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Welcome to GEOCACHING 101!

Welcome to GEOCACHING 101!. The sport where YOU are the search engine TM www.iowageocachers.org www.geocaching.com. The Groundspeak Geocaching Logo is a trademark of Groundspeak, Inc. (Used with permission). GEOCACHING 101. What is Geocaching? Where are the Geocaches?

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Welcome to GEOCACHING 101!

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  1. Welcome to GEOCACHING 101! The sport where YOU are the search engineTM www.iowageocachers.org www.geocaching.com The Groundspeak Geocaching Logo is a trademark of Groundspeak, Inc. (Used with permission)

  2. GEOCACHING 101 • What is Geocaching? • Where are the Geocaches? • Who Geocaches, and why? • What is a GPS? …and how does it work? • Looking up a Geocache. • Marking a Waypoint. • Let’s go GEOCACHING!

  3. What is Geocaching? • Geocaching is an entertaining outdoor adventure game for GPS users of all ages. • The basic idea is to set up caches (hidden boxes) all over the world and share the locations (Latitude/Longitude) of these caches on the internet.

  4. What is Geocaching? • GPS users can then use the coordinates to find the caches. • Once found, the visitor may take something from the cache, leave something (of equal value), and sign the logbook. • The ‘find’ is then logged onto the Internet website where statistics about found and hidden caches are maintained.

  5. Traditional Multi-Caches Event Virtual* Webcam* Earthcache Letterbox Hybrids Location-less (Reverse)* CITO Cache In / Trash Out Event Unknown (Mystery) Project APE Types of Geocaches * Indicates a type of geocache that is no longer permitted to be placed, but existing caches of the type are “grandfathered” into the system.

  6. Ammo Cans Tupperware 35mm Film Cans Bison Tubes Magnetic Key Holders Pill Containers Lock ‘N Lock Containers “Blinkies” Cache Containers

  7. Finding a Geocache • Be inconspicuous in public places. • Search carefully. • Practice LNT (Leave No Trace). • Sign logbook and replace cache as found, Do Not Relocate. • If you trade trinkets, trade kindly. • Report any problems promptly. • If you take a traveler, log it and pass it on in a timely fashion.

  8. Finding a Traveler • Travelers are meant to travel, please do no keep them. • Follow Directions given with the traveler for proper logging. • Examples of travelers include “Travel Bugs” and “Geocoins”.

  9. Do Not Place: Guns / Knives Drugs / Alcohol Explosive / Ammo Food or Scented Items Things that freeze Use Common Sense Do Place: Toys / games Trinkets Books Travelers Signature items Camera to take picture with Trading Items

  10. A primary contribution of Geocaching to the environment is CITO (Cache In Trash Out). CITO involves picking up litter in local parks and recreation areas. CITO can be a activity for an individual geocacher to do at any time or the purpose of an “Event Cache”. Many CITO Events are held during March and April close to International Cache In Trash Out Day and Earth Day. An Example of a local CITO event is the Cedar Rapids CITO Extravaganza. Geocaching and the Environment

  11. Goals of CITO • Actively promote the good stewardship of park land. • Assist in the maintenance of parks & trail systems. • Increase public awareness of Geocaching.

  12. Where are the Geocaches?

  13. Where are the Geocaches?

  14. Where are the Geocaches? There are currently over 469,000 active caches worldwide!

  15. People that are: Young Old Married Single Have children Do not have children Those that like the Outdoors Those that like Puzzles Basically anyone that has a sense of adventure! Who Geocaches?

  16. How Did It Get Started? • On May 1, 2000, the GPS signal degradation called Select Availability (SA) was removed. • The change allowed GPS units owned by civilians to now be accurate to within as close as 6 feet. • On May 3rd, Dave Ulmer hid a ‘cache’ in Oregon, listed the location on a newserve group. It was visited twice within 3 days.

  17. How Did It Get Started? • Mike Teague, the first to find Ulmers Cache, built a web page to document the ‘caches’. • A few months later Jeremy Irish, the current operator of the Geocaching.com website, expanded the idea and promoted the game. • On September 6th, four months after the first ‘hide’, the official torch was passed to Jeremy. Geocaching is now in all 50 states and in over 200 countries.

  18. What is a GPS? A GPS (Global Positioning System) unit is an electronic device that can determine your approximate location (within 6-20 feet) almost anywhere on the planet.

  19. What is a GPS? • A GPS uses a system of 24* satellites to calculate your position. Only 3 are needed to calculate (triangulate) position. • The GPS receiver can ‘see’ at most 12 of the 24 satellites at any one time(at ground level).

  20. What is a GPS? • Since your GPS knows the location of where each satellite in the sky, which it uses to determine distances. With these distances it computes your location. • You can use the unit to navigate from your current location to another location.

  21. What is a GPS? • Some units have their own maps, built-in compasses, pressure altimeters, and even voice navigation. • Don’t worry though, a GPS device doesn’t send signals, it only receives them. So . . . no one can track your location!

  22. How do GPSdevices work? • Let’s say you don’t know where you are but a passerby tells you that you’re 238 miles from Cleveland. • That puts you anywhere on the perimeter of a circle around Cleveland!

  23. How do GPSdevices work? • Another passerby stops and tells you you’re 340 miles from Boston. • So not only are you on the perimeter of the circle around Cleveland, but around Boston too. • There are now only two possible locations!

  24. How do GPS devices work? • Finally, someone stops and tells you that you’re 272 miles from Baltimore. • You now know right where you are!

  25. WAAS/DGPS Color screen External antenna jack Turn by turn ‘Autorouting’ Base map / Optional maps Memory size 12 channel receiver Waterproof Electronic altimeter Electronic ‘compass’ Computer Interface Backlit Screen Available GPS Features Power source Screen size Overall size/weight Intended use

  26. How much will I pay?

  27. Looking up a Geocache • Go to geocaching.comon your web browser. • Click on “log in” or go to “Create an account now” if you do not already have an account.

  28. Looking up a Geocache • Once logged in, select the state or country from the drop-down menu or type in the zip code for the area you would like to search. • Click the right arrow.

  29. Looking up a Geocache • Click on Map.

  30. Looking up a Geocache • Zoom, zoom… Select “Zoom In”. Click on the area of the map you wish to explore. Once zoomed in close enough to see individual caches, select “Identify” and click on the map. Click on a cache in the list to see its details.

  31. Looking up a Geocache • Enter the Coordinates for the geocache you selected into your GPS …and the hunt begins!

  32. Looking up a Geocache • …Oops!!! Make sure you read the entire cache listing, for helpful information such as parking coordinates and additional hints. Now…Let’s go Geocaching!

  33. Marking a Waypoint • When you turn on your GPS, wait for it to triangulate (find the satellites). • When the GPS is ready it will indicate a 3D fix/position. • You are now ready to enter the waypoint (geocache) coordinates into the GPS.

  34. Marking a Waypoint • Enter the coordinates for the geocache you have selected (this can usually be done under the “Mark” function of the GPS). • Many GPS units have the ability to download coordinates directly from your computer. • If parking coordinates are given for the cache, be sure to “mark” them as well.

  35. Begin the Hunt! • Your GPS will likely have two or more different ways to guide you in the direction of your cache. • The compass page will be the most helpful when you are close to the geocache. • When you arrive at the parking location, be sure to “mark” the coordinates on the GPS before heading down the trail (this may be useful later).

  36. I’m Lost!!! • If you get lost, don’t forget that you marked (or should have marked) your starting location before heading down the trail. • Search for the waypoint you marked as your starting location, select “GO TO”, and head back to civilization! • Don’tforgettotakeextra batterieswithyou!

  37. What to take Geocaching? • GPS…and ExtraBatteries • Compass / Map / Cache Information • Bug Spray / Moist Wipes • Tools – Knife, Mirror, String, Flashlight • Trade Items • Pen / Notebook • Cache Maintenance Items • Clothes for Changing Weather Conditions • Extra Shoes • Water / Food • Cell Phone / Camera

  38. Some GPS links

  39. Any Questions???

  40. Let’s Go Find AGEOCACHE!

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