GeocachingGeocaching

Where you are the Search Where you are the Search EngineEngine

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What is Geocaching?What is Geocaching?

• Geocaching is a “High-Tech” Geocaching is a “High-Tech” Treasure Hunt Popular Throughout Treasure Hunt Popular Throughout the Worldthe World

• Similar to “Orienteering”Similar to “Orienteering”

• A game where people hide caches A game where people hide caches and other people attempt to find and other people attempt to find them using only the geodetic them using only the geodetic coordinates and some simple hints.coordinates and some simple hints.

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GoalGoal

• To Locate Hidden Treasure in Out-of-To Locate Hidden Treasure in Out-of-the-way Placesthe-way Places

• To Trade “Booty” with othersTo Trade “Booty” with others

• To Sharpen Navigation and Tracking To Sharpen Navigation and Tracking SkillsSkills

• To Discover Unknown PlacesTo Discover Unknown Places

• To Have Fun!To Have Fun!

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ToolsTools

• Computer (to Identify Caches)Computer (to Identify Caches)

• Hand-held GPS Receiver (to Locate Caches)Hand-held GPS Receiver (to Locate Caches)– Basic (~$100 to sophisticated mapping units Basic (~$100 to sophisticated mapping units

>$400)>$400)

• CompassCompass

• Maps/ChartsMaps/Charts

• BootyBooty

• Hiking BootsHiking Boots

• Bug Spray!!Bug Spray!!

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HistoryHistory

• The mountaineering community has long hidden stashes of The mountaineering community has long hidden stashes of food, fuel and other items for use by themselves and others food, fuel and other items for use by themselves and others when caught short on the mountain.when caught short on the mountain.– Hidden from casual passers by, animalsHidden from casual passers by, animals– Located using orienteering techniquesLocated using orienteering techniques

• ““3 paces due west from the oak tree with three trunks”3 paces due west from the oak tree with three trunks”

• The advent of hand-held GPS units in the late 1990s made The advent of hand-held GPS units in the late 1990s made possible a more high-tech approach.possible a more high-tech approach.

• Climbers were quick to embrace the promise of civilian GPSClimbers were quick to embrace the promise of civilian GPS

• Accuracies at the time with Selective Availability (S/A) Accuracies at the time with Selective Availability (S/A) turned on necessitated a combined technical and classical turned on necessitated a combined technical and classical approach to finding caches.approach to finding caches.

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History History ((Continued)Continued)

• GPS Units under S/A had an accuracy of around +/- GPS Units under S/A had an accuracy of around +/- 100-150 meters. Good enough for navigating a boat 100-150 meters. Good enough for navigating a boat but tough to locate a cache.but tough to locate a cache.

• On May 1, 2000 S/A was turned off!!!On May 1, 2000 S/A was turned off!!!– Overnight, standard GPS accuracies increased to +/- 5 Overnight, standard GPS accuracies increased to +/- 5

metersmeters• On May 3, 2000 the first Geocache was hidden near On May 3, 2000 the first Geocache was hidden near

Portland, OR. By May 6Portland, OR. By May 6thth, 2 people had already , 2 people had already found it.found it.

• In September, 2000, the website that would In September, 2000, the website that would eventually become geocaching.com was born.eventually become geocaching.com was born.

• Today (May 9, 2005) there are 164,446 active Today (May 9, 2005) there are 164,446 active caches hidden in 224 countries including Iraq, caches hidden in 224 countries including Iraq, Afghanistan and Antarctica.Afghanistan and Antarctica.

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Caches WorldwideCaches Worldwide

164,446 Caches

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Caches in the U.S.Caches in the U.S.

77,621 Caches

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Caches in Rhode IslandCaches in Rhode Island

239 Caches

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Types of CachesTypes of Caches

• Traditional CachesTraditional Caches– Small, waterproof containerSmall, waterproof container

•TupperwareTupperware

•Ammo BoxesAmmo Boxes

•Pretzel JugPretzel Jug

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Types of Caches Types of Caches (Continued)(Continued)

• Multi-cachesMulti-caches– Each stage yields coordinates to the next stageEach stage yields coordinates to the next stage

• Other, less popular types of cachesOther, less popular types of caches– Mystery CachesMystery Caches

• Solve a puzzleSolve a puzzle– Webcam CachesWebcam Caches

• Find a webcam, act funny, take a pictureFind a webcam, act funny, take a picture– Letterbox CachesLetterbox Caches

• Combines orienteering with GPSCombines orienteering with GPS– Event CachesEvent Caches

• Participate in an eventParticipate in an event

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Of Interest to BoatersOf Interest to Boaters

• Many geocaches are accessible only Many geocaches are accessible only by boatby boat

• Some geocaches are underwater and Some geocaches are underwater and require diving skills to recoverrequire diving skills to recover

• Many geocaches, especially in New Many geocaches, especially in New England, have a nautical themeEngland, have a nautical theme

• Something to do while the boat is laid Something to do while the boat is laid upup

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RI Kayak CITO EventRI Kayak CITO Event

• Event Cache, May 15, 2005Event Cache, May 15, 2005

• N 41° 38.035 W 071° 13.847 N 41° 38.035 W 071° 13.847

• Requires a kayakRequires a kayak

• Shoreline cleanup cache eventShoreline cleanup cache event

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Mercury RisingMercury Rising

• In Rhode Island (Virtual Cache)In Rhode Island (Virtual Cache)

• By the time you solve this puzzle you will:By the time you solve this puzzle you will:– Learn all about the German Enigma cipher and Learn all about the German Enigma cipher and

use a virtual Enigma to decode 7 detailed use a virtual Enigma to decode 7 detailed messages.messages.

– Learn about the last submarine battle of WWIILearn about the last submarine battle of WWII– View artifacts from this battleView artifacts from this battle– Locate the resting place of the submarineLocate the resting place of the submarine– Visit the grave of a Nazi submarinerVisit the grave of a Nazi submariner

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Mystery of the John DwightMystery of the John Dwight

• Multi-cacheMulti-cache

• N 41° 24.260 W 070° 52.956 N 41° 24.260 W 070° 52.956

• Rum RunnerRum Runner

• Sailed from Newport on April 6, 1923Sailed from Newport on April 6, 1923

• Crew never seen alive againCrew never seen alive again

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Sailors CacheSailors Cache

• Traditional CacheTraditional Cache

• N 41° 25.288 W 070° 56.214 N 41° 25.288 W 070° 56.214

• Cuttyhunk IslandCuttyhunk Island

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Rapture of the DeepRapture of the Deep

• Underwater (SCUBA) Multi-CacheUnderwater (SCUBA) Multi-Cache

• N 25° 41.902 W 079° 19.048 N 25° 41.902 W 079° 19.048 – Off of Bimini in the BahamasOff of Bimini in the Bahamas

• 90’ Wreck Dive90’ Wreck Dive

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Bay Keys CacheBay Keys Cache

• Traditional CacheTraditional Cache

• 8 nm round trip by small boat off of 8 nm round trip by small boat off of Key West, FLKey West, FL

• N 24° 38.489 W 081° 46.755 N 24° 38.489 W 081° 46.755

• Great Heron NWRGreat Heron NWR

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16,000,000 Bricks16,000,000 Bricks

• Virtual CacheVirtual Cache

• N 24° 37.764 W 082° 52.362 N 24° 37.764 W 082° 52.362

• Garden Key in the Dry TortugasGarden Key in the Dry Tortugas

• 70 miles west of Key West70 miles west of Key West

• Historical Fort JeffersonHistorical Fort Jefferson

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More InformationMore Information

• www.geocaching.comwww.geocaching.com– The “Bible”The “Bible”

• www.gpsinformation.netwww.gpsinformation.net– More than you ever wanted to know More than you ever wanted to know

about GPSabout GPS

• ““Geocaching for DummiesGeocaching for Dummies””

• ““Geocaching for IdiotsGeocaching for Idiots””