Geocaching: a new FREE family favourite activity!

    Looking for something adventurous, fun, and exciting to do with the family this summer but short on funds? Well look no further! Our family has discovered this quickly trending and free activity that you can participate in anywhere in the World. It's called geocaching. It's kind of like modern day 'treasure' hunting...🗺📱

     My twelve year excitedly came home last week telling us all about his discovery of geocaching and couldn't wait to share it with us. Essentially you go the website: www.geocaching.com and/or download the app on your smart phone or GPS and create a free account. Once your account is created you can search for local caches in your area and follow the directions given to you on the app. It will take you to within 30 feet of the cache. There are different sizes ranging from extra small to large and there are also different difficulty levels where they can be hidden, some well and out of sight but never buried. Once you find the cache, you open it up and sign the log book that you found it and you can also log it digitally on your app. Some caches have small trinkets and toys inside that you can remove and trade for something you bring along, if this is the case be prepared and have fun with it! Just don't forget, if you remove an item replace it with something for the next discoverer and put the cache back exactly where you found it. You can view the following YouTube video that explains the concept well in one minute: geocaching explained

     Now that we knew what we were doing and our account had been created, I took the kids for a walk in our neighbourhood to find one nearby. We followed the app's instructions which lead us to a tree-line at a park at a school nearby. Sadly, after searching for a good half an hour we were unable to locate the geocache. Boy was he disappointed! 😔 The cache we were searching for was small with no hints or pictures on the app. However, it lead to a great conversation and learning opportunity on his part about human kind and the honour system. This entire activity is based on the premise that those who are participating are solely searching for the caches, trading or logging and then leaving it behind for others to find. It does not take into consideration the elements or vandalism. My son informed me that some kids from his school had located one and destroyed it and he turned to me sadly to ask why they would do such a thing. I explained that they likely did not understand what it was and were just being destructive teenagers but this is exactly the kind of thing that can happen to caches so not to be disappointed if we can't find one, especially the smaller ones and difficult level ones. I encouraged him to continue searching for others another day and reminded him that this was our very first attempt, not to give up and have fun with it! 

     Tonight I took him out again on our way through the neighbourhood to another local location to search for a different one. This one, an extra small one with a hint that read "it is hidden somewhere prickly where bad caches go for timeout". After about ten minutes of searching, he found it! 😆 It was hidden hanging on a tree branch.🌲 A tiny camoflaged metal canister with just enough space for a tiny piece of paper rolled up to serve as a log book. 📃 🖊 The excitement on his face was worth any amount of time searching. And, just like that, we were hooked on geocaching.  If you have an adventurous bone in your body, give it a go! You might be surprised how fun it is. The best part is it is free and gets you outside exploring the World around you. 🌎🌍🌏📱🗺

Enjoy your next adventure!

Amanda

xoxo