Posted by Tami

One of my favorite springtime activities is geo caching. It is adventure wrapped in fitness while spending time with your loved ones. I’m not sure how long this phenomenon has been going on around the country but I picked it up off the internet a few years ago. It is essentially a treasure hunt but the emphasis is on the adventure rather than the treasure. Truthfully, there never is really anything too dashing in the little containers. Actually, my family has found it enjoys finding those geocaches with a sign-up sheet enclosed more than those with little trinkets, aka junk.

You’ll need a geocache navigator or GPS device in order to track the coordinates. There are plenty of sites out there with the coordinates of already hidden treasure using geocaching maps. Of course, you are also welcome to hide your own cache in your favorite spot. Pick a spot that is remote, yet so beautiful it begs to be seen by others. Our favorite spots always have a stream and plenty of foliage. In this electronic era, when we are always connected, it is a real pleasure to get away from society, internet, and TV and experience nature like I used to as a child. It is very important to me that my children feel the excitement of exploration even if it is just in our hometown.

Click below to purchase geocaching containers, log books and more.

It’s a Treasure Hunt! Geocaching & Letterboxing Geocaching and letterboxing are pastimes that offer a modern twist to the age-old scavenger hunt by combining a hike in the outdoors with the technology of a GPS unit and the joy of gift-giving and receiving.

Geocaching Log Book A handy logbook, to record info about the caches you have done and plan on finding. A great way to keep all your info in one spot and handy while on the trail in search of caches.

Dr. B’s Geocaching Newbie Kit This Kit has everything a new cacher should need to get started on the trail to finding and hiding caches. (GPS and sense of adventure not included)

We will often make a picnic to take with us as we try to pick long journeys. Of course, it is important to be safe, so take a first aid kit and plenty of water. While the hike is most of the fun, there is almost always a challenge to find the geocache first. Most of the hiders will give you excellent coordinators, yet still find a way to make it very difficult to find the treasure. Really, you have to keep a keen eye out as you do not know what the cache will look like or how small the container will be.

Hidden behind all of this fun, is an excellent work out. You end up staying active for at least half of the day without even realizing it. Best of all, your kids become enthralled with the outdoors and staying active. In a time of obesity across the country, stressing good health and exercise in such a fun way is invaluable. In summation, quality time, exercise, health, and the outdoors combine to make geocaching a wonderful springtime activity for one person or many.