I have always enjoyed golfing. Sure I’m competitive, but golfing is fun, even if I am not shooting the ball well. I just like being outside to enjoy God’s canvas of nature. Perhaps it’s the little boy in me, but I still get a kick out of seeing a wild rabbit, birds of prey, and a great climbing tree. Whatever your motivation for being active out-of-doors, it is a great way to see God’s handiwork and to stay fit.
Over the last few years I haven’t had the time to golf like I wish. Adding a two to four hour round of golf on top of my busy workweek is simply more time than I am willing to take from my family. Just the same, I hold on to my clubs waiting for that time when I can play more often once again.
In the meantime, I have discovered a great outdoor activity that the whole family can get involved in. It is called “Geocaching.” Geocaching is a real world treasure hunting game…like an Easter egg hunt all year round. Players try to locate hidden containers called geocaches by using GPS enabled devices. Then they share their experiences online.
Last year I went on a geocaching run with my son, Evan. We started at the Adkisson Greenbelt parking lot in Brookhill and ran all the way to JR Miller and back. Within that 3-4 mile distance there were nine geocaches.
We had fun and made a great memory. It wasn’t about the run; it was about taking time in the refreshing outdoors with my son. We were able to find eight of the nine geocaches.
Geocaching is free and because of the hunting element, it’s as much fun for kids as it is adults.
Here’s what you need to get started. First, go to www.geocaching.com and set up a free account. If you have an iPhone, you can download a free app. I recommend this for reasons that will become apparent later.
Once you have your account, simply log on and begin searching for geocaches in Owensboro or anywhere in the world. Each geocache location is mapped by GPS. You may say, “What fun is that?” To be sure, without the GPS locator, you would never find the geocache. The GPS location may take you to the location, but that’s just the start of the hunt. Many geocaches are well hidden and some may even be disguised.
[Spoiler alert]: One of my favorite geocaches in Owensboro was one my son and I found disguised as a metal nut and bolt. How clever!
When you log on to learn about geocaches in your search area, you are also given a description, a history of recent finds (a log), a hint and maybe even photos. If you have the app, all this information is portable and all in the palm of your hand. If not, you will need to write down all this critical information for each geocache you are trying to find in a notepad and take it with you. Now you see the beauty of the app!
Loaded with this list of geocaches to find, you need to bring a pencil or pen (for signing the log once you’ve found it), your GPS enabled device (your car’s GPS or GPS enabled phone will work), a small token or two for trading with a treasure geocache, and an adventurous, alligator-friendly spirit.
A couple years ago, I was able to take my family to Pawley’s Island, SC. This leisurely family vacation was made even more memorable by our hunts for geocaches. One cache took us to a pond, where we saw an 11-foot, live alligator. Another took us under a grove of palmetto trees to a box with various tokens we could take with us as souvenirs (of course we left a token of our own).
Worldwide, there are 1,712,727 geocaches to find– enough to keep even your most energetic child busy. There are over 100 in Owensboro alone.
After you have found a few geocaches and have made some great family memories, try hiding a few geocaches yourself. Once hidden, you will receive an e-mail each time someone finds it.
Geocaching is a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon with the family. So turn off the TV for a few hours, load up the family and hunt for some real treasures. Each geocache is unique. It could be under a rock, in a tree, in a box, found in a toy spider (yes, there IS one in a toy spider out there somewhere) and all around your neighborhood, schools, businesses and parks.
Make a new memory this May by geocaching with your family.