World plays Geocaching
Never heard of the term Geocaching? To put it simply, this is it :
Geocaching is not a new thing. It has been around for almost 2 decades and it was first played in Beavercreek, Oregon in 2000. Geocaching is a game or an outdoor recreational activity that can be played alone or in a group. The only thing required for this game is a GPS or a mobile device with a navigational system.
It is a game of ‘hide and seek’ but on a global level. All you have to do is hide or seek containers called ‘geocaches’ or ‘caches’ at specific locations by coordinates all over the world. There are at least 6 caches here in Canterbury. I found 3 (one is directly inside the Cathedral).
The cache is a small plastic container or a plastic bag with a small logbook and something to write with. You can write anything you want. People usually write their names, date and how long it took them to find the cache. They also leave a greeting or a comment about their experience. The size of the box varies. It can be just a plastic case from a camera film or a small magnet. There are various container sizes. The smallest ones are called “nanos” — these are usually magnets smaller than the tip of a finger and contain only a log sheet. The most common caches are lunch-box-sized plastic storage containers. It is best to use containers that are very sturdy, waterproof, animal- and fire-resistant, and relatively cheap, and have plenty of room for trade items. These are usually found in rural areas. The smaller ones are more used in urban areas because they can be hidden more easily. The caches are usually hidden in wall holes, trees, caves, under rocks or in bushes.
The caches can contain various objects. Small souvenirs, toys, keychains, bracelets or rings are very common. It is usually something personal. You are permitted to take anything you want (well, except for the logbook) but in return, you should put something of yours into the cache.
If a geocache has been vandalized or stolen, then it has been “muggled”. Yes, this is a term borrowed from the beloved Harry Potter series. Those who are not familiar with geocaching are called muggles.
HOWEVER, LIKE ANY GAME, THERE ARE SOME RULES :
- After you sign into the logbook, you must put the cache back exactly where you found it.
- Dangerous or illegal items like weapons, food, and drugs are not allowed.
- If you take something from the cache, give something else in return. Always try to trade up (put something of equal or greater ‘value’ into the cache). This is called geo-swag (the contents of a cache are put there for trading purposes)
- Families tend to play this game so anything left in the cache should be family-friendly.
- If you want to leave your own cache, be sure to check all the rules and regulations at geocaching.com
There is even a community for this game and if you would like to check it out, you can go to geocaching.com and join the rest of the world. You can mark each cache you find into your own map and share your experiences.
And for anyone, who finds wandering in nature and looking for a hidden treasure boring, we have a saying:
THESE ARE THE CACHES HIDDEN JUST IN THE EUROPE ITSELF :
There are different levels of difficulty. For beginners, it's best to start with a basic level which are caches that can be found at accessible places, like city streets. Just remember, the more difficult level the more dangerous it can get. There are places that are very dangerous (cliffs, mountains or castle ruins) where the risk of slipping or falling can be very high.
SAFETY FIRST
Although geocaching is a safe activity you should always consider safety when you plan on visiting caches. It’s best to always let someone know where you are going. Remember that movie based on a true story called 127 Hours with James Franco about a hitchhiker that had to cut his arm off because he got stuck between a canyon and a rock crushing his arm and he didn't tell anyone where he was going? You don't want anything like that to happen to you, do you?
I have been playing this game since I was 12. Like I mentioned in the beginning, this game can be played alone but for the higher levels, it is recommended to go with a group. There were multiple times where I needed someone to hold me otherwise I would have fallen into an abyss and die right there.
This is a monastery from the 17th century, near my hometown in Slovakia. I found this place thanks to geocaching.
This is another place I found — Plavecký castle.
DIFFERENT TYPES OF GEOCACHES
Of course, in this day and age, one variation is simply not enough. Therefore, there are many variations of geocaches. Here are just a few of them:
- The traditional cache is the most common type and consists of a container with a logbook. The exact coordinates where the cache is hidden are given.
- Mystery/puzzle caches require to discover information or solve a puzzle in order to find the cache. Some mystery caches provide a puzzle that must be solved to determine the physical cache location.
- Night cache is intended to be found at night by following a series of reflectors with a flashlight to the final cache location.
- Moving/traveling caches are found at a listed set of coordinates. The finder hides the cache in a different location, and updates the listing, essentially becomes the hider, and the next finder continues the cycle.
- Earthcaches are virtual caches that are organized by the Geological Society of America. The cacher usually has to perform a task which teaches an educational lesson about the earth science of the cache area.
- Locationless/Reverse caches are similar to a scavenger hunt. A description is given for something to find, such as a one-room schoolhouse, and the finder locates an example of this object. The finder records the location using their GPS receiver and often takes a picture at the location showing the named object and his or her GPS receiver.
- Stratocaching is geocaching from space. It is a combination of flight to near space, the geocaching game, and a unique science experiment. The first Stratocaching event was held on 16 November 2013 in Prague and was successful. Ten caches and two “radioseeds” went up to 30 km (19 mi) into the stratosphere on a gondola called Dropion module carried by a high-altitude balloon. The caches and seeds then fell to earth for people to find.
GEOCACHING IS :
- Physical
- Educational
- Explorative
- Environmental
- Character building
What's not to love? So, the next time you go travel somewhere, try to check if there are any geocaches nearby (chances are very high) and try to look for a treasure. It can lead you to some of the most hidden and beautiful places this world has to offer.
