It’s summertime, and the kids are bored—again. There is no money to take them to another amusement park or go on another family vacation. What do you do? Have you ever tried geocaching? Everyone enjoys the thrill of a treasure hunt, and this is a great family activity that requires only a GPS tracking unit, found in most iPhones or Smartphones, and the spirit of adventure. And there is no better time than the warm days of summer.
You may be asking yourself, “What exactly is geocaching? And will my kids really enjoy it?” Geocaching is a real-world adventure that takes you all over the outdoors on a real-life treasure hunt. Over 5 million people have caught the fever worldwide and have set out to find the almost 1.5 million caches hidden throughout the world. No matter where you live or what outdoor activities you enjoy the most, you are sure to find a cache near you. There are caches hidden in the woods, on mountains, in city parks, and even under water.
All you have to do is log into a geocaching game website and set up an account; most memberships are free, and everyone likes free. Then based on your location and the level of difficulty you are seeking, you will be given coordinates to find a cache near you. You can specify the type of adventure you are seeking: hiking through the mountains, scuba diving, or strolling through the city park. Simply plug the coordinates into your GPS tracking system and let the game begin.
Once you find a cache, fill out the logbook with the required information and replace the cache exactly where you found it so that another adventuresome crew can find the “treasure.” If you decide to take whatever is inside the box, just be sure to replace it with something of equal value so that the next treasure seekers have something to discover. You could even adapt the game to your own home environment, especially if you have younger children. Hide your own cache and map out coordinates for your children to follow. Their summer will fly by, and you won’t be hearing “I’m bored” anymore; you will be hearing, “Can we go geocaching?” And the stories they will be able to tell when they go back to school.
The trekking for cache you do now may lead to worldwide adventures later; let your treasure hunt lead you to worlds unknown. And the memories you make as a family will be a treasure to outlast any treasure. Who knew you could have so much fun with your GPS tracking unit.
Article Written by Hilary Mayfield
