For those who aren't aware, Geocaching is a kind of like an orienteering sport. The first thing you need is a GPS (Global Positioning System). Once you familiarize yourself with the device enough, you can make an account on the website www.geocaching.com, where you will find the GPS coordinates for geocaches hidden across the world. Simply plug those into your GPS, and set it to navigate. Once getting to the location, the tricky part comes into play. You must find the cache, and some are not so easily hidden. Once you have found it however, you can give it a few minutes for that feeling of accomplishment to sink in, and then explore what those who have come before left behind. Hopefully you have something of your own to leave behind, and of course there will almost always be a logbook there for you too sign. After all this you must return to geocaching.com and log your visit there. Tell the world about your adventures with words, pictures, and videos if you like.
If you are new to Geocaching, I know what you are thinking. I thought it too when I first started. My father in law and my wife trying to convince me that I should go out to some park, use a GPS and find a box full of old trinkets. Sounded pretty stupid to me. But once we found that first cache, it was amazing; to see all the stuff that people all over the world brought there. I started learning about trackable items, benchmarks, geocache racing. I couldn't stop. It was such a great way to get out doors and see parts of my community that I otherwise wouldn't have.
So if you are one of those skeptics who think it sounds really lame, I encourage you, I even dare you, give it a shot. If after your third geocache you are not interested thats fine, but I am almost positive you will see it differently.
For more information and to sign up, see www.geocaching.com.
