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Looking for an fun family activity that is low cost and appeals to all ages? Try Geocaching! Never heard of it? It’s easy with just a little technology, a vehicle, & an adventurous spirit!

Geocaching is a world-wide treasure hunt, though often the treasure is just the fun of the find! Both rural areas and big cities make the map as geocachers all over hide new caches regularly. Players hunt while in everyday routine of life, while on vacation, or on special runs just for geocaching.

So what is geocaching?

I first heard of Geocaching several years ago from an article in Family Fun Magazine. Basically, you use GPS coordinates to locate a container called a geocache. It may be any size, and contains at least a log to sign, and sometimes more!

Some caches are easy to find- a “park and grab,” while others require a hike in the woods and some perseverance. You can find them in town, at parks, in the country, and everywhere between.

First, cachers use specific instructions to hide their cache. Then they register their hide on the website for other geocachers to find. The picture above is my son opening an ammo can cache found in a state park.

Individual geocaches may vary greatly. Some are small “micro” finds with just enough room for a log sheet. Others are military style ammo boxes with items for trading. Some even require figuring out a puzzle or challenge. Cachers can get very creative! See the website for description of the different types of caches.

2 Ways to Play

Using an internet browser & GPS (handheld or phone)

Register at the official Geocaching website.
Search using city, state, or current location to see a map of geocaches.
Click on a cache for more details. (Description, size, difficulty, hints, etc.)
Record the GPS coordinates for the caches you wish to find.
Look at the log for more hints or to make sure others have been able to find the cache.
Go find the geocache! (Use a GPS App on your phone or any handheld GPS device. Plug in the coordinates and follow the map to the Geocache!)
Sign the log & report the find on the Geocaching website.

Using the Official Geocaching App

Download the Geocaching App. (The free version is limited. Premium is around $30 a year.) Register & sign in.
Search for nearby caches using the app.
Select a cache to see the details.
Choose a cache, then follow the map on the app to the cache.
Sign the log & report the find on the app.

The coordinates usually take you very close to the geocache, but not precisely. You still must search the area, thinking like a “cacher.”

Going geocaching as a family is so much fun for all ages! Once we get close, all of the kids begin looking at any hiding spots, trying to be the first to spot the cache. So far we have found 25 caches in 3 different states.

Smiles mark those we have found.

We find some hides easily, and others with a little hard work. We have given up on ever finding a few particular caches, though!

Our family enjoys camping at Roosevelt State Park. We have found several geocaches on our camping adventures there, but one still eludes us! Somewhere on the lookout tower is a small micro cache – a magnetic box. We’ve looked that tower over many times with no success, but we still enjoy the challenge.

Start Geocaching Today!

Begin a new family adventure today with geocaching! With very little preparation, you can head outdoors and use our modern technology for more then video games and social media!

If you like to use object lessons to make spiritual points with your children, Geocaching is a great illustration of Jeremiah 29:13: “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Sometimes God may seem to be hiding, but He has given us directions in His word. He wants us to seek and find Him.

When my children grow up, I want them to remember family time is fun time! Geocaching is one way we spend time together creating lasting memories in everyday moments.