outdoors
Treasure hunt with technology Geocaching can be contagious family fun
Leslie Foster
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ust because it’s cold outside is no excuse to sit around and play video games all day. Geocaching can link kids to the joys of old-fashioned treasure-hunting through the technology they’re already hooked on. Geocaching uses GPS co-ordinates to find treasure called a “cache.” All you need is a GPS unit and co-ordinates to a hidden cache. If you don’t have a GPS, a smartphone will do, plus a geocaching app download (free ones are available). A couple of cautions. Using a phone’s GPS will drain the battery fast, visibility is poor in bright light and a phone may not be as accurate as a real GPS. A rugged, waterproof case is a good idea, or at least put the phone in a Ziploc bag in case you drop it. If you end up in love with geocaching you’ll probably want to invest in a dedicated GPS like a Garmin or Magellan. Caches are hidden by other geocachers. The cache owner uploads its GPS co-ordinates to the Internet. With more than 30,000 caches listed on www.geocaching.com in
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