Let's Go GEO Try it!

Some Try-Its start as a chance to see if you'll like an activity, and some times- it works the other way.

The girls and I decided to try out Geocaching the other day.  I was actually looking for applications for my android phone, and one of the ones that popped up was cGeo.  It's free, and designed to help you track and find geocaches locally.

What are geocaches?  They are little hidden "treasure" boxes hidden around the city, and plotted by GPS points.  The site to find out more about it is geocaching.com.  It already tells the history and how to get started in the sport.

To get started, you do not need an expensive GPS.  Many can be find with just a mobile phone that has GPS.

There are several programs to help you find the caches.  So what is a cache, exactly? They are containers, sometimes big, sometimes small, sometimes TINY.... usually painted camoflage.  Some contain tiny "prizes" suitable for children.  All contain a log, that must be signed for the "find" to count.  Cachers do not usually sign their real name.

Why do we love it?  It's fun, it gets the kids outside with a purpose, and it's FREE.  (mostly.)  Many caches are hidden in a spot meant to make you discover something. (There's one in our town near a 100 year old oak tree.)  Some are hidden in plain site, but disguised as something else.  (A pinecone, a branch...)

I digress... if this is one you are interested in, I recommend taking the following steps before venturing out with kids.
1. Grab a flashlight, some small toys (think very small- silly band, small pin, etc.  NO FOOD) , a pen, a plastic step stool, a tweezers (long and skinny) -- you don't necessarily need all these things-- but you might!
2. Go to the geocaching.com website and sign up for a free account.  (Make up your caching name and use it!)
3. Download c:Geo to your android phone, or another app for your iPhone.  There is one for Windows 7 phones also.

A couple of basic guidelines.  Geocachers are a clean bunch.  They have a saying "Cache in, trash out".  (See how well this goes with scouting?) So while you are caching, take along a plastic bag, and grab some trash while you are there. 

If you take something from a cache, you need to leave something of equal, or preferrably slightly greater value.  Do not worry-- cachers leave family friendly things as many cahers bring children and grand children.

Respect private property.  Caches listed will mostly not be in dangerous or privately owned locations.  Never near a railroad track, never on an electrical pole. 

NOW-- on to the try it!
The requriements are available on the web.  fmgirlscouts.org/resources/Geocaching$2BTry-It.doc

The actual try its can be ordered by phone: (315)698-9400.  As of 3/12/11 these are still available.
I ordered enough for the troop.  I think it would be a super spring activity to do together!

Steps we took:
1. What does it stand for?  When we started this, it wasn't for the try it (didn't know there was one...) so certain questions just "came up".  It's fun to hear her tell this information to other girls when she talks about geocaching.  Natural curiosity only takes you so far.  I also asked her questions along the way... "So, do you know how this works?" "Do you want to know what GPS stands for?"  "Do you know what a satellite is?" 

2. Part A - Take the Pledge - even though we have signed the Girl Scout pledge for other try its, I had her read it and sign it again.  Always a good reminder. 
Part B -Learn about 2 of the things listed. 

a)Travel Bugs - We found one of these pretty quickly on  our adventures, so learning about them happened naturally.  There is also a whole page devoted to this on geocaching.com . These are usually attached to a toy, but they are not to keep-- you put them in the next cache you find and log their travels at geocaching.com.
b)What is a cache box? - Again, if you are actually doing this activity, any girl will be able to tell you what this is.  It's the treasure at the end of the hunt! Sometimes they are tiny (we found one the size of a thumbnail..) sometimes large.  They always have a log- sometimes they also have SWAG.

c)What are two things you need for geocaching?  (When I asked this of my Brownie, she said "Well, toys..." (:P)  but she soon came up with a GPS and coordinates for a cache.
d)Open two caches near your home.  (Dare you.... try to stop at just one!) The girls are always asking me now while we're out... "Can we find one?" Don't forget to keep a pen on you-- or you'll be frowning when you find one and can't sign it!

3. Decode Me - This comes up quite a bit during geocaching. (The application I use on my phone does not have the "decrypt" button...)  And surprizingly, it's not as easy for an 8 year old to follow the code.  Practice is a good idea.

This also gave us a good chance to talk about what this message means. 
As you get more into the activity and start doing more difficult searches, there is frequently a puzzle involved. 

4.Stay Safe -  Although we did not do this activity, we do carry a baggie with us in the car (also for hiking..) that has bandaids, insect repellent, anti-bacterial gel (great for port-a-potty stops and the like), and a few other items.

5. Model a Motto - This is something my family does all the time.  We have started just carrying plastic grocery sacks in the car, so we can pick up a little trash when we go out.   Two things that model the motto: Leave it better than you found it by picking up trash and always replacing the cache back as you found it.

6. Make your Mark - Make up a caching name, and use it to sign logs.  My girls also want to try making their own pathtags-- little signature items to leave in the caches with their caching name.  By making a stamp on an eraser, you can also use the stamp at Letterbox hybrids.

7. Box it Up - Although my children are DYING to do this, geocahing.com recommends new cachers not make a cache until they have quite a few under their belt.  After 10, you start to see why.  Set a decent number for yourself before you do this- 20, or 50 if you can stand it. 

8. Go, Go, Go! - Enter coordinates and go get a cache.  (This would be an excellent way for them to get their badges.)  Place a cache near your meeting spot, and mark the coordinates.  Then place the badges in the cache.  (Do not publish this cache until after your troop has claimed their badges!) 

9. Search and find - She did part of this one, even though it wasn't needed.  Good review of vocabulary.

Hope this helps you on your quest!