Geocaching with the Geomate Jr.
December 29, 2010***Week of 2010′s favorite posts continues. Oh geocaching, I found you this year and I don’t know how we lived in this world without you.***
I might be the only person who had never heard of Geocaching…
Dear reader Sarah D. alerted me that she was just about to introduce Geocaching to her son with the Geomate Jr
Since I’d never heard of it, I immediately went to Wikipedia:
Geocaching is an outdoor activity in which the participants use a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver or other navigational techniques to hide and seek containers (called “geocaches” or “caches”) anywhere in the world. A typical cache is a small waterproof container (usually a tupperware container or ammo box) containing a logbook. Larger containers can also contain items for trading, usually toys or trinkets of little value.
(Thanks Wiki, I don’t know where I’d be without you.)
I did a local search on www.geocaching.com and we have hundreds of caches within just a few miles of our home. So that should keep us busy for a while.
This past Saturday with beautiful weather, it was a perfect day to try it out. I only had to mention that we were “treasure hunting” and the adorables were uber-excited.
Here’s how it worked for our family:
Younger adorable “led” us with our own Geomate Jr.. Talk about user-friendly – he just followed the arrow.
I promise I didn’t even pose Uncle Romer for this photo. The Running Man and his bro thought this was wicked cool.
Along the way, we found this family of ducks so we stopped for a look-see.
Now I have to admit our search took us into the woods where we spotted poison ivy. So we took the boys out and sent Uncle Romer in with my camera to make the find. Luckily he was willing to risk it.
The cache was marked by this blue ribbon…
And it’s tucked back at the base of this tree.
Ta-da!
He brought it out to the poison ivy-free grass (thanks Romer!) and we gathered around for a look.
Inside we found a cache log in the plastic bag, sunblock, and a collection of trinkets. When signing the log, we learned that this cache had entertained visitors only the day before.
The adorables had a difficult time choosing their trinket. Note to self: bring enough trinkets for each adorable to put 1 in so they can take 1 out, if possible.
Friends, I’m hooked. We had the best time wandering around our little town on Saturday morning. The Geomate Jr. is small enough to pack along on trips or in the car, and I love how easy it is to get started.
Dear reader Ryan Leigh, also a fan of Geocaching, created a “geocaching bag” – stocked with the GPS, spare batteries, items for trading, a pen, gloves, and bug spray – so they are always ready to go. She also wrote a great article about geocaching on TriadSmartyPants.com that I found really helpful!
GEOCACHING TIPS:
Here are some ideas from Allen Bates of http://crustygasguy.blogspot.com, who together with his son, has located more than 1000 caches and hidden 27 of his own:
1. Caches in city parks or state parks work well as opposed to those on the side of the road. An outing of finding 2 to 5 caches along a trail makes it interesting without tiring kids out. Reward with a treat or picnic afterward.
2. Little kids can generally spot the caches fairly quickly but make sure they are findable by checking the logs at www.geocaching.com beforehand to verify there won’t be any surprises such as bees, wasps, ants, or poison ivy or the presence of material unsuitable for kids.
3. If taking a group of kids, the group needs to be small. One kid per cache works best so each kid gets a turn holding the GPS during the search. Geocaching in large groups is not very much fun. If you have a larger group, split them into smaller groups with one adult (at least) per group.
4. The larger size caches have trinkets to trade for so use dollar store items or McDonalds’ toys to trade.
5. Before setting out remind the kids about caching etiquette: Trade for equal value, don’t reveal the location of the cache to onlookers, put it back like you found it.
6. Practice “CITO” (“Cache in, trash out”) by taking a garbage sack with you to pick up trash on the way to and from the caches.
7. Safety: Watch out for poison ivy. Pack bug spray, sun block, and water.
The GEOMATE JR.
This is the Apisphere Geomate Jr Handheld GPS Geocacher
With 250,000 pre-loaded caches, you literally insert batteries, turn it on outside, and move directly to your nearest cache. It’s as easy as that. I love that it’s small enough to keep in the car, or pack with us when we travel.
You can find the Apisphere Geomate Jr Handheld GPS Geocacher
Related posts
- TravelKiddy (Giveaway!)
- Teaching the Adorables about Saving...
- Father's Day Week of Giveaways: The Coleman Instant Tent
- Halloween Around Here
- One heck of a WOW...
Category: Activities
Tags: Geocaching, Geomate Jr. |
Sarah
on July 19, 2010 8:19 amWe have some friends with boy/girl twins that just turned 6 and they would LOVE this! I will have to alert their mom!
Megan
on July 19, 2010 9:32 amI would really like to try this. Even though our DS is still very young, this would be fun for my husband and I.
Megan
on July 19, 2010 9:33 amI also subscribe to GSG via Reader
RLR
on July 19, 2010 9:37 amThanks for the mention! It sounds like the Geomate Jr would make caching SO MUCH easier – but I’m also looking into CacheBerry, too. Good luck to everyone who enters, and I’ll be sure to point my readers in your direction!
christy
on July 19, 2010 10:09 amOh I hope I win. We found about Geocaching while listening to 4-H presentations! Sounds so fun and my little ones would LOVE it.
Julie
on July 19, 2010 10:38 amAre you a mind reader or what Heidi???? My 9yo today is at a one-day camp where they are kayaking and geocaching along the way. I know he will want to come back and have his own GPS unit.
This would be perfect.
Julie
on July 19, 2010 10:38 amFB Fan
Jenny
on July 19, 2010 10:39 amWhat a great idea! I had heard of geocaching…but didn’t really know what it was. Sounds fun!
Jenny
on July 19, 2010 10:41 amI’m a facebook fan!
Jenny
on July 19, 2010 10:42 amI’m an email subscriber.
Amy Nowak
on July 19, 2010 10:51 amOMG- my boys have to have this. If I don’t win, I will have to get it anyway. Thanks for sharing this!
Amy Nowak
on July 19, 2010 11:08 amI am also a facebook fan!
Amy Nowak
on July 19, 2010 11:09 amI am a subscriber!
Bridget
on July 19, 2010 12:26 pmwe NEED one of these! my husband is a big outdoors guy & loves to take our 3 girls on fun adventures (and me too!)
Bridget
on July 19, 2010 12:26 pmalso a subscriber
Bridget
on July 19, 2010 12:27 pmalso a FB fan
Hillary
on July 19, 2010 1:05 pmMy three little boys would LOVE this!
Melissa taylor
on July 19, 2010 3:36 pmI didn’t know that younger kids could do it — thanks for sharing and for the giveaway!
Melissa
Melissa taylor
on July 19, 2010 3:37 pmSubscribe.
Melissa taylor
on July 19, 2010 3:38 pmLike you on FB.
Hartley Odom
on July 19, 2010 5:16 pmI usually read Ryan Leigh’s blog each day or at least check it for new posts.
Today I was surprised to find her comments regarding your blog and thought I should mosey on over to check it out.
Love your entry on GeoCaching !!
I just wish I could make it out to check some in our area but the heat and humidity keep me inside most of the time when I’m not at work.
The photos of your “little man” and the guys were really great.
Good luck with your caching !!!
Jessica
on July 19, 2010 6:16 pmSounds like a creative fun outdoor activity!
Jessica
on July 19, 2010 6:16 pmAlso get emails…
Jessica
on July 19, 2010 6:16 pmAlso a FB fan
Lesli C
on July 19, 2010 6:42 pmOh this is too cool! What a fantastic family activity! As usual-Thanks for such a great giveaway!
Lesli C
on July 19, 2010 6:43 pmI do subscribe!! yay!
Lesli C
on July 19, 2010 6:43 pmI like you on FB! Now my friends do too! (They’ve promised to share!
)
Lesli C
on July 19, 2010 6:45 pmE-mailed five friends!
Ferdinand A.
on July 19, 2010 7:39 pmI’m your FB liker, Twitter follower, emailed friends and a commenter. Now its your turn. Give me that Geomate Jr.
Sandi
on July 19, 2010 9:29 pmThis would be great for the fam.
Rebecca S
on July 20, 2010 10:12 amI have two little kids and this would be a lot of fun.
Rebecca S
on July 20, 2010 10:13 amI am now a FB fan, too.
Jules Greenaway
on July 20, 2010 10:57 amHow much fun is this? I would have loved to have one of these when I was little… Anyway, come on Random.org!!!!
Laura
on July 20, 2010 11:08 amI would love to win, I have been wanting to take my kids forever!!!
Laura
on July 20, 2010 11:09 amemail subscriber
Laura
on July 20, 2010 11:09 amLike you on Facebook
Laura
on July 20, 2010 11:20 amThis would be so fun, especially now that we live across the street from the State park! Also, was laughing at your photos b/c Brian just wore the EXACT same outfit that Boden has on – blue retro mickey mouse shirt and M baseball cap:) We’ve really got to get them together!
Rachel C
on July 20, 2010 11:31 amAwesome! I’ve always wanted to try this, and I know my kids would love it!
Rachel C
on July 20, 2010 11:32 amI’m an email subscriber
Debbieohio
on July 20, 2010 1:13 pmWOW! You’ve just given me the perfect birthday party gift for our grandsons’ special days coming up very soon. They will be “over the top” geocachers!! They love treasure hunts which their mom, aunt , and I make up for them whenever we have a family gathering!
We do have a friend in Germany who told us last Winter about doing this with his teen age sons.But, how fun to hear that little guys can do it as well!
Lynsi G
on July 20, 2010 9:16 pmI didn’t know about this either and my four-year-old “treasure hunter” would love this! Even if I don’t win, I’m so excited to learn about geocaching!!
Amanda G.
on July 20, 2010 10:25 pmThis is really fun. Obviously my six year old loves doing it, but his younger brother (he’s 19 mos) gets really excited too…probably just feeding off his brother, but still. This gadget would definitely make geocaching more fun for all of us.
Amanda G.
on July 20, 2010 10:26 pmI subscribe by e-mail.
Amanda G.
on July 20, 2010 10:27 pmAnd e-mailed my Mommy friends.
Amanda G.
on July 20, 2010 10:27 pmI already like you on Facebook, but I posted a link to this giveaway on my wall.
Cristina L.
on July 20, 2010 10:48 pmI love to have the Geomate Jr. for my children. This is one of the few hi-tech playing devices where they will be involved physically while having fun at the same time.
Gina
on July 21, 2010 9:10 amMy daughter would love this!
Gina
on July 21, 2010 9:10 amI’m a feed subscriber…
Katie Fisher
on July 21, 2010 10:46 pmWould love it. My nephews did this back when it first started.
AnnioHIo
on July 22, 2010 9:01 amThis midwest girl just found your blog…luvs it! and our three adorables would love to start geocaching!!
Whitney Trujillo
on July 23, 2010 10:40 amOK, I am now obsessed with this. I wish they had these around when I was younger! But, I can still live vicariously thru my 2 yr old.
Chani M
on July 23, 2010 2:23 pmThis would be so cool! Today is my son’s birthday, too! Definitely a good day to be a winner!!!!!
Chani M
on July 23, 2010 2:24 pmI’m a fan on FB already, and I did one better, instead of emailing 5 friends, I posted a link to your site on my FaceBook!
I had done that before seeing this giveaway actually, I just love the site that much
Erica Kotin
on July 24, 2010 12:05 amThis looks like so much fun!
Erica Kotin
on July 24, 2010 12:05 amI’m a fan on FB.
Marlo Korstanje
on July 27, 2010 11:00 amAnother great find! This looks awesome!
Ingmar
on July 27, 2010 11:10 amKasen and I are geography freaks. We play this game in the car where he gives the first letter of a country and I have to guess it. He has a real doosie the other day: Sri Lanka…love the Geocoaching concept…