Welcome to Geocaching 101

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Welcome to Geocaching 101!

• The sport where YOU are the search engineTM
• www.iowageocachers.org
• www.geocaching.com

The Groundspeak Geocaching Logo is a trademark of
Groundspeak, Inc. (Used with permission)
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Preview

• What is Geocaching?
• Where are the Geocaches?
• Who Geocaches, and why?
• What's a GPS, and how does it work?
• Entering a waypoint.
• Lets go geocaching!

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What is Geocaching?

• Geocaching is an entertaining outdoor adventure
  game for GPS users of all ages.

• The basic idea is to set up caches (hidden boxes)
  all over the world 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.

• Once found, the visitor may take something from
  the cache, leave something (of equal value), and
  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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Types of Geocaches

• Traditional
• Multi-Caches
• Event
• Virtual
• Webcam
• Earthcache

• Letterbox Hybrids
• Location-less (Reverse)
• Cache In / Trash Out Event
• Unknown (Mystery)
• Project APE

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Cache Containers

• Ammo Cans
• Tupperware
• 35mm Film Cans
• Cookie Tins
• Magnetic Key Holders
• Pill Containers
• Other Food Containers

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Finding a Geocache

• Be inconspicuous in public places
• Search carefully, practice LNT
• Sign logbook and replace cache as found, Do Not
  Relocate
• If you trade trinkets, trade kindly
• Report any problems prompty
• If you take a traveler, log it and pass it on

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Finding a Traveler

• Travelers are meant to travel, please do no keep
  them.
• Follow Directions given with the traveler for
  proper logging.
• Groundspeaks Travel Bugs are most popular. Be
  sure to Record the serial number to log movements.

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Trading Items

• Do Not Place
• Guns/ Knives
• Drugs/ Alcohol
• Explosive/ Ammo
• Food or Scented Items
• Things that freeze
• Use Common Sense

• Do Place
• Toys/ games
• Trinkets
• Books
• Travelers/ coins
• Signature items
• Camera to take picture with

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Geocaching and the Environment

• Each year dozens of CITO (Cache In Trash Out)
  events are held throughout the world. At these
  events groups of geocachers get together and pick
  up litter from a certain trail or park. Many are
  held during the Month of April, but can be held
  anytime of the year. CITO is also for individuals
  anytime they choose.

• Goals
• Actively promote the good stewardship of park
  land.
• Assist in the maintenance of parks trail
  systems.
• Increase public awareness of Geocaching.

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Where are the Geocaches?
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Where are the Geocaches?
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Where are the Geocaches?
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Who Geocaches?

• People that are
• Young
• Old
• Married
• Single
• Have children
• Do not have children

• Those that like the Outdoors
• Those that like Puzzles
• Basically anyone that has a sense of adventure!

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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 now be accurate to within as close as 6 feet.

• On May 3rd, Dave Ulmer hid a cache in Oregon,
  listed the location on a newserv group. It was
  visited twice within 3 days.

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How Did It Get Started?

• Mike Teague, the first to find Ulmers Cache,
  built a web page to document the caches.

• A few months later Jeremy Irish, the current
  operator of the Geocaching.com website, expanded
  the idea and promoted the game.

• On September 6th, four months after the first
  hide, the official torch was passed to Jeremy.
  Geocaching is now in all 50 states and in over
  200 countries.

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What is a GPS?

• A GPS (Global Positioning System) unit is an
  electronic device that can determine your
  approximate location (within 6-20 feet) almost
  anywhere on the planet.

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What is a GPS?

• A GPS uses a system of 24 satellites to
  calculate your position. Only 4 are needed to
  calculate position.

• The GPS receiver can see at most 12 of the 24
  satellites at any one time. (at ground level)

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What is a GPS?

• Since your GPSr knows the location of where each
  satellite in the sky, which it uses to determine
  distances. With these distances it computes your
  location

• You can use the unit to navigate from your
  current location to another location.

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What is a GPS?

• Some units have their own maps, built-in
  compasses, pressure altimeters, and even voice
  navigation.

• Dont worry though, a GPS device doesnt send
  signals, it only receives them. So . . . no one
  can track your location!

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How do GPS devices work?

• Lets say you dont know where you are but a
  passerby tells you that youre 238 miles from
  Cleveland.

• That puts you anywhere on the perimeter of a
  circle around Cleveland!

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How do GPS devices work?

• Another passerby stops and tells you youre 340
  miles from Boston.

• So not only are you on the perimeter of the
  circle around Cleveland, but around Boston too.
• There are now only two possible locations!

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How do GPS devices work?

• Finally, someone stops and tells you that youre
  272 miles from Baltimore.

• You now know right where you are!

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GPSr Features

• 12 channel receiver

• WAAS/DGPS
• Color screen
• External antenna jack
• Turn by turn Autorouting
• Base map/Optional maps
• Memory size

• Waterproof
• Electronic altimeter
• Electronic compass
• Computer Interface
• Backlit Screen

• Power source
• Screen size
• Overall size/weight
• Intended use

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How much will I pay?
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Basic GPS FeaturesThe Power Button

• Press the power button and hold for 1 second to
  turn it on.

• Press again to turn the backlight on

• Press again to turn the backlight off

• Press and hold to turn the unit off

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Basic GPS FeaturesThe Satellite Page

• After powering it up, the unit will attempt to
  lock onto the satellites.

• You must be outdoors with a clear view of the sky
  to get a signal.
• Once locked on, youre ready to navigate!

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Basic GPS FeaturesMark A Waypoint

• The first thing you want to do is to mark your
  starting location.

• Press and hold the Enter button till the Mark
  Waypoint window appears.

• Use the Up/Down buttons to move to the various
  fields. Then press Enter when youre at the OK
  field.

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Basic GPS FeaturesReview Waypoint / GoTo

• To locate a previously stored waypoint, use the
  Page button to get to the Menu page.

• Use the Up/Down buttons to move down to the
  Waypoints category and press Enter.

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Basic GPS FeaturesReview Waypoint / GoTo

• Then, using the Up/Down buttons, move down to the
  desired Waypoint Group and press Enter.

• Now move down to the desired Waypoint and press
  Enter.

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Basic GPS FeaturesReview Waypoint / GoTo

• Now you can either use the selected waypoint or
  you can edit it.

• To go to the waypoint, move down to the GOTO
  selection and press Enter.

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Basic GPS FeaturesThe Compass / Pointer Page

• The GPS unit now displays the basic Pointer Page

• This page is used to navigate to the chosen
  waypoint by following the pointer arrow.

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Im Lost!!!

• If you get lost, dont forget that you marked (or
  should have marked) your location when you
  started.

• Search for the Waypoint you marked, select GOTO,
  and head back to civilization!
• Dont forget to take extra batteries with you!

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What to take Geocaching?

• GPSr / Extra Batteries
• Compass / Map / Cache Info
• Bug Spray / Moist Wipes
• Tools Knife, Mirror, String, Flashlight
• Trade Items
• Pen / Notebook
• Cache Maintenance Items
• Clothes for Changing Weather Conditions
• Water / Food
• Other???

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Some GPS links
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Review

• What is Geocaching?
• Where are the Geocaches?
• Who Geocaches, and why?
• What's a GPS, and how does it work?
• Entering a waypoint.
• Lets go geocaching!

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Lets Go Find A Geocache!