Geocaching: The Treasure Hunt of the Future

Technology has changed many things in our world today. Entertainment has not been excluded. From music to computers to treasure hunting, technology has updated and escalated our thoughts about fun and adventure.

The new craze in family fun is geocaching. Geocaching is the treasure hunt of the future. When geocaching you are on an adventure to find a cache (treasure). Various people or groups of people hide treasures in different locations. They then share the locations on a website over the Internet. To get started log on to www.geocaching.com.

The treasure hunters use a gps to find the treasure by following directions given on the website. Once you find the treasure or cache, you may keep it. However, it is asked that you leave something else in return for future finders.

The gps unit is capable of determining your location according to the coordinates. The units can be as simple or as detailed as you would like to pay for. They usually range from about $100 all the way up to $1000.

You do not have to be an expert with a gps to play the game. All that you have to do is to enter a waypoint to tell the machine where the cache is hidden. The treasures on the site are rated from least difficulty to most difficulty to find. If you are a beginner, you would likely want to start with an easier level.

In addition to finding and leaving a treasure, there is also a log book to write in. You leave the details of your hunt in the log book. You can also check out the details of the hunts from others.

Once you find the cache you also report back to the website to list that it was found and the date. If you cannot find the cache you list it as not found.

I think that geocaching would be a great recreational activity for a family. However, I also worry that it might be misused or abuse by some people. I would like to hope that everyone is tasteful enough to leave appropriate items and an appropriate log. However, I am sure that not everyone is this tasteful. Therefore you may find something that you are not expecting to see or read. I also worry about people hiding a cache and posting it on the website then waiting at the location for or following others. I would not suggest geocaching by yourself to anyone.