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Geocaching for Kids. Operation: Military Kids UW Parkside 4/14/07. What is Geocaching?. A high tech treasure hunt? Hide and Seek with GPSs? Using a multibillion dollar satellite system to find tupperware in the woods?. What is Geocaching?. An adventure game using a GPS
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Geocaching for Kids Operation: Military Kids UW Parkside 4/14/07
What is Geocaching? • A high tech treasure hunt? • Hide and Seek with GPSs? • Using a multibillion dollar satellite system to find tupperware in the woods?
What is Geocaching? • An adventure game using a GPS • Containers (caches) are hidden around the world by geocachers • The coordinates are posted on the internet • Other geocachers try to find the hidden containers using the coordinates • Those finding the cache post a log of their experiences on the internet
Where are caches located • You can search online by zip code, state, or other criteria • 258 active caches within 5 miles of here • 5690 in Wisconsin • 382,000 Caches Worldwide • More are added daily
How does it work? • Step 1 – Get the coordinates and put them into the GPS. • Step 2 – Find the cache. • Step 3 – Sign the log • Step 4 – Trade swag (optional) • Step 5 – Record your experience online
Any Other Rules? • Rehide the cache as you found it • Don’t leave food, liquids, knives, or dangerous stuff in a cache • Have fun! (This one is mandatory!)
What does a geocache look like • Ammo Box (Regular) • Tupperware (All Sizes) • Film Canisters (Micro) • Magnetic Key holders (Micro) • Pill Bottles • 5 Gallon buckets (Large) • Nano containers • Just about anything
Types of Caches • Traditional • Multi • Puzzle/Mystery Caches • Virtual • Earthcaches • Events
Getting a Geocaching Account • Go to www.geocaching.com • Click on login near the top • Click on “Create a new account” • You have to provide your Name, Email address, Geocaching Handle, and Password • Submit it and wait for the confirmation email
Geocaching Handles • Permanent • Unique to you • How the Geocaching community will know you • Something that reflects your name, personality, or something about you • Examples: Team Deejay, Blue Squirtles, Speedydeedee
Travel Bugs • Special items with a tracking number • Travel from cache to cache, not to be kept by finders • Sometimes they have goals, such as getting to a specific place or having a picture taken at various places • Geocoins – A special type of travel bug in the form of a coin
GPS • Stands for Global Positioning System • Created by the US Department of Defense for military navigation • Works by getting signals from 24 satellites • Location is provided in Latitude and Longitude
Latitude and Longitude • Latitude is a measure of how far North and South you are. • The equator is 0°, the North Pole is 90°N and the South Pole is 90°S. • Longitude is a measure of how far East and West you are • 0° is in Greenwich, England and 180° is in the middle of the Pacific Ocean • We are roughly at N42.6° Latitude, and W87.9°Longitude
Rules for the hunt! • Organize in to teams of 2-3 kids with one facilitator and any parents • No logbooks today, Stamp your sheets with the stamps found in each container • Stay with your group. If you somehow get lost, start yelling. We will find you. • The field to the north of the woods and east of the building is very wet. Don’t go through there unless you like wet feet! • Get back to the building by 2:15 PM