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Geocaching ! The GPS sport

Geocaching ! The GPS sport. Geocaching.com. Introduction. What is geocaching? Who are the geocachers? What are the rules and who enforces them? What are other parks doing? How can you prepare for geocaching?. What is geocaching?. Pronounced GeoCashing

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Geocaching ! The GPS sport

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  1. Geocaching !The GPS sport Geocaching.com

  2. Introduction • What is geocaching? • Who are the geocachers? • What are the rules and who enforces them? • What are other parks doing? • How can you prepare for geocaching?

  3. What is geocaching? • Pronounced GeoCashing • Low-impact outdoor activity for GPS users of all ages • GPS = Global Positioning System

  4. Global Positioning System • GPS is a system of 27 satellites (24 active, 3 reserve) to calculate a position anywhere on earth. • Satellites transmit their current position down to Earth via high frequency radio waves.

  5. Global Positioning System

  6. GPS receivers • Receives signals from GPS satellites. • Determines latitude and longitude of your current position on the Earth's surface. • Hand held or mobile • $100 to $1000

  7. GPS receivers Garmin Magellan

  8. GPS Receivers • Internet • Best Buy • Wal Mart • REI • Circuit City

  9. GPS receivers • Location can be displayed on a map background • Can zoom in or out • Tracks position in real time • Displays geocache location

  10. GPS receivers • Display of distance, bearing and ETA to a selected waypoint • Speed • Some have information about restaurants, gasoline, motels entertainment, shopping, points of interest & all addresses

  11. Other GPS receiver features • Determining satellite signal strength and margin of error • Marking waypoints (latitude and longitude coordinates) • Keeping a graphical track of your journey • Displaying street and topographical maps • Automatic route creation and traversal • Electronic compass • Barometric pressure altimeter

  12. Uses for GPS receivers Recreational • Hiking and backpacking • Canoeing and marine navigation • Hunting and fishing • Bird watching • Exercise progress tracking • Traveling via car, motorcycle, bicycle • Geocaching

  13. Uses for GPS receiversCommercial • Physical location of facilities • Cell phone location • Tracking criminals, suspects • Tracking employees, vehicles • Routing • Surveying • Military • Search & rescue

  14. What is geocaching? • Outdoor adventure game for GPS users of all ages. • The basic idea is to set up caches (hidden containers) and share the locations (latitude/longitude) of these caches on the internet.

  15. What is geocaching? • GPS users can then use the coordinates to find the caches. • The visitor may take something from the cache, leave something, and/or sign the logbook. • The “find” is then logged onto the Internet website where statistics about found and hidden caches are maintained.

  16. What’s the point? • It may sound simple, but many caches are well hidden. • Many require searching and experience to find. • Only a few geocaches are accidentally found by non-geocachers.

  17. What’s the point? • Sometimes just getting to the cache area can be a big part of the adventure. • It's one thing to see the latitude and longitude plotted on a map, but it can be quite a task to figure out how to get from here to there. • The adventure, exercise, new places, challenge, competition, exploration

  18. What’s the point? Geocaching can be thought of in two parts: • The journey to reach the cache area. • The challenge of actually finding the cache container. Both can be equally rewarding.

  19. Misconceptions about geocaching • FACT: Geocaches are not allowed to be buried in the ground. • Can be covered with leaves, rocks, sticks, grass or other materials “Geocaches are buried.”

  20. Misconceptions about geocaching • FACT: Geocaches are not litter or abandoned property. • Owner must maintain and retrieve cache “Geocaches are litter or abandoned property.”

  21. Misconceptions about geocaching “Geocaching will damage the land.” • FACT: Geocaching foot traffic is similar to hiking, trail walking, or bird watching. • Most caches are placed near trails.

  22. 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 be more accurate – to within 20 feet or better. • On May 3rd, 2000 Dave Ulmer hid a cache in Oregon and posted the coordinates on the Internet. It became the first geocache.

  23. How Did It Get Started? • Jeremy Irish, the owner of the Geocaching.com website, expanded the idea and named it “Geocaching”. • Geocaching is now in all 50 states and more than 200 countries. • Geocaching.com is by far the #1 website for geocachers.

  24. Worldwide geocaches Over 300,000 geocaches worldwide

  25. U.S. geocaches Over 250,000 geocaches in the US

  26. North Carolina geocaches Over 2700 geocaches in NC

  27. Raleigh/Durham caches • Over 700 within 40 miles of Raleigh • Over 50 in Alamance County • Most County and City Parks have at least one cache

  28. Who are the geocachers?

  29. Who are the geocachers?

  30. Geocache containers • A weather-resistant container such as Tupperware, Rubbermaid, or surplus ammo box • Micro containers can be anything small just big enough for a logsheet

  31. Geocache containers • Usually a weather-resistant container such as Tupperware, Rubbermaid, or surplus ammo box

  32. What’s in a cache? • Logbook • Trinkets to trade • Examples: maps, books, software, hardware, CDs, videos, pictures, coins, tools, games, etc. • Information sheet that explains the container and geocaching, as well as contact information. • Disposable camera (optional)

  33. What’s in a cache?

  34. What are the rules? Cache placement • No caches on land maintained by the U.S. National Park Service or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (National Wildlife Refuges) • No caches that are buried. • No caches placed on archaeological or historical sites. • Caches in North Carolina State Parks require a fee & approval

  35. What are the rules? • No caches close to active railroad tracks. 150 feet minimum. • No caches on military installations. • No caches near or under highway bridges, dams, government buildings, or airports. • No caches on school property without permission. • No caches near cemeteries

  36. What are the rules? Cache placement • No “vacation caches” • No cache closer than 0.1 mile (528 feet) to an existing cache. • Cacher owner must obtain permission from park manager, if required.

  37. What are the rules? Cache contents • No food • No weapons (knives, ammunition, explosives) • No drugs or alcohol • No adult materials • No solicitations (business, religious, political)

  38. Who enforces the rules? • Geocaching.com • Controls listing of geocaches worldwide on its website. • Caches are approved by volunteer reviewers. • Reviewers do not visit the geocache in person as part of the approval process. • Reviewers view the online description, coordinates, topo maps, proximity to other caches, compliance with known park rules.

  39. Who enforces the rules? • One volunteer reviewer reviews all new listed geocaches in North Carolina • Visitors to caches report problems or inconsistencies • Geocaching.com can archive a problem cache at any time

  40. North Carolina Geocachers Association • www.ncgeocachers.com • Non-profit group • 300 registered members • We encourage geocachers to cooperate with park managers. • Plan and host geocaching events • No officials at this time

  41. Variations on the game • Traditional caches • Micro caches • Multi-caches / Offset caches • Virtual caches • Event caches • CITO events • Travel bugs

  42. Typical travel bug map

  43. Cache In / Trash Out CITO • While searching for a cache, geocachers are encouraged to pick up and tote out trash they find along the way. • Many geocachers put trash bags in their caches so other geocachers can use them to pick up trash in the area. • Geocaching organizations often host large CITO events for picking up trash in an area.

  44. Cache In / Trash Out CITO

  45. Cache In / Trash Out CITO

  46. What are other parks doing? • Most local parks in North Carolina either allow geocaching or have no official policy. • NC State Parks fee & permission • National parks, NWRs not allowed

  47. What are other parks doing? NC State Parks policy highlights • Written authorization required. • Location may be used for up to 1 year. • Reserves the right to terminate approval for placement of a geocache container for any reason at any time. • $35 fee

  48. Geocaching benefits for land managers • Increases number of park visitors. • Increases purchase of user fees. • Park-friendly activity - geocachers respect the land and facilities. • Wholesome family activity - teaches kids a love for the outdoors. • “Cache In/Trash Out” initiative.

  49. Geocaching benefits • Tourism and visitors to the area • Exposure of many parts of the community • Highlights historic or scenic areas • Cooperation with local officials

  50. How can you prepare for geocaching? • Decide if you want or need a geocaching policy. • Post your policy on-line. Include permit form and park contact information. • Let the local geocachers know so your policy can publicized and help enforce it. • Questions? Ask the local geocachers– we will be glad to help.

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