parkside 4/14/07

What is Geocaching? ► A high tech treasure hunt? ► Hide and Seek with GPSs? ► Using a multibillion dollar satellite system to find tupperware in the woods?

What is Geocaching? ► An adventure game using a GPS ► Containers (caches) are hidden around the world by geocachers ► The coordinates are posted on the internet ► Other geocachers try to find the hidden containers using the coordinates ► Those finding the cache post a log of their experiences on the internet

Where are caches located ► You can search online by zip code, state, or other criteria ► 258 active caches within 5 miles of here ► 5690 in Wisconsin ► 382,000 Caches Worldwide ► More are added daily

How does it work? ► Step 1 – Get the coordinates and put them into the GPS. ► Step 2 – Find the cache. ► Step 3 – Sign the log ► Step 4 – Trade swag (optional) ► Step 5 – Record your experience online

Any Other Rules? ► Rehide the cache as you found it ► Don’t leave food, liquids, knives, or dangerous stuff in a cache ► Have fun! (This one is mandatory!)

What does a geocache look like ► Ammo Box (Regular) ► Tupperware (All Sizes) ► Film Canisters (Micro) ► Magnetic Key holders (Micro) ► Pill Bottles ► 5 Gallon buckets (Large) ► Nano containers ► Just about anything

Types of Caches ► Traditional ► Multi ► Puzzle/Mystery Caches ► Virtual ► Earthcaches ► Events

Getting a Geocaching Account ► Go to ► Click on login near the top ► Click on “Create a new account” ► You have to provide your Name, address, Geocaching Handle, and Password ► Submit it and wait for the confirmation

Geocaching Handles ► Permanent ► Unique to you ► How the Geocaching community will know you ► Something that reflects your name, personality, or something about you ► Examples: Team Deejay, Blue Squirtles, Speedydeedee

Activity – Pick a Handle

Travel Bugs ► Special items with a tracking number ► Travel from cache to cache, not to be kept by finders ► Sometimes they have goals, such as getting to a specific place or having a picture taken at various places ► Geocoins – A special type of travel bug in the form of a coin

Activity – Make a Travel Bug

GPS ► Stands for Global Positioning System ► Created by the US Department of Defense for military navigation ► Works by getting signals from 24 satellites ► Location is provided in Latitude and Longitude

Latitude and Longitude ► Latitude is a measure of how far North and South you are. ► The equator is 0°, the North Pole is 90°N and the South Pole is 90°S. ► Longitude is a measure of how far East and West you are ► 0° is in Greenwich, England and 180° is in the middle of the Pacific Ocean ► We are roughly at N42.6° Latitude, and W87.9°Longitude

Rules for the hunt! ► Organize in to teams of 2-3 kids with one facilitator and any parents ► No logbooks today, Stamp your sheets with the stamps found in each container ► Stay with your group. If you somehow get lost, start yelling. We will find you. ► The field to the north of the woods and east of the building is very wet. Don’t go through there unless you like wet feet! ► Get back to the building by 2:15 PM