Every kid likes to search for hidden treasure. Who didn't make a treasure map with crayons and a big "X" where the treasure was? Even adults are fascinated with the idea of hidden treasure. It's why movies like National Treasure and Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark are such blockbusters. Okay, maybe Nicholas Cage and Harrison Ford had something to do with it, too - but people are captivated by the thrill of the hunt.
The newest (and it's over a decade old!) treasure craze is geocaching. It's basically a game of hide and seek with trinkets. Or sometimes without trinkets. Really, it's just about finding it. And what exactly is "it" you ask? "It" is a geocache, a hidden, waterproof container with a log book that you sign. Often it will contain a pen or pencil, information about the area, and/or trinkets to trade called "geoswag." The cache owner (called the CO) provides GPS coordinates on Geocaching.com where they can be downloaded by geocachers. And then the hunt is on!
We started geocaching this summer as we traveled around Arizona. There are currently over 15,000 registered geocaches just within 100 miles of Phoenix. To date we have found 39 caches in ALL kinds of places around Arizona... urban and rural... in desert terrain and in the mountains... on the ground and way up high... on private and public property... hidden in plain sight and camouflaged to be nearly invisible. Basically, anything goes!
I won't give away exact locations but you can see the kinds of places we've found geocaches as well as the types and sizes of containers. I found the top right one and it looked VERY realistic - screaming might have been involved.
We use a hand-held GPS and a compass to find a geocache. The GPS guides us to the coordinates and the compass helps with triangulation when there is error in the signal due to trees, mountains, etc. When it comes down to it, though, you have to use your "geocaching sense" and think like the person who placed it.
For safety reasons, it's important to be aware of your surroundings while you're searching. And of course, be aware of non-geocachers (called muggles) in the area so the location of the cache is not revealed to those who aren't participating and may not follow the geocacher's code of ethics.
Some geocachers like to trade trinkets or geoswag (swag = stuff we all get). The size of the geoswag is determined by the size of the container but remember to keep it family-friendly. We have seen all kinds of things - green Army men, casino chips, foreign currency, cute erasers, pins, magnets, playing cards and even a Disney princess. Sometimes geocachers leave a "Travel Bug" for the next geocacher to pick up in trade and then leave in another geocache. The serial number of the Travel Bug is logged into Geocaching.com and the owner can watch his "Bug" travel around the state, country and even the world.
Signing the log book is proof that you found the geocache. Since space is limited, geocachers have developed their own shorthand. A typical entry might read "9/24/12 CacheHunter TNLNSL, TFTC" which translates to the date, user name and the message "Took Nothing, Left Nothing, Signed Log - Thanks for the Cache"
Whether you hunt for a geocache in your neighborhood or in the middle of a forest, it is a great way to exercise both your body and your brain. We have hiked to some beautiful places, learned interesting history (there are quite a few caches on Route 66 that include pictures of what the area looked like in its heyday, for example), solved puzzles and laughed like crazy while geocaching. It's fun for anyone who still likes to search for treasure - buried or not- and it's easy to get started. Go to Geocaching.com for more information and to register. Happy hunting and watch out for muggles!
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