Do you like hiking, treasure hunting and spending time outdoors with family and friends? Well this is something you can add to your weekend adventure list.
A few weeks back on a hike in the Weekiwachee Preserve, my husband and I found this a green container hidden within a tree trunk. This was very interesting and we had no idea what it was. So upon further investigation, we found out that it was actually a global positioning (GPS) device for geocaching.
So what is Geocaching? Geocaching is an outdoor treasure hunting game using GPS-enabled devices. Participants navigate to a specific set of GPS coordinates and then attempt to find the geocache (container) hidden at that location
I decided to grab my friend, Trish Jones and head out to start this adventure right here in our own backyard. With our phones on GPS mode, navigation directions printed out, our backpacks filled with necessities, we were ready to go. Since this was our first adventure, we still have a few things to learn, but overall finding two of the five locations made us feel we accomplished a small feat.
“It was fun. It’s an outside adventure and fun for the kids to participate in,” Jones said. Once you find the location of geocaching, you are to sign the log. Some often request you place an item in the container. The containers can be as small as a prescription bottle to as large as an ammo box. “That was the neat part about this adventure, you get to see what others put in the box as well as have the opportunity to leave something yourself, we left toy dinosaurs,” Jones stated.
To help you get started with your adventure there is a geocaching store here in Spring Hill. Elaine Erickson owns Tampa Bay Geocaching store and has all the information and items you need to begin your adventure.
“I read a newspaper article back in 2006, at that time you needed a smart phone. I didn’t have one at the time; a year later I got involved. It took me five to six months to find my first one, but eventually I found one and it was fun!” Erickson said.
Erickson started a small table set up at a local flea market, and following her retirement from the post office after twenty five years, she opened her first store in Land o’ Lakes. Later she moved to Hernando County and opened this store located in Spring Hill.
There are different stages and levels with geocaching. “Start with the easy ones first, and a good basic handheld GPS, once you kind of know what to look for you can move to the harder levels,” Erickson suggested. Once you have learned the ropes, you can upgrade to a premium account for more challenging adventures.
Elaine has formed a group called, Hernando FL Geocachers and has as an upcoming meet and greet on February 27 at 5pm. Not only do geocaching groups have meet and greets, they also are involved with community, by having “Cache In Trash Out®” Events. “Cache In Trash Out® is where group members volunteer and work together to clean up litter to building trails. For more information about CITO please visit: http://www.geocaching.com/cito/
Hernando FL Geocachers is having their event February 27 9am to 11am on County Line Road. There is more information on the website located here: http://www.tampabaygeocaching.biz/
This is not only a great family adventure; it’s also a great educational tool. Kids and adults learn how to navigate using latitude and longitude coordinates, as well as working together and being part of a team.
There are geocaching (www.geocaching.com) spots in Weekiwachee Preserve as well as all over Hernando County. Visit the website to find out more information about how to play. It’s free to sign up. More reasons for you and your family, as well as your friends to get together and enjoy nature that Hernando County Parks and Preserves offers. Please remember safety while venturing out. Always pack necessities, phone fully charged, be aware and cautious of wildlife as well as your surroundings and if all possible always have a buddy.
Live Well & Healthy, and have fun doing it.