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High Tech Treasure Hunt
 Treasure is hidden all over the world, just waiting for you. But you don’t need a pirate’s map to find it. In the activity “geocaching” you use a Global Positioning System (GPS) unit to find treasure, called a cache, which people have hidden. The caches can be hidden in all sorts of public places, like parks, parking lots, under benches, or tucked behind signs.
What You Need
• GPS unit
• Computer with Internet access
• Small item(s) to leave in the cache
What to Do
1. Visit www.geocaching.com and register for a free account.
2. Go to the geocaching.com home page, enter your home address, and click “Go…”. This step gives you a list of caches near your home.
3. Choose any cache and click on its name.
4. The location of the cache is shown near the top of the page. Enter these numbers (or coordinates) into your GPS unit.
5. Use the GPS to help you find the cache. Usually the cache is hidden, so when the GPS says you are close, begin searching the area. Some cache descriptions also give hints or clues.
6. As well as “treasure” (which can be anything from pencils to Webkinz trading cards to golf balls), caches usually contain a logbook. Sign the logbook, and if you take treasure, leave something in return.
7. Put the cache back where you found it.
How it Works
A GPS unit communicates with satellites in space and uses a method called “triangulation” to calculate the GPS unit’s location on Earth. When you tell your GPS the location you are trying to reach, it can help direct you there.
For more information on geocaching, click this link.
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