SnoqualmieValley-Issaquah
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Published on
May 3, 2012
May 3, 2012
SnoqualmieValley-Issaquah
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Out & About: Geocaching
By: Karie Downing, Lead Instructor at Compass Outdoor Adventure
Geocaching along the John Wayne Trail and the Snoqualmie Tunnel.
Armed with little more than a GPS, a few good friends, and a heightened sense of awareness to your surroundings, the search begins. Everything is suspect: a felled tree, upturned rock, fresh dirt. You know you are close. Unsure of what exactly it is, you traipse further into the bush, ignoring the mud on your jeans, giving little thought to the scrapes on your arms.
After a quick consultation with your buddies and the GPS, you determine that the cache is to the West. There is electricity in the air. You look up, down, and all around until...you see it! In all its camouflaged glory, you realize that you must have overlooked this very spot many times today, but no matter. Rushing over to retrieve the cache, everyone gathers around to feast their eyes on the prize.
This modern day, high-tech treasure hunt has been fascinating kids and adults for over a decade. With over 1.6 million geocaches placed all over the globe, it's easy to drive, hike, bike or even walk to a cache. It's hard to generalize geocaching because it can be customized to any skill level, found in urban and rural areas, and you can geocache as an individual, on a team, with family, coworkers, clubs etc. Caches can be disguised as stumps, rocks, dirt, fences, or as a part of telephone pole.
Geocaching with kids is especially engaging because the first skill kids or adults must put to the test is problem-solving. Where is the GPS pointing to? What might be the best physical or direct route there? How many feet or miles away is it? Am I going in the right direction? Then one must rely on the senses, common or otherwise. In a natural or urban setting, what looks out of place? What in this environment looks touched, altered, or moved? Suddenly, with a mere glance, you will begin to see which sticks fell there, and which sticks were placed there.
While searching for geocaches you may better discover what exists just miles from your home. You feel like a spy, and know you are a part of something secretive, and you get to be sneaky, especially while searching in public places. A sense of ownership emerges, and environmental stewardship begins. Exercise has even snuck into your day! You will never have to answer the question "What should we do today?" because the answer is go find a geocache.
Compass Adventure programs are all built around geocaching, whether it is in summer camp with 7 year olds, or with adults in a more competitive nature. Who doesn't love a treasure hunt? Our favorite place to find geocaches that others have hidden is the Geocaching Website at www.geocaching.com
Go to www.compassoutdoor.org to find out more about our custom geocaching adventures.
After a quick consultation with your buddies and the GPS, you determine that the cache is to the West. There is electricity in the air. You look up, down, and all around until...you see it! In all its camouflaged glory, you realize that you must have overlooked this very spot many times today, but no matter. Rushing over to retrieve the cache, everyone gathers around to feast their eyes on the prize.
This modern day, high-tech treasure hunt has been fascinating kids and adults for over a decade. With over 1.6 million geocaches placed all over the globe, it's easy to drive, hike, bike or even walk to a cache. It's hard to generalize geocaching because it can be customized to any skill level, found in urban and rural areas, and you can geocache as an individual, on a team, with family, coworkers, clubs etc. Caches can be disguised as stumps, rocks, dirt, fences, or as a part of telephone pole.
Geocaching with kids is especially engaging because the first skill kids or adults must put to the test is problem-solving. Where is the GPS pointing to? What might be the best physical or direct route there? How many feet or miles away is it? Am I going in the right direction? Then one must rely on the senses, common or otherwise. In a natural or urban setting, what looks out of place? What in this environment looks touched, altered, or moved? Suddenly, with a mere glance, you will begin to see which sticks fell there, and which sticks were placed there.
While searching for geocaches you may better discover what exists just miles from your home. You feel like a spy, and know you are a part of something secretive, and you get to be sneaky, especially while searching in public places. A sense of ownership emerges, and environmental stewardship begins. Exercise has even snuck into your day! You will never have to answer the question "What should we do today?" because the answer is go find a geocache.
Compass Adventure programs are all built around geocaching, whether it is in summer camp with 7 year olds, or with adults in a more competitive nature. Who doesn't love a treasure hunt? Our favorite place to find geocaches that others have hidden is the Geocaching Website at www.geocaching.com
Go to www.compassoutdoor.org to find out more about our custom geocaching adventures.
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