Can High Tech Treasure Hunt
Support Byways?
Geocaching is a high tech treasure hunt that is played with Global Positioning System (GPS) units around the world. Geocaching purists prefer that the hunts not be commercialized, but geocaching can be a means for people to enjoy traveling to new places and the traveling environment. Some caches by their names and locations, e.g., Seaway Trail Micro #7, already link players to byways. Perhaps a partnership between America’s Byways and the originators of geocaching can be developed to the satisfaction and benefit of both parties.
Who:
A November 2004 report in Parade Magazine says an estimated 750,000 people worldwide engage in geocaching. Groundspeak is the company that operates Geocaching.com, the global headquarters for geocaching. Geocaching.com is a website dedicated to promoting geocaching as a sport and is the place where geocachers go to find information on geocache locations.
Many individual geocachers say they participate for the experience and the opportunity to discover new places. Some people participate as geocaching teams or join organizations such as the Maryland Geocaching Society, Georgia Geocaching Association, Washington State Geocaching Association and many more.
What:
Geocaching is a travel game, sport or hobby played with a GPS unit. The first geocache in the U.S. was placed in Oregon in May 2000. Currently, there are more than 180,000 active geocaches placed in each of 50 states and in more than 216 countries. In its simplest form, a geocache includes only a logbook for those who find it to record their name, the date and time, and a note. However, since May 2000, different variations of the game have developed.
The cache turns into a treasure chest when items are placed inside for visitors to take. The rules dictate that when you remove an item from a cache, you are required to replace the item with something of your own so that there is something for the next person to find. Items might be maps, books, software, CDs, videos, photos, other hard goods, or money. In some cases, geocache organizers have included a hitchhiker item – one used a candle, another a Mr. Potato Head – that traveled from cache to cache. Hitchhiker items are often tracked on geocaching.com using unique tracking numbers called ‘travel bug tags’. Some items have actually traveled thousands of miles from cache to cache.
Some geocaches, called multi-stage caches, require travelers to go from cache to cache until they reach a final cache destination. Other caches are an existing landmark and finders are asked to answer a question about the landmark as proof to the cache organizer that the finders were actually there.
A variation called Letterboxing uses a series of clues to find the cache container or letterbox. Finders take a carved stamp from the container to stamp their personal logbooks and use their own personal stamp to mark the container’s logbook. See Letterboxing North America for details.
A virtual geocache does not use a cache container. Finders discover a location or landmark and nothing is traded.
Click here to see a Seaway Trail-named geocache tour that was created using the byway name, but without any contact made with the byway organization despite the fact that geocaching advocates advise asking for permission for any locations to be used for geocaching.
When:
Geocaching games can be offered year-round.
Where:
Caches can be placed almost anywhere, however, be advised that federal regulations prohibit use of areas administered by the National Park Service for geocaching.
Geocaching advocates also advise asking for permission for any locations to be used for geocaching. Locations have been in buildings, outside, underwater and on the side of cliffs. Note that GPS units do not function inside of buildings or where obstructions, such as heavy tree cover, prevent the satellite signals from reaching the receiving GPS unit.
How:
The project organizer determines a location for placement of the cache and generally asks for permission for any location to be used for geocaching.
A water resistant container should be clearly marked for both players and nonplayers who may stumble upon it. A small spiral notebook serves well as a logbook, also include a pen or pencil. Some organizers include disposable cameras and ask finders to take a photo of themselves and put the camera back in the cache. Small souvenirs meant for trading may also be included.
Once the cache is placed, the organizer must get the exact GPS coordinates or a waypoint to help players locate the cache. The waypoint (a combination of latitudinal and longitudinal positions) is written on the container, the log book and a file copy.
Cache organizers can post their cache on the web through Geocaching.com which maintains a calendar of current active caches as well as other information relating to the location and geocachers who have searched for the cache. Organizers should check their cache periodically to be sure it is still there and that traffic to the cache has not adversely affected the location.
Funding Potential:
Geocaches that already use a byway name as in the case of the Seaway Trail or take players along a byway to various locations create an indirect economic impact by drawing people to the byway and to specific landmarks. The idea raised at the roundtable sessions for this project was whether byway organizations individually or collectively could develop geocaching as a funding option.
Why Geocaching:
• Generates funding while increasing public awareness of byway
• Provides net income to leverage as match for state funding
Resources:
Letterboxing North America – Learn more about using a series of clues to find a cache that contains a stamp for your recordbook and a cachebook for you to stamp with your mark.
Acknowledgements:
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This project was funded in part by a |
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