Sheila Amato, Ed.D. brltrans@verizon Adjunct Professor & Retired TVI

1. Geocaching 101- Touch the World with GPS Technology March 2011 in Oakland, CA Sheila Amato, Ed.D. brltrans@verizon.net Adjunct Professor & Retired TVI

2. Will Teachers Learn?

3. Workshop Objectives Description: The purpose of the workshop is to describe the background and purpose of geo-caching as a fun interactive hobby or sport for individuals who are blind or have visual impairments. Geocaching has proved to be a fun activity for individuals with visual impairments to collaborate with sighted peers to seek a cache hidden from view by utilizing satellite tools to navigate. Participants will learn the rules for the development of a geocache and how to create an accessible geocache. Upon completion of this workshop, participants will understand how GPS technology works and how to tie this new knowledge into science, social studies, language arts, and math curricula at all levels. Focus Group: TVI/Educators, Rehabilitation Teachers, Counselors, Vocational Specialists, Low-Vision Specialists, O&M, Parents

4. Geocaching • I use the 24 multi-million dollar military satellites and a hand-held GPSr to find Tupperware hidden in the woods.

5. Welcome to Geocaching • Geocaching is a high-tech treasure hunting game played throughout the world by adventure seekers equipped with GPS devices. • The basic idea is to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, outdoors and then share your experiences online. • Geocaching is enjoyed by people from all age groups, with a strong sense of community and support for the environment.

6. The History of Geocaching • On May 2, 2000, at approximately midnight, eastern savings time, the great blue switch* controlling selective availability was pressed. Twenty-four satellites around the globe processed their new orders, and instantly the accuracy of GPS technology improved tenfold. Tens of thousands of GPS receivers around the world had an instant upgrade. • The announcement a day before came as a welcome surprise to everyone who worked with GPS technology. The government had planned to remove selective availability - but had until 2006 to do so. Now, said the White House, anyone could "precisely pinpoint their location or the location of items (such as game) left behind for later recovery." How right they were.

7. For GPS enthusiasts, this was definitely a cause for celebration. Internet newsgroups suddenly teemed with ideas about how the technology could be used. • On May 3, one such enthusiast, Dave Ulmer, a computer consultant, wanted to test the accuracy by hiding a navigational target in the woods. He called the idea the "Great American GPS Stash Hunt" and posted it in an internet GPS users' group. The idea was simple: Hide a container out in the woods and note the coordinates with a GPS unit. • The finder would then have to locate the container with only the use of his or her GPS receiver. The rules for the finder were simple: "Take some stuff, leave some stuff." • On May 3rd he placed his own container, a black bucket, in the woods near Beavercreek, Oregon, near Portland. Along with a logbook and pencil, he left various prize items including videos, books, software, and a slingshot. He shared the waypoint of his "stash" with the online community on sci.geo.satellite-nav: N 45° 17.460 W 122° 24.800

8. Within three days, two different readers read about his stash on the Internet, used their own GPS receivers to find the container, and shared their experiences online. Throughout the next week, others excited by the prospect of hiding and finding stashes began hiding their own containers and posting coordinates. Like many new and innovative ideas on the Internet, the concept spread quickly - but this one required leaving your computer to participate. • Within the first month, Mike Teague, the first person to find Ulmer's stash, began gathering the online posts of coordinates around the world and documenting them on his personal home page. The "GPS Stash Hunt" mailing list was created to discuss the emerging activity. Names were even tossed about to replace the name "stash" due to the negative connotations of that name. One such name was "geocaching."

9. Geocaching Statistics • There are 1,197,804 active caches on all 7 continents and an estimated 4-5 million geocachers worldwide. In the last 30 days, there have been 4,350,358 new logs submitted.

10. Signal the Frog • Signal is the official mascot. Simply put, he represents the combination of the outdoors and location-based technology. • Signal's ultimate goal is to put the word "active" back into "interactive" by releasing you from the shackles of your indoor "entertainment system."

11. How to remember which is which Latitude and Longitude Latitude is fat Longitude is long

12. World Latitude and Longitude Coordinates

13. New York StateLatitude and Longitude

14. Let’s do the math… • Our earth is a sphere = 360 degrees. • The earth rotates completely on its axis once every 24 hours; There are 24 hours in a day. This relates to 24 time zones on earth. Each time zone = 1 hour. • Question: how many time zones between NYS and California? ____ • So… When it is 11 AM in NYS, it is ____ AM in California. • 360/24 = 15; there are 15 degrees in each time zone. • Bonus question: if NYS is located at latitude W073, what is a reasonable latitude for California? _______ (hint: latitude W _ _ _)

16. Easy Steps to Geocaching • Register for a free Basic Membership at www.geocaching.com • Click "Hide & Seek a Cache." • Enter your postal zip code and click "search." • Choose any geocache from the list and click on its name. • Enter the coordinates of the geocache into your GPS Device. • Use your GPS device to assist you in finding the hidden geocache. • Sign the logbook and return the geocache to its original location. • Share your geocaching stories and photos online.

19. TOTT (Tools of the Trade) GPSr (GPS receiver) There are many different kinds of GPSr, ranging from less than $100 to several thousand dollars. Some people use a portable car GPSr.

20. How does GPS work? • Each GPS receiver is a computer that receives signals broadcast from GPS satellites. • A receiver needs to read signals from at least three satellites at a time to calculate its general location by a process called trilateration. • With signals from four satellites, a GPS receiver can get a more accurate fix that includes altitude and the exact time, as well as latitude and longitude. • The more satellite signals the receiver reads, the more accurate the position it reports to you.

21. How many bars do you have?

23. What to do… review • Go to www.geocaching.com • Select a geocache to find that is in your area • For your first search, choose a cache with an easy terrain (difficulty of hide 1-5; difficulty of terrain (1-5) • Use your GPSr to navigate to the coordinates, which are a few feet from GZ. • The final 30-50 feet are the hardest part of the hunt; try to think: “If I were hiding a cache, where would I put it?” • Look for something that is “out of place.”

24. The Geocache container Ah… so many caches, so little time 

25. Hidden in plain sight… you think?

26. Devious hides…

27. Once you’ve found the cache • Write your name in the log • If you take an item from the cache container, replace it with something else of equal or greater value. • Replace the cache container better than when you found it. • Remember… what’s inside the cache isn’t as important as the thrill of the search!

28. Geo-swagthings you trade… take one; leave one… aka “treasures of dubious value”

29. Special kinds of swag(these you don’t keep yourself… you keep them moving) Special kinds of swag(these you don’t keep yourself… you keep them moving) • Travel bugs • Geocoins

30. Signing the log(a log: the only thing all caches have in common)

31. Caches that are buried. If a shovel, trowel or other "pointy" object is used to dig, whether in order to hide or to find the cache, then it is not appropriate. • Caches that deface public or private property. • Caches placed in areas which are highly sensitive to the extra traffic that would be caused by vehicles and humans. • Caches hidden in close proximity to active railroad tracks. In the United States we generally use a distance of 150 ft (46 m). • Caches near or on military installations. • Caches near, on or under public structures deemed potential or possible targets for terrorist attacks. These may include but are not limited to highway bridges, dams, government buildings, elementary and secondary schools, and airports.

32. Some safety rules of the sport • Always geocache with a friend. It’s more fun, and geocaching with another set of eyes is safer and makes it easier to track down the cache. • Tell someone else where you’re going and when you plan to be back. • Know your surroundings. Many geocaches are hidden off the beaten path. Be on the lookout for wildlife, dangerous footing, water, or poisonous plants. • CITO – Cache In; Trash Out

33. Accessibility for people who are BVI • Use a braille compass • Use a talking compass (Trekker Breeze)

34. Put something “auditory” in or near the cache container • APH Portable Sound Source • Wireless doorbell

35. Or AS the cache container!

36. Happy Caching! Inside this plastic containerPlease place something dearTo give to a special friendWhether far or nearOnce the container is openedIt must be filled once moreThen put back were it came fromAccording to folkloreFrom one friend to anotherThis gift of treasure extendsCreating an unbreakable attachmentBetween our circle of friends

37. Thank you for coming!