1. Project O.R.I.E.N.T. Using GPS & Geocaching to Explore Environmental Science
2008 NCMSA Conference
Powerpoint available at

2. Outdoor Environmental Education has been great for Elementary School students…
…but Middle School students are not engaged by the same lessons or methods.

3. So what does engage middle school youth?
Technology
Connections to the Real World
Perceived Trust / Freedom
Social Opportunities
Challenges / Quests

4. Can we turn any of these things to our advantage?
Technology
Students become acquainted with handheld GPS Units – finding locations according to latitude and longitude.

5. Can we turn any of these things to our advantage?
Perceived Freedom / Trust
Students make their own group decisions. Instructors are there for safety and support, NOT to direct students in where to go or how to accomplish a task.

6. Can we turn any of these things to our advantage?
Challenges / Quests
Students are engaged in “geocaching” – a quest to find hidden treasures, using a GPS unit, a map, a set of known coordinates, and one's own wits.

7. Geocaching? Geo-cashing?
Geo-what?
Geocaching? Geo-cashing?
I’m gettin’ paid?
Cash money?
Woohoo!

9. In traditional geocaching, the fun is in the “search”, and once you find the cache there are a few trinkets to exchange. Then you head on your way.
If this were true in Project O.R.I.E.N.T., we’d have a fabulous geography program, but would have only scratched the surface of the potential science…

10. So rather than trinkets, students find instructions and equipment leading them to perform various tasks…
Scientific
Mathematical
Team Challenges
Social Science

11. Outdoor Research In Environment, Navigation & Technology
The Result
A technological scavenger hunt - perfect for engaging middle school students - that sends groups of students exploring deep into the forests, streams and natural environs of our 220 acre campus. Once there, they participate in age-appropriate science & math explorations.
Project O.R.I.E.N.T.
Outdoor Research In Environment, Navigation & Technology

12. Project O.R.I.E.N.T. Day One: Morning Travel, Arrival & Orientation
Afternoon Skills Rotations
Day Two:
Geocaching on site, with science, math and other challenges at each cache.
Day Three:
Further Geocaching…
Afternoon Departure
& Travel Home

13. We’ve done the setup work, and we have the facilities & staff to provide the program…
But we haven’t put a patent on it. If you want to set up a similar program based from your own classroom, here’s a few things to think about:

14. What Guiding Principles Will You Consider?
What Base of Knowledge is Necessary?
How will you Build this Base of Knowledge?
What Topics Will You Include At Caches?
What Equipment & Resources Will You Need?
What are the Logistical Details?
Where Can We Grow From Here?

15. A Few of Our Guiding Principles
We must take advantage of the 220 Acres we are blessed with!!
Teaching students how to use a GPS without also increasing their map literacy is plain irresponsible.
We will paint with a wide brush, exposing students to a wide range of Environmental Sciences, not just one specific area.
Every student should be involved in group decisions, especially when searching for caches.
Our focus must always be on getting students excited about science, and excited about the outdoors.

16. Building a Base of Knowledge
Knowledge & Understanding of Latitude & Longitude
Coordinate System
(Including Direction, Minutes/Degrees, etc)

17. Building a Base of Knowledge
Knowledge & Understanding of Topographic Maps
(Including how to find locations using landforms & lat/long)

18. Building a Base of Knowledge
Knowledge & Understanding of Why GPS Receivers Work
(Including satellite system and triangulation)

19. Building a Base of Knowledge
Knowledge & Understanding of How to employ a GPS Receiver
(Including 4 main Navigation Screens, Mark & Goto)

20. Example Science Topics We Have Pursued
Plankton Nets & Microscope Searches in Pond Water
Classification of Stream Macroinvertebrates
Forest Mapping
Wildlife Habitat Checklists
Stream Flow
Slope & Erosion

21. Interdisciplinary Topics We Have Pursued
Creative Storytelling
Local Cultural History Landmarks
Algebraic Puzzles
Mind-Benders
Team Challenges

22. Equipment & Resources GPS Units (1:3 ratio?)
Maps, Globes, etc for Lat/Long Discovery
Topos for Cache Location
Open Spaces for Cache Placement
Cache Containers
Specific Cache Contents/Equipment

23. Logistical Details Where is the area you will use to hide caches?
How much time do you have to teach the “Base
Knowledge”?
How much actual search time do you have?
How will you keep track of the caches you have hidden?
What sort of rotation will you use, if you have multiple
groups searching for caches at the same time?
What happens if groups catch up to each other?

24. Where Can We Grow From Here?
GPS & GIS can be Complementary
So far, the GPS is used only to locate the cache. How do we use it as a tool at the cache?
Real Data Collection, then manipulation with data from other data collectors, especially into GIS mapping projects.

25. Special Thanks… A big thanks goes out to the
Student Science Enrichment Program
at the
Burroughs Welcome Fund.
Who will you be thanking??

26. Teacher ORIENT
A chance for educators to experience Betsy-Jeff Penn’s Project O.R.I.E.N.T.
May 9-10, 2008 (Friday & Saturday)
Betsy-Jeff Penn 4H Educational Center
Reidsville, NC
For more info, visit

27. Contact Info
Feel Free to Contact Me with any Questions
Kevin Moore
Betsy-Jeff Penn 4H Education Center
This Powerpoint is available for download at