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.
Heard of it? A student told me about it - vaguely - last year, and I mused on it and parked it.
We've had friends stay for half term who are new cache-ers. The rain didn't show on Thursday, so we signed up too and went caching! You have to be signed up, else you're a muggle, but it costs nothing and it's curiously addictive. And what's more, it gets you outside, exploring new places. For free! Hurrah!
I wont say where, but with the help of the app on our phones (the most basic version of which is free), GPS and some stealth, we found two... It wont be long until our kids can really help us too, rather than just join us on the adventure.
There are rules for geocaching: It's quite secretive and has to be undertaken somewhat covertly. You don't go telling the non-cachers (muggles) too much. You can make and register your own caches to hide, and you can take items from caches so long as you replace that with something of equal or higher value. You record your find, and log it.
I waddled about and looked at things I'd seen before from a completely different perspective. I found a cache and it was exhilarating. And I finally saw my first snowdrops of 2014.
Good, clean, free fun.
Great fun, isnt it! My hubby and I and our two kids(8yr old boy and 9yr old girl) are complete addicted to it. We've already been out 3 times this half-term and we're going tomorrow too! We've planned another activity for today, but will be checking out a couple of Geocaches in that area too! The kids love it, because it's a treasure hunt, and we love it because we like walking and we like a challenge tommake it even more interesting along the way! It's gets us all out together as a family, talking and laughing and exercising in the fresh air - cant think of anything negative about it - it's a brilliant idea and a fab activity - whoever thought of it originally was very clever to make such a simple idea work worldwide!
ReplyDeleteYou are so right. Geocaching is a great way to get everyone outdoors on an adventure. My son loves that there is "treasure" at the end of each hunt.
ReplyDeleteGeocaching is free and fun for all ages! It provides a great adventure and exercise for all the family and the children love swapping treasure too. Thanks for linking up and sharing your fun with Country Kids.
ReplyDeleteWe have just gotten into geocaching too, it's great fun as it makes a walk more interesting - our 2 year old Georgie will definitely walk further if we are on a "treasure hunt" than she would if we were just out for a stroll. It's a great feeling when you spot a cache too! We were out just this morning hunting treasures, Georgie is very pleased with her haul! :-D
ReplyDeleteI so want to do this but hubby is not keen so i am planning on having ago on my own with the kids x
ReplyDeleteWe love geocaching. Must do it again as it's lots of fun for everyone!
ReplyDeleteGeo-caching is on my To Do in 2014 list - it looks such fun.
ReplyDeleteThis year is going to be our geo caching year. We've found a few. Mostly by accident! Great way to take you to new places. #CountryKids
ReplyDeleteI want to try this, too, and you've just made me push it firmly up the list! I'm a bit nervous that I'll get too addicted to it if we start, though! Love those snowdrops there x
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like so much fun!!
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