A while ago, I put up a post about geocaching with a toddler. Well, now we have a toddler (GC handle: Q-Bit) and a 6yr old (GC handle: (:TheBoy:) ). We’ve logged quite a few more finds since that post and we’ve introduced quite a few other families to the hobby!

Geocaching [...]]]>

Geocaching with young kids

A while ago, I put up a post about geocaching with a toddler. Well, now we have a toddler (GC handle: Q-Bit) and a 6yr old (GC handle: (:TheBoy:) ). We’ve logged quite a few more finds since that post and we’ve introduced quite a few other families to the hobby!

Geocaching remains a favourite activity of our now 6yr old. He loves getting out, exploring new parts of the city, the province, other provinces, and indeed other countries! The treasure-hunting aspect of it is fun, but he enjoys the technological aspect (he’s a gadget geek just like his parents) and the SOCIAL aspect too.

We often go out caching with other cachers. Sometimes they have kids too, and it’s this shared experience that really appeals to (:TheBoy:). He has kids to talk with, to explore with, and to treasure-hunt with. To be sure, it gets a bit competitive sometimes, but generally speaking good fun is had by all.

Our youngest has never known weekends without geocaching! He seems to be taking after his brother, having claimed our older eTrex as his own, and participating in the hunts. He loves tromping through the woods, bush-wacking through the scrub, and finding the next cache in “just a few metres” — which is always his response to “how far to the next cache?”

With almost 800 cache finds, about 400 of those with one kid, and another 300 with both kids, we think we have some perspective on how to have fun as a family geocaching.

• Caching as a family is fun. Two families caching is more than twice as fun. Geocaching is also an all-ages hobby. Geocaching with grandparents is a great way to spend a day!
• Keep spirits up by bringing lots of food and drinks. Snacks along the trail are important to keep everybody’s energy level up and spirits high. Don’t forget about snacks and drinks for you too!
• Patience is key. If it’s taking too long to find a cache, the kids will get bored and distracted and morale will fall. Be willing to accept DNFs!
• The kids set the pace. They’ll let you know when enough is enough, so resist the urge for “one last cache” — you’ll end up paying for it in the end!
• Pay attention to the terrain and difficulty ratings. Don’t tackle caches that will be too difficult to find, or be too hard to get to with the kids. We sometimes have the toddler walking on his own, sometimes in a backpack, and sometimes in a stroller. The terrain has to be appropriate!
• As a practical matter, kids under 5 can handle a few kilometres’ walking, but if you’re doing more than 5 kms (3 mi) return then you’re starting to push things.
• It’s not just about the hunt! Through the course of your adventures, you will discover parts of your region you never knew existed. Take some time to explore them, and enjoy them. You’ll come across countless new playgrounds, and your kids will love that.

Do you go caching with your family? Do you have any tips or tricks to share?

So you bought a fancy new Garmin GPS to go geocaching, you fire it up, and you discover that there are a grand total of 4 roads in your huge metropolis, at least according to the base map.

This is, unfortunately, a common complaint about Garmin [...]]]> “The maps my Garmin GPS came with are awful! Now what?

So you bought a fancy new Garmin GPS to go geocaching, you fire it up, and you discover that there are a grand total of 4 roads in your huge metropolis, at least according to the base map.

This is, unfortunately, a common complaint about Garmin GPSs. The “basemap” that they come with contains very little detail.

Fortunately you have options.

Garmin

One option is to buy maps from Garmin. They have two map sets that are useful for geocaching, the City Navigator set and their topographic set (in Canada, it’s Topographic Canada). These mapsets will run you between $80 and $120 depending on where you buy them, if there’s a sale, etc.

I’ve bought both the City Navigator set and the TopoCanada set and they’re great maps. They also contain lots of “Points of Interest” waypoints so you can find the nearest bank, police station, or what have you — just like the automotive GPSs. They suffer from two disadvantages though: they are pricey, and they don’t update. Recently Garmin introduced a program where you can update your City Navigator maps 4 times a year, but this is an additional add-on cost.

Don’t despair, though! There are some free alternatives, and these ones are actively maintained and updated.

OSM

For street maps, the Open Street Map project is a great community-driven effort to map the world. You can download Garmin-compatible mapsets using data based on OSM from the Garmin routable maps page. The interface is a bit clunky, but the data is worth it.

The important files that you get are:

osm_routable_gmapsupp.zip
osm_routable_mapsource.exe
osm_routable_roadtrip.zip
osm_routable_tiles.zip

The *_gmapsupp.zip file is a raw Garmin map image (zipped), the *_mapsource.exe is the same image except packaged in an installer that puts it right into Garmin’s MapSource (Windows) program, the *_roadtrip.zip is for Garmin RoadTrip (MacOS), and the *_tiles.zip contains the raw tiles for use in other programs.

In Vancouver, the OSM data is better than the Garmin mapset. The downside is that there is no POI data, and the water is not drawn properly, making it a bit difficult to see where harbours and inlets are.

Ibycus.com

The Government of Canada makes topographic data available to the public, for free, through the Department of Natural Resources. Dale Atkin at ibycus.com has compiled this data into Garmin-suitable sets. It used to be available for download from the ibycus.com site, but the mapset weighs in at over 3 GB and the bandwidth became prohibitively expensive. You can still order the maps from Dale on DVD for $25, or you can search your favourite Bittorrent index for the files.

The Ibycus mapset includes topo contours and road data. The road data is not as good as the OSM or Garmin data, but the topos are good quality. As with the OSM data, no POI data are included.

NW Trails

The Northwest Trails project is an effort to capture some of the walking, hiking, and snow-sport trails through the Pacific Northwest. It is a frequently-updated community-driven map set that has a surprising number of trails. Its scope, however, is limited to the PNW, and doesn’t include any POI.

Ontario Trails

The Ontario Trails project is an effort similar to the NW Trails project, except geared for Ontario. Again, it’s a community-driven effort to map the multi-use trails and Garmin mapsets are provided.

There are other specialized mapsets freely available. If I’ve missed your favourite one, leave a comment and I’ll update this post as feedback comes in!

The basic Garmin handheld is the eTrex series. They have Venture, Legend, and Vista models with increasing [...]]]> I often get asked this question. Certainly, I’m not an expert, but I do have opinions. For starters, I’m most familiar with Garmin GPSrs, so that’s all I’ll talk about here. There are also units from Magellan and Delorme.

The basic Garmin handheld is the eTrex series. They have Venture, Legend, and Vista models with increasing features. If you’re considering these, you’ll want one that ends with a “HC” suffix, which means that’s it has a high-sensitivity GPS receiver and a colour screen. The Venture HC is about $130 and the Vista HCx is about $225. You can load caches on to any of these.

The next step up is the GPSMap 60 CSx, which has been a very popular geocaching GPSr, but is starting to show its age. It runs about $340.

The next step up after that are units that can do “paperless” caching — which means that logs, descriptions, and hints are all contained in the GPS. Very handy. There are two units I’d recommend: the Oregon 300 or the Dakota 20. They’re similar units, but the Dakota is smaller. They run $375/$360. Of course there are more expensive versions of both.

One of the problems with Garmin GPS units is that the base map that they come with is quite poor. There are some free maps you can use that aren’t too bad, or you can buy a Garmin map add-on for ~$100.

The newer phones also have reasonable GPS capabilities too (iPhone, Droid, etc) but I don’t know too much about them.

There’s also a VERY basic “GeomateJr” GPS that I haven’t seen or used reviewed here, but it gets positive reviews. It’s a very simple GPS that comes pre-loaded with caches and is only meant for geocaching (and is targeted at kids).

We’ve been caching since April, just after our son turned two.

Now, with 200+ finds, only 40-ish of those were without the toddler.

The biggest thing we’ve learned is that the boy is boss. When he’s hungry, eat. [...]]]> [This was written in 2007 after we'd been caching with our 2 yr old for a little over a year]

We’ve been caching since April, just after our son turned two.

Now, with 200+ finds, only 40-ish of those were without the toddler.

The biggest thing we’ve learned is that the boy is boss. When he’s hungry, eat. When he’s tired, let him sleep. If he’s done, we’re done. Bring lots of snacks and drinks. Don’t fall into the “one last cache” trap and stay out too long.

Patience is key. Be willing to give up looking for a cache that’s taking too long and the toddler is getting bored.

Keep it interesting for them. Let them open the Lock-n-lock. Let them look through the swag. Let them keep swag (make sure you’ve got a good selection of trade items, and wipes to clean off the newly acquired swag).

Make it an adventure. Our boy loves going to look for “treasure”. He loves “going for a walk in the woods”. He loves The Backyardigans, and often sings the “Treasure, treasure, find some treasure!” song from the “Pirate Treasure” episode.

You will be limited to the terrain you can tackle. Many urban caches are stroller friendly. We use a backpack for some of the less urban caches, and let him walk for many of the others. For the most part, anything rated higher than a 2 is pretty tough with the toddler.

Bring a partner. Usually one of us is looking for the cache while the other is keeping the toddler engaged. Caching solo with the toddler is *really* tough.

It’s not just about the hunt. You’ll discover playgrounds you never knew about. Stop and let them run off some steam. You’ll discover “attractions” you never knew about. Enjoy them. Sometimes you’ll abandon the hunt because the toddler’s discovered something more interesting.

Did I mention patience is key? We average about 4 caches per caching day with the toddler but a good day is about 8-10. Of course, that’s a function of the cache density in your area too.

Anyway, that’s my experience. Your mileage might vary!

Geocaching is a treasure hunting game that uses GPS technology to hide and locate geocaches. It can be a casual pastime, or highly competitive. It can be as easy as a walk in the park, or as hard as climbing a mountain. It can be a solitary experience, or very social. Geocaching can [...]]]> What is Geocaching?

Geocaching is a treasure hunting game that uses GPS technology to hide and locate geocaches. It can be a casual pastime, or highly competitive. It can be as easy as a walk in the park, or as hard as climbing a mountain. It can be a solitary experience, or very social. Geocaching can be done by the very young or the aged, the very fit or people with disabilities. Geocaching is an activity that you can modify to suit YOU.

What is a geocache?

A traditional geocache (or just a “cache”) is a container of some sort. The size and form of this container is only limited by your imagination. The only requirements on a cache container is that is must hold a log book of some sort and it must not be dangerous.

How do I geocache?

There are two essential parts to geocaching: finding a cache and hiding a cache.

Finding a geocache

To find a cache you need to know where it is. The location is usually provided to you as a set of coordinates that you can enter into a GPS receiver (GPSr). There are a number of web sites that can provide this information, and the most popular is www.geocaching.com. The cache information page may also provide details on the size of the cache, the terrain difficulty, the finding difficulty, and additional hints.

With the cache information, now you usually enter the coordinates into your GPSr and follow the directions to the area where the cache is hidden. The GPS typically gets you within 3-8 metres (10-25 ft) of the cache.

Once you find the cache, you sign the log, exchange any trade items you want, and log your find on the appropriate web site when you get home.

Hiding a geocache

Hiding a geocache involves careful planning to determine where to place the cache, what kind of container to use as the cache, obtaining permission to place the cache, and then submitting the cache for listing on the appropriate web site.

Geocaching is different for everyone. You may choose not to hide any caches, or you may chose to hide many caches. How you play the game is up to you!

What do I need to geocache?

Geocaching does not require much. At the least, you need internet access to find out where the caches are hidden. You do not necessarily need a GPSr (you can often use Google Maps or the like to find urban geocaches) but it definitely is handy. You don’t need a sport GPSr — newer cell phones with GPS capabilites are suitable for geocaching too. Automotive GPSrs are less suitable for geocaching. The last thing you need is a little bit of time. Caution: geocaching can be addictive and may consume more than “a little bit of time”.

Geocaching etiquette

Geocaching has evolved from a tradition of respecting the environment. It is important to minimize your (and others’) impact on the environment. Geocaches are never buried. Geocaches should be only placed (and found) respecting property rights. Geocaches should not disrupt or cause public alarm.

Always sign logs of caches you find. Leave polite and helpful logs when you log your finds on the web. Always “trade up”: if you take a trade item, leave an item of equal or better value. Always move travel bugs or geocoins within two weeks of picking them up. Never leave food-related items in caches.

Geocache types

Traditional caches are containers with logs. However, there are also “multicaches” which may require you to visit several locations and find several caches before finding the “final” cache. There are puzzle caches (aka mystery caches) which may require you to solve difficult (or easy) puzzles before finding the physical caches. There are “virtual” caches (no longer accepted at geocaching.com) where there is no container at all!

Geocaching events

Geocaching can be a very social activity too! Meetups of geocachers happen regularly, and these events can registered on the geocaching web pages too! Events can be geocaching 101 events, rallies, poker events, anything where a group of cachers get together for an event that is NOT primarily finding caches. Some events may have thousands of attendees!

Travel bugs, geocoins, and signature items

Part of the tradition of geocaching is leaving trinkets in the caches for others to find. These trinkets may range from small toys to keychains to CDs, or anything! Some items are trackable on geocaching web sites: they have tracking numbers on them that let their owners (and others) see the journey that they have been on. Travel bugs are any items with a “travel bug” dog-tag attached to them. Geocoins are coins with tracking numbers stamped right into them. Geocoins are *sometimes* left in geocaches, and some people just collect the coins outright!
Some geocachers have created items that they leave in every cache they visit, “signature items”. These items may be wooden nickels, buttons, or some other small trinket that have the geocacher’s name on them.

More resources

http://www.geocaching.com

http://www.geocacher-u.com

http://www.bcgeocaching.com

http://www.geocaching-101.com

Geomate.jr front face

As part of that event, the fine folks (Helen and Chris) at Landsharkz loaned us a Geomate.jr GPSr.

The Geomate.jr is a “family-friendly” [...]]]>

Geomate.jr front face

As part of that event, the fine folks (Helen and Chris) at Landsharkz loaned us a Geomate.jr GPSr.

The Geomate.jr is a “family-friendly” GPSr. It’s intended to be simple to use so that kids can just pick it up and start geocaching. You don’t have to worry about downloading caches from it … it comes with 250,000 caches already installed. It promises to be quick, easy, and uncomplicated.

The device itself is small, rubberized, and only has a two buttons (plus a power button). The display is a black and white LCD that presents a small amount of information at any given time. When searching for caches, it shows distance in metres and an arrow pointing the way. On the periphery of the display are LCDs for cache size, difficulty, and terrain.

And, it’s quite inexpensive: $70 CAD!

We had the GPS for a bit over a week, and brought it to the Geocaching 101 event where quite a number of kids were able to look at it and use it. We used it to find a few caches and even after a short time with it I think we got a pretty good idea of what it’s like.

The best things about it are the things it’s designed for: it’s a nice small, rugged device that’s quite suitable for small hands racing around the forest. The display is easy to understand on the cache hunt, with big numbers counting down the distance to the cache, and an arrow pointing the direction.

On the other hand, I found using it a bit less intuitive than I liked. The only information you have about the cache you’re seeking — other than the size, terrain, and difficulty — is the GC number. No cache name, no description, no hints, no logs, nothing else. As such, you still need this information somehow, so you need another device or print-outs.

The distance display is good, but the arrow is only helpful when you’re moving. For kids, this is a bit of a challenge: they (and me!) like to stop to get bearings.

Additionally, I found it confusing navigating between the units different screens, and getting it to go back to the cache I was interested in. One of the buttons on the unit goes from the closest cache to the next closest and so on, but to get back to the beginning of the list you have to hold the button down and wait. Sounds easy but I was never sure it was working.

Also, those 250,000 caches? They’re all US caches. To get international caches (including Canada), you need to buy the Upgrade Kit (a special cable) and download caches to it. And they’re just traditional caches. No multi’s, no letterboxes, nothing else. That’s probably ok for kids (we mostly do trads anyway) but it’s a bit confusing when you’re trying to figure out what the next cache is (or should be).

Pros:

• Small, and rugged
• Simple display
• Easy operation
• High-sensitivity GPS
• Inexpensive

Cons:

• Direction arrow only accurate when moving
• Confusing interface
• To put Canadian caches on it, and to update any geocaches on it, you need the $25 “update” kit
• No extra cache information: name, hints, found status, etc
• Only traditional caches, no multis, letterboxes, mysteries, etc
• No backlight

In the end, while I’m grateful for the loaner, and while I applaud the goals, I don’t think I’d get it for my kids. For a few more dollars, a Garmin eTrex gives you a GPS that does all the same things, except has maps and can show you (marginally) more information.

We’re still adding content. If you have anything you’d like to see here, please let us know!

If you are new to geocaching these [...]]]> Geocaching-101 is a site dedicated to providing helpful resources for novice and expert geocachers. Inside you will find how-to guides, discussions about various aspects of geocaching, reviews of geocaching-related products, and more!

We’re still adding content. If you have anything you’d like to see here, please let us know!

If you are new to geocaching these posts will get you started:

• The Basics
• What is Geocaching (video)

Each week a new post will be published, covering some geocaching topic.

Contributions are welcome! If there is something you’d like to contribute to the site, or something you’d like to see covered, please email us at feedback@geocaching-101.com.