imacacher
Senior Member
Just wondering if any of you are geocachers, and if so, do you use caching at all in your classrooms?
http://www.geocaching.com
http://www.geocaching.com
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Are any of you geocachers?
- Thread starter imacacher
- Start date
imacacher
Senior Member
We're hooked!
Geocaching is now our #1 hobby!
We have found almost 600 caches, and we've hidden about 40.
Put in your zipcode on the page to see how many are around you. You may find out that there is a cache in a park very nearby! That's what happened to us--we started when we were students at Penn State, and there were caches that we walked by on a daily basis!
So...no, we do not have to do a lot of traveling. We are able to visit different areas around Pittsburgh for day trips. We've also visited other cities to cache. It's very addicting!
Lots of cachers that we have met take their metal detectors with them.
The most expensive part is buying the GPS. However, you can find great deals and get the GPS for less than $100. We had a basic model when we started ($80) and have upgraded last spring to a more expensive unit ($300). Other than the GPS, you don't NEED anything else. We've spent some money on buying toys and other items to trade in the caches, but you don't have to take anything or leave anything.
I love it! I'm not an outdoorsy person (never have been), but this gets us out and exploring new areas.
Geocaching is now our #1 hobby!
We have found almost 600 caches, and we've hidden about 40.
Put in your zipcode on the page to see how many are around you. You may find out that there is a cache in a park very nearby! That's what happened to us--we started when we were students at Penn State, and there were caches that we walked by on a daily basis!
So...no, we do not have to do a lot of traveling. We are able to visit different areas around Pittsburgh for day trips. We've also visited other cities to cache. It's very addicting!
Lots of cachers that we have met take their metal detectors with them.
The most expensive part is buying the GPS. However, you can find great deals and get the GPS for less than $100. We had a basic model when we started ($80) and have upgraded last spring to a more expensive unit ($300). Other than the GPS, you don't NEED anything else. We've spent some money on buying toys and other items to trade in the caches, but you don't have to take anything or leave anything.
I love it! I'm not an outdoorsy person (never have been), but this gets us out and exploring new areas.
3grteacher
Senior Member
How Do You Use It In Your Classroom???
My brother does this and it sounds fun. I am trying to get my own boys into it. I am wondering how you would use it in the classroom. That sounds like it might be interesting.
My brother does this and it sounds fun. I am trying to get my own boys into it. I am wondering how you would use it in the classroom. That sounds like it might be interesting.
imacacher
Senior Member
Excited!
Mrs. O, I'm so excited!!!!! Which GPS are you going to get??
If you like the outdoors, you'll LOVE caching, and even if you don't like the outdoors (me!) you learn to like them.
We traveled to Wheeling on Saturday and found 14, and then on Sunday we found 6 more around here. Our total is now over 600.
As far as using it in my classroom, I don't. We have a pretty set curriculum to follow, and caching doesn't REALLY tie in. It could be used for a mapping unit, but with my second graders, I think it's too much.
However, a fellow cacher's fourth grade daughter is going to be using a GPS and finding caches as part of her technology classes! They are gong to set up temporary caches around the school and then the students will learn how the GPS works and how to use it! PRETTY NEAT!
If you have any questions, send me a private message and I'll give you my email address.
HAPPY CACHING!
Mrs. O, I'm so excited!!!!! Which GPS are you going to get??If you like the outdoors, you'll LOVE caching, and even if you don't like the outdoors (me!) you learn to like them.
We traveled to Wheeling on Saturday and found 14, and then on Sunday we found 6 more around here. Our total is now over 600.
As far as using it in my classroom, I don't. We have a pretty set curriculum to follow, and caching doesn't REALLY tie in. It could be used for a mapping unit, but with my second graders, I think it's too much.
However, a fellow cacher's fourth grade daughter is going to be using a GPS and finding caches as part of her technology classes! They are gong to set up temporary caches around the school and then the students will learn how the GPS works and how to use it! PRETTY NEAT!
If you have any questions, send me a private message and I'll give you my email address.
HAPPY CACHING!
shamricked
New Member
so much fun!!
This sounds like a blast. I had no idea anything like this was out there. My husband and I could use a good hobby to get us and our kiddos out of the house. I put in our zipcode and I couldn't believe how many caches are out there. I can hardly wait for my husband to get home from work tonight to tell him about it. I think we will definately be looking into playing. Have you ever hid a cache? or just looked for them?
Stacey
This sounds like a blast. I had no idea anything like this was out there. My husband and I could use a good hobby to get us and our kiddos out of the house. I put in our zipcode and I couldn't believe how many caches are out there. I can hardly wait for my husband to get home from work tonight to tell him about it. I think we will definately be looking into playing. Have you ever hid a cache? or just looked for them?
Stacey
imacacher
Senior Member
Stacey
Caching is definately a family friendly hobby! We've met so many wonderful families that cache with their young kiddos. The idea of finding TREASURE in the woods is quite exciting. We have made friends with other cachers from our area. One family has a 2 year old and 4 year old and they love it. Another has a 4 year old and a 7 year old. Another has a 3 year old and a 10 year old, and the fourth has an 8 year old and a 12 year old. The best part is that there is a cache for everyone! If you dont like the woods, there are caches in parks. If you want a long hike, you'll probably find it.
We've hidden 43 caches, but some of them have been archived (no longer exist). We hid about 4 when we were students at Penn State, and had to archive them when we graduated. We've hidden some in our area that have been stolen, so those are gone too. We have about 30 that are currently active.
Again, if anyone has any questions, let me know!
Caching is definately a family friendly hobby! We've met so many wonderful families that cache with their young kiddos. The idea of finding TREASURE in the woods is quite exciting. We have made friends with other cachers from our area. One family has a 2 year old and 4 year old and they love it. Another has a 4 year old and a 7 year old. Another has a 3 year old and a 10 year old, and the fourth has an 8 year old and a 12 year old. The best part is that there is a cache for everyone! If you dont like the woods, there are caches in parks. If you want a long hike, you'll probably find it.
We've hidden 43 caches, but some of them have been archived (no longer exist). We hid about 4 when we were students at Penn State, and had to archive them when we graduated. We've hidden some in our area that have been stolen, so those are gone too. We have about 30 that are currently active.
Again, if anyone has any questions, let me know!
istoleahalo
Full Member
Thanks
Thank you so much for this post! I am hopefully recieving a GPS soon from a freind who bought a bigger better one for himself. I wanted one for campipng/hiking but this sounds like FUN! is it hard to start?
Thank you so much for this post! I am hopefully recieving a GPS soon from a freind who bought a bigger better one for himself. I wanted one for campipng/hiking but this sounds like FUN! is it hard to start?
imacacher
Senior Member
istoleahalo's
Do you know which GPS you will be getting?
It IS fun, and very addicting!
Its not hard to get started, but finding your first caches will be more of a challenge until you figure out exactly how the GPS works. Each one is a little different, and the coordinates can always be off a little. Some hides are much more difficult than others, so be sure that you check the difficulty rating (and terrain rating!) before you start!
Do you know which GPS you will be getting?
It IS fun, and very addicting!
Its not hard to get started, but finding your first caches will be more of a challenge until you figure out exactly how the GPS works. Each one is a little different, and the coordinates can always be off a little. Some hides are much more difficult than others, so be sure that you check the difficulty rating (and terrain rating!) before you start!