Geocaching !
The GPS sport
Geocaching.com
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Introduction
 What is geocaching?
 Who are the geocachers?
 What are the rules and who enforces
them?
 What are other parks doing?
 How can you prepare for geocaching?
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What is geocaching?
 Pronounced GeoCashing
 Low-impact outdoor activity for
GPS users of all ages
 GPS =
Global Positioning System
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Global Positioning System
 GPS is a system of
27 satellites (24
active, 3 reserve)
to calculate a
position anywhere
on earth.
 Satellites transmit their current
position down to Earth via high
frequency radio waves.
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Global Positioning System
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GPS receivers
 Receives signals from GPS
satellites.
 Determines latitude and longitude
of your current position on the
Earth's surface.
 Hand held or mobile
 $100 to $1000
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GPS receivers
Garmin
Magellan
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GPS Receivers
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Internet
Best Buy
Wal Mart
REI
Circuit City
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GPS receivers
 Location can be
displayed on a map
background
 Can zoom in or out
 Tracks position in
real time
 Displays geocache
location
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GPS receivers
 Display of distance,
bearing and ETA to a
selected waypoint
 Speed
 Some have information
about restaurants,
gasoline, motels
entertainment,
shopping, points of
interest & all
addresses
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Other GPS receiver
features
 Determining satellite signal strength and
margin of error
 Marking waypoints (latitude and longitude
coordinates)
 Keeping a graphical track of your journey
 Displaying street and topographical maps
 Automatic route creation and traversal
 Electronic compass
 Barometric pressure altimeter
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Uses for GPS receivers
Recreational
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Hiking and backpacking
Canoeing and marine navigation
Hunting and fishing
Bird watching
Exercise progress tracking
Traveling via car, motorcycle, bicycle
 Geocaching
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Uses for GPS receivers
Commercial
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Physical location of facilities
Cell phone location
Tracking criminals, suspects
Tracking employees, vehicles
Routing
Surveying
Military
Search & rescue
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What is geocaching?
 Outdoor adventure game for GPS
users of all ages.
 The basic idea is to set up caches
(hidden containers) and share the
locations (latitude/longitude) of these
caches on the internet.
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What is geocaching?
 GPS users can then use the coordinates
to find the caches.
 The visitor may take
something from the
cache, leave something,
and/or sign the logbook.
 The “find” is then logged onto the
Internet website where statistics
about found and hidden caches are
maintained.
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What’s the point?
 It may sound simple, but many caches are
well hidden.
 Many require searching and experience to
find.
 Only a few geocaches are accidentally
found by non-geocachers.
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What’s the point?
 Sometimes just getting to the cache area
can be a big part of the adventure.
 It's one thing to see the latitude and
longitude plotted on a map, but it can be
quite a task to figure out how to get from
here to there.
 The adventure, exercise, new places,
challenge, competition, exploration
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What’s the point?
Geocaching can be thought of in two
parts:
 The journey to reach the cache area.
 The challenge of actually finding the
cache container.
Both can be equally rewarding.
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Misconceptions about
geocaching
“Geocaches are buried.”
 FACT: Geocaches are not allowed to be
buried in the ground.
 Can be covered with leaves, rocks, sticks,
grass or other materials
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Misconceptions about
geocaching
“Geocaches are litter or
abandoned property.”
 FACT: Geocaches are not litter or
abandoned property.
 Owner must maintain and retrieve
cache
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Misconceptions about
geocaching
“Geocaching will damage the
land.”
 FACT: Geocaching foot traffic is
similar to hiking, trail walking, or bird
watching.
 Most caches are placed near trails.
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How Did It Get Started?
 On May 1, 2000, the GPS signal
degradation called Select Availability
(SA) was removed.
 The change allowed GPS units
owned by civilians to be more
accurate – to within 20 feet or
better.
 On May 3rd, 2000 Dave Ulmer hid a
cache in Oregon and posted the
coordinates on the Internet. It became
the first geocache.
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How Did It Get Started?
 Jeremy Irish, the owner of the
Geocaching.com website, expanded the
idea and named it “Geocaching”.
 Geocaching is now in all 50
states and more than 200
countries.
 Geocaching.com is by far
the #1 website for
geocachers.
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Worldwide geocaches
Over 300,000 geocaches worldwide
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U.S. geocaches
Over 250,000 geocaches in the US
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North Carolina geocaches
Over 2700 geocaches in NC
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Raleigh/Durham caches
 Over 700 within 40
miles of Raleigh
 Over 50 in Alamance
County
 Most County and
City Parks have at
least one cache
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Who are the geocachers?
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Who are the geocachers?
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Geocache containers
 A weather-resistant
container such as
Tupperware,
Rubbermaid, or
surplus ammo box
 Micro containers
can be anything
small just big
enough for a
logsheet
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Geocache containers
 Usually a weatherresistant container
such as
Tupperware,
Rubbermaid, or
surplus ammo box
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What’s in a cache?
 Logbook
 Trinkets to trade
 Examples: maps, books, software,
hardware, CDs, videos, pictures, coins,
tools, games, etc.
 Information sheet that explains the
container and geocaching, as well as
contact information.
 Disposable camera (optional)
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What’s in a cache?
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What are the rules?
Cache placement
 No caches on land maintained by the U.S.
National Park Service or U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service (National Wildlife Refuges)
 No caches that are buried.
 No caches placed on archaeological or
historical sites.
 Caches in North Carolina State Parks require
a fee & approval
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What are the rules?
 No caches close to active railroad
tracks. 150 feet minimum.
 No caches on military installations.
 No caches near or under highway
bridges, dams, government buildings, or
airports.
 No caches on school property without
permission.
 No caches near cemeteries
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What are the rules?
Cache placement
 No “vacation caches”
 No cache closer than 0.1 mile (528 feet)
to an existing cache.
 Cacher owner must obtain permission
from park manager, if required.
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What are the rules?
Cache contents
 No food
 No weapons (knives, ammunition,
explosives)
 No drugs or alcohol
 No adult materials
 No solicitations (business, religious,
political)
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Who enforces the rules?
 Geocaching.com
 Controls listing of geocaches worldwide on
its website.
 Caches are approved by volunteer
reviewers.
 Reviewers do not visit the geocache in
person as part of the approval process.
 Reviewers view the online description,
coordinates, topo maps, proximity to other
caches, compliance with known park rules.
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Who enforces the rules?
 One volunteer reviewer reviews all new
listed geocaches in North Carolina
 Visitors to caches report problems or
inconsistencies
 Geocaching.com can archive a
problem cache at any time
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North Carolina
Geocachers Association
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www.ncgeocachers.com
Non-profit group
300 registered members
We encourage geocachers to
cooperate with park managers.
 Plan and host geocaching
events
 No officials at this time
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Variations on the game
 Traditional caches
 Micro caches
 Multi-caches /
Offset caches
 Virtual caches
 Event caches
 CITO events
 Travel bugs
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Typical travel bug map
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Cache In / Trash Out
CITO
 While searching for a cache, geocachers are
encouraged to pick up and tote out trash they
find along the way.
 Many geocachers put trash bags in their
caches so other geocachers can use them to
pick up trash in the area.
 Geocaching organizations often host large
CITO events for picking up trash in an area.
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Cache In / Trash Out
CITO
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Cache In / Trash Out
CITO
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What are other parks
doing?
 Most local parks in North Carolina either
allow geocaching or have no official policy.
 NC State Parks fee & permission
 National parks, NWRs not allowed
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What are other parks
doing?
NC State Parks policy highlights
 Written authorization required.
 Location may be used for up to 1 year.
 Reserves the right to terminate approval
for placement of a geocache container
for any reason at any time.
 $35 fee
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Geocaching benefits for
land managers
 Increases number of park visitors.
 Increases purchase of user fees.
 Park-friendly activity - geocachers
respect the land and facilities.
 Wholesome family activity - teaches kids
a love for the outdoors.
 “Cache In/Trash Out” initiative.
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Geocaching benefits
 Tourism and visitors to the area
 Exposure of many parts of the
community
 Highlights historic or scenic areas
 Cooperation with local officials
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How can you prepare for
geocaching?
 Decide if you want or need a geocaching
policy.
 Post your policy on-line. Include permit
form and park contact information.
 Let the local geocachers know so your
policy can publicized and help enforce it.
 Questions? Ask the local geocachers–
we will be glad to help.
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Let the geocachers help you
 Learn more about geocaching at:
www.geocaching.com (the worldwide
resource for geocaching).
 When a geocacher asks permission to
place a geocache in your park, please be
open to the request.
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Let the local geocachers help you
 If you would like us to inform our
members about your park’s policy on
geocaching, let us know.
 If your park does not have a geocaching
policy, we would be happy to work with
you to develop a draft policy.
 Your park’s geocaching policy will
published so all geocachers can be
better informed.
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Thank you!
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