Introduction to Geocaching

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Introduction to Geocaching

• Hi-Tech Hide Seek Interest project
• April 8, 2006
• Shavers Creek Environmental Center
• Presentations by
• Joel Galbraith (The Seven Gs)
• David Darin Tandberg (Anasazis)

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What is GPS?

• GPS (Global Positioning System) is a system made
  up of satellites and electronic receivers that
  can determine your approximate location (within
  6-20 feet) almost anywhere on the planet.
• (Satellites mostly controlled by the military)

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How does the GPS work?

• Using a system of 27 satellites in the sky,
  ground stations on earth, and a GPS receiver, the
  distances between each of these points can be
  calculated.
• The distance is calculated based on the amount of
  time it takes for a radio signal to travel
  between these points.

• This allows the GPS receiver to know where you
  are, in terms of latitude and longitude, on the
  earth.

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What is GPS?

• The GPSr must see the satellites, so it does
  not work well in
• dense forests
• inside caves
• Underwater
• inside buildings
• but it does work at night

• The GPS receiver can see about 14 of the 24
  satellites at any one timethe more the merrier
  (or more accurate)
• It needs at least 3 to give you your position in
  latitude and longitude.

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GPS satellite factoids

• Distance from Earth
• ½x Earths circumference
• 12,000 miles
• 2 orbits in 24 hours
• Travel 7,000 miles/hour
• Powered by Solar energy

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Latitude Longitude

• A grid of imaginary lines on the earths surface.
  
• The global address of any place on earth includes
  both latitude and longitude.
• The lines of latitude, called parallels, are
  horizontal, running east and west around the
  globe. -90 (S pole) to 90 (N pole) degrees
  Were at about 40 North
• The lines of longitude, called meridians are
  vertical, running between the North and South
  Poles. 180 east or west Were at about 77
  West
• Each degree is divided into 60 minutes and each
  minute is divided into 60 seconds.

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What is GPS?

• Since the GPS unit knows your position and
  tracks time, it can calculate distance, speed,
  direction, and even elevation.

• You can use the unit to navigate from your
  current location to another location. Each
  position is called a waypoint.

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What is GPS?

• Some units have their own maps, built-in
  electronic compasses, 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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Who uses GPS?

• Military
• Fire/rescue/ambulance
• Researchers/scientists
• Explorers, Ecologists
• Surveyors/construction
• Shipping companies (navigate ocean)
• Farmers, Forestry
• Hikers, bikers, skiers, snowmobilers
• Airlines and private pilots
• Fishers, hunters
• Geocachers (of course)

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How do GPS receivers work?

• Lets say you dont know where you are but you
  call a friend and she says that youre 860 miles
  from Disney World.

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

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How do GPS receivers work?

• You call a cousin in Chicago who tells you that
  you are 511 miles away

• So not only are you on the perimeter of the
  circle around Orlando, but around Chicago too.

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How do GPS receivers work?

• Finally, someone stops and tells you that youre
  160 miles from Philadelphia

• You now know right where you are!

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GPS options to consider

• Rocker keypad
• WAAS/DGPS/EGNOS
• Computer interface
• Power source
• Color screen
• Car Navigation
• External antenna jack
• Screen size/readability

• 12-16 channel receiver
• Waterproof (ipx2/ipx7)
• Altimeter
• Electronic compass
• Basemap
• Optional maps
• Memory size (expandable?)

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How much will I pay?
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General GPS Questions?
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Welcome to Geocaching!(indirectly addressing
Letterboxing)

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

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

• An entertaining outdoor adventure game for GPS
  users of all ages.

• GEO geography Caching storing provisions
  (weapons, food, data)
• Nothing to do with money or cash
• The basic idea is to set up caches (hidden
  prizes) all over the world and share the
  locations (Latitude / Longitude) of these caches
  on the Internet for others to find.

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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, and/or sign the
  logbook.

• The find is then logged onto the Internet
  website where records are kept about caches you
  have found and hidden.

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Whats the point?

• Geocaching can be thought of in three parts
• The journey to reach the cache area.
• The challenge of actually finding the cache
  container.
• The fun of creating an interesting or clever
  geocache for others to find
• All can be equally rewarding.

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Geocaching and the Environment

• In 2003, geocachers around the world organized 67
  cleanup events in 5 countries and 28 States. The
  events were such a huge success that Groundspeak
  is committed to carrying on the tradition.
• April 22, 2006 is CITO day!

• Goals
• Actively promote the Cache In Trash Out program.
• Assist in the maintenance of parks trail
  systems.
• Increase public awareness of Geocaching.

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How Did It Get Started?

• On May 1, 2000, the GPS signal degradation called
  Selective 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, 2000, Dave Ulmer hid a cache in
  Oregon and sent coordinates to friends online.
  It was visited twice within 3 days.

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How Did It Get Started?

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

• Jeremy Irish, the current operator of the
  Geocaching website, expanded the idea and named
  it Geocaching.

• Geocaching is now in all 50 states and in over
  221 countries.

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How BIG is Geocaching?

• Six years later
• Sept 5th 2006
• There are 308, 647 active caches
• Caches in 222 countries.
• In the last 7 days, there have been 227,683 new
  logs written
• 35,742 www.geocaching.com users

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Worldwide Geocaches
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U.S. geocaches
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Geocaches in our Area

• PA
• (bagillion)
• Centre County (70)
• Shavers Creek (5)

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A Code of Conduct
Dress Appropriately
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What you need to start
A handheld GPS receiver
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What you need to start
Internet access and a FREE account on
geocaching.com
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Geocache types

• Traditional cache
• Multicache
• Virtual cache
• Letterbox cache

• Mystery/Puzzle cache
• Event cache
• Earth cache
• Webcam Cache

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Typical Geocache containers

• Usually a weather-resistant container such as
  Tupperware, Rubbermaid, or surplus ammo box

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Less typical containers
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Whats in a cache?

• The Logbook Pen/Pencil
• Trinkets to trade
• Examples maps, books, software, hardware, CDs,
  videos, pictures, coins, tools, games, etc.
• Information sheet that explains the container and
  geocaching, as well as contact information.
• Travel Bug (TB), Geocoin, Jeep
• Disposable camera (optional)

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What are the rules?

• Cache placement
• No caches on land maintained by the U.S. National
  Park Service or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
  (National Wildlife Refuges)
• No caches that are buried.
• No caches placed on archaeological or historical
  sites.
• Obtain permission if needed for city, state
  parks/forest caches (CRPR, DCNR)

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What are the rules?

• Cache placement contd
• No caches close to active railroad tracks. 150
  feet minimum.
• No caches on military installations.
• No caches near or under highway bridges, dams,
  government buildings, or airports.
• No caches on/near school property.

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What are the rules?

• Cache contents
• No food (attracts critters)
• No weapons (knives, ammunition, explosives)
• No drugs or alcohol
• No solicitations (business, religious, political)
• No inappropriate materials

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Who enforces the rules?

• Geocaching.com
• Controls listing of geocaches worldwide on its
  website.
• Caches are approved by volunteer reviewers.
• Geocachers (everyone)
• If you see something inappropriate, you remove
  it, mention it in log, email owner, or report it
  to reviewer.

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Travel Bugs, Geocoins, Jeeps

• Items with a serial number that are tracked from
  cache to cache
• TBs are dog tags attached to any item
• Contests are played for longest distance, fastest
  travel etc.
• Frequently given missions
• Fun to both find and track
• Some people collect them
• Example

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How do you play?

• Visit the geocaching.com website to locate nearby
  geocaches.
• Search the site by zip code, lat-long., state,
  country, area code, keyword, or waypoint.
• Print or Write down coordinates (some GPSrs let
  you download info into unit)

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Finding the Geocache

• Enter Coordinates into GPS and follow directions.
• Use clues (if necessary) to locate the cache.
• Caches are hidden so pay attention to the clues!
• If I were them, where would I hide it
• Trust the GPS, LOOK around!!!

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Once located.

• Take something from the cache.
• Leave something in the cache.
• Write about it in the logbook.
• Return it to its original location.
• Write about it on geocache.com
• Log Travelbugs, Geocoins or Jeeps
• Post pictures (always appreciated)

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Geocachers Jargon

• Geo-muggle/muggle- non-geocacher
• FTF- First To Find
• TFTC- Thanks For The Cache
• TNLNSL- Took Nothing, Left Nothing, Signed Log
• Geotrail- Visible traces of footprints, disturbed
  leaves, broken twigs etc.

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A note about Letterboxing

• Much of the same activity, but No GPS is used
• A growing sport started back in 1859 in England
• Riddles and clues must be solved and followed
• Stamps (custom carved), inkpads, logbooks and a
  compass are important elements of letterboxing.
• Trade stamp imprints, (thumb print)
• Often writing, drawing in logbooks, usually no
  goodies to trade (letterbox hybrid cache)
• A slower, classier game (IMHO).

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Enough yakking already!Lets Go Find A Geocache!
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Sites on related activities

• Central PA Geocachers www.centralpageocachers.org
  
• Letterboxing http//www.letterboxing.org/
• Central PA Letterboxing http//centralpalbx.blogsp
  ot.com/
• Bookcrossing http//www.bookcrossing.com/
• GPS Drawing http//www.gpsdrawing.com/info.htm
• Benchmarking or Benchmark hunting
  http//www.ngs.noaa.gov
• Degree Confluence Project http//www.confluence.or
  g/index.php
• GPS Games http//www.gpsgames.org/

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Educational Resources

• From a Distance- NASA site with Information and
  Lesson Plans http//wwwedu.ssc.nasa.gov/fad/defaul
  t.asp
• All About GPS (tutorial) http//www.trimble.com/gp
  s/index.html
• GIS and GPS Lesson Plan Resources
  http//www.gis2gps.com/GIS/lessons/lessons.html
• What is Latitude and Longitude http//www.rain.org
  /campinternet/gis/gis-lat-long-whatis.html
• How GPS Receivers Work http//electronics.howstuff
  works.com/gps.htm
• GPS Guide for Beginners (PDF download)
  http//www.garmin.com/aboutGPS/manual.html

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Geocaching Resources

• Geocaching.com http//www.geocaching.com -
  Number 1 site for geocaching the one that
  started it all
• Navicache.com http//www.navicache.com - Number 2
  web site for geocaching
• Geocachers Creed http//www.geocreed.info/
• Todays Cacher http//www.todayscacher.com -
  online magazine for geocachers
• Geocacher University http//www.geocacher-u.com
• Markwells FAQs http//members.aol.com/_ht_a/mark
  lent60544/myhomepage/Geocaching/markwellgcfaq.htm
• Buxley's Geocaching Waypoint http//brillig.com/ge
  ocaching
• KeenPeople.com http//www.keenpeople.com
• The First 100 Geocaches http//members.cox.net/pk
  public/index.html
• Geocaching with Kids http//www.eduscapes.com/geoc
  aching/kids.htm
• A weekly podcast on Geocaching http//www.podcache
  r.com/

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Extra Stuff
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Uses for GPS receivers

• Hiking and backpacking
• Canoeing and marine navigation
• Hunting and fishing
• Bird watching
• Search and rescue
• Exercise progress tracking
• Traveling via car, motorcycle, bicycle
• Geocaching

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Basic GPS Features
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Some GPS links
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Whats the point?

• Sometimes just getting to the cache area can be a
  big part of the adventure.
• It's one thing to see the latitude and longitude
  plotted on a map, but it can be quite a task to
  figure out how to get from here to there.

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Who are the geocachers?
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Who are the geocachers?