Requirements:

Geocaching started as a high-tech game of treasure hunting. If you like to go treasure hunting, youʼll like geocaching. Remember to bring food, water, and a first aid kit on your hunt. Also bring some friends and an adult. This makes it more fun and safe too! Before you go, complete the two starred activities and two others of your choice to earn this Try-It. Read and sign the online safety pledge located at the end of these requirements.

What is geocaching? Visit www.geocaching.com to learn what geocaching is and find the answers to some of the following frequently asked questions:

• How do you pronounce geocaching?

• What are the rules in geocaching?

• What is usually in a cache?

Finally, decide what youʼd like to put in a cache. You should have one item for each of the troop members who will participate in the search.

Learn the meaning of the two starred terms and at least two others: GPS, CITO, FTF, Geomuggle, *latitude, *longitude, spoiler, Travel Bug, and virtual (cache).

Learn what a GPS unit is and how to use it. Learn to plot points and recall plots that others have entered.

Visit www.geocaching.com to find a nearby cache to search for as a troop. Plot the coordinates on your GPS unit. Review in Safety-Wise what youʼll need to do before you go on the trip.

Make your own miniature first aid kit to take with you when you go treasure hunting. You can make a container for your first aid kit from an empty film canister, two beads, and a piece of string or yarn long enough to tie around your neck. Place a bandage, a gauze square, and a small package of first aid cream inside.

Many geocaches include a coded message. Pretend to be a spy and decode the following message by using the decryption key below:

Juvyr fngryyvgrf ner yvaxvat, tvey fpbhgf ner guvaxvat. Decryption Key The letter above equals the letter below and vice versa.

Example: A = N, B = O, C = P Now make your own message using the same decryption key.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M

N O P Q R S T U V X Y Z

*1. *2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Make your mark! Geocachers usually create fun codenames and special marks to use when they write in the logbooks found in the cache boxes. Create your own codename and, if youʼd like to make a special mark in the logbooks for the caches you find, bring along a stamp and an inkpad as well. Seek out a nearby cache and, with your GPS unit in hand and cache items in your backpack, go on your high-tech treasure hunt.