School caching?

June 19, 2011

Hey it's Ryan here,

Our teacher has decided that we are going to hide some geocaches around our school yard in order to teach our class about geocaching. We already have a bunch of GPS units and things, and we have our containers. I have been put in charge, along with 2 other students, in co-ordinating the event. I just have a few questions... First, I was wondering what the best way would be to change 30 GPSr's from some obscure british grid, back to normal American co-ordinates? I already know how to change them and all, but it may be a pain to teach 20 other students to... Any ideas? Second, is there a way to enter co-ordinates into a garmin GPSr directly from a computer WITHOUT installing software? And 3rd, do you guys have any tips on making the whole thing go smoothly? Note 1: we are not posting the caches on geocaching.com, so the distance guidelines will not apply. Note 2: this is happening tomorrow (Monday) so reply quickly!

June 19, 2011

Also, our GPSr's are model Garmin Etrex Legend H.

June 19, 2011

"...obscure British grid, back to normal American..."

Young man, you should consider a future career with the Diplomatic Service.

9.2k · June 19, 2011

"...obscure British grid..."

NOT going to help you.

Says this Brit.

9.2k · June 19, 2011

Garmin's, if I remember correctly, go in to the settings and select Default will set them all to the 'Normal' Geocaching format. Check the Datum is WGS84.

I'd use EasyGPS (Free) to make a GPX file of your waypoints, and download to the GPS.

Or do it by hand on the unit.

19k · June 19, 2011

"...obscure British grid, back to normal American..."

Young man, you should consider a future career with the Diplomatic Service.

:lol:

Ryan, I would offer help if I could, but I just don't know of any way to automate that change.

Will the caches be registered on this site, or will they just be unofficial temporary caches put out just for the class?

1.7k · June 19, 2011

You've hid 4 caches, how did you get the coordinates for them? And why are you still going to school in the middle of summer vacation?

June 19, 2011

You've hid 4 caches, how did you get the coordinates for them? And why are you still going to school in the middle of summer vacation?

The co-ordinates came from a car gps with HORRIBLY POOR accuracy (up to 1 km or more)

And i'm in Canada, so school ends on the 30th.

June 19, 2011

And school ends June 21, 2011- Last Day for Pupils in Philadelphia where ColdGears seems to spend a lot of time.

Wish I had a short-cut to offer, but your fellow students might be well served by your demonstrating how to enter coordinates.

June 19, 2011

"...obscure British grid, back to normal American..."

Young man, you should consider a future career with the Diplomatic Service.

Ryan, I would offer help if I could, but I just don't know of any way to automate that change.

Will the caches be registered on this site, or will they just be unofficial temporary caches put out just for the class?

They will just be unofficial temporary caches for one day only. (not on the website)

...not posting the caches on geocaching.com...

June 19, 2011

Garmin's, if I remember correctly, go in to the settings and select Default will set them all to the 'Normal' Geocaching format. Check the Datum is WGS84.

I'd use EasyGPS (Free) to make a GPX file of your waypoints, and download to the GPS.

Or do it by hand on the unit.

...WITHOUT installing software...

June 19, 2011

Hi Ryan,

School is still on till next Tuesday in Edmonton, Alberta.

1. You may have to teach your fellow students how to make a mark and then change the coordinates to the ones that you give them on a handout. Good practice for multis and puzzles. If your friends know how to text, then changing the coordinates should be easy.

2. Either send the groups out 5-10 minutes apart or in different orders so that they won't all meet at one cache or see what the other groups are doing.

3. Offer prizes/awards for most found, most DNFs, funniest story, fastest run, etc.

4. Practice some CITO - prize/award for that too.

5. Have fun!

Edited out first post.

Edited June 19, 2011 by mwellman

19k · June 19, 2011

"...obscure British grid, back to normal American..."

Young man, you should consider a future career with the Diplomatic Service.

Ryan, I would offer help if I could, but I just don't know of any way to automate that change.

Will the caches be registered on this site, or will they just be unofficial temporary caches put out just for the class?

They will just be unofficial temporary caches for one day only. (not on the website)

...not posting the caches on geocaching.com...

OK, it helps to know that. Can you install GSAK on one or two computers? That would make it very easy to do. Just create the waypoints directly in GSAK and export them to the GPS units.

Without installing ANY software on ANY computers? No. I really don't see how.

Edited June 19, 2011 by knowschad

1k · June 20, 2011

There's no way to automate the process of changing the coordinate format. Walk your classmates through the process as a group, and then offer to do it manually for anyone who can't figure it out. You may also want to learn the actual names of the coordinate systems, to sound sophisticated in front of your friends.

I understand that you asked for a method of transferring the caches without installing software not because you don't want to go through the trouble, but rather because it's impossible for students to install software on school computers. (Those of you who haven't been in school for a while probably don't know this, but just about all school districts require approval from a district administrator to install any sort of software and mandate the software to be installed by a technician.) The only way for you to do it is by distributing handouts containing lists of the caches and their coordinates, and showing your classmates how to enter them one at a time. This'll be tedious, so I suggest bringing in your own laptop with EasyGPS loaded with all the caches and "imaging" each unit one at a time.

As for making sure the trip goes smoothly, make sure you've gone over with your class what to do when they find a cache.

I hope you have a great time! I've always wanted to form some sort of geocaching group at my school but not enough people were interested.

19k · June 20, 2011

There's no way to automate the process of changing the coordinate format. Walk your classmates through the process as a group, and then offer to do it manually for anyone who can't figure it out. You may also want to learn the actual names of the coordinate systems, to sound sophisticated in front of your friends.

I understand that you asked for a method of transferring the caches without installing software not because you don't want to go through the trouble, but rather because it's impossible for students to install software on school computers. (Those of you who haven't been in school for a while probably don't know this, but just about all school districts require approval from a district administrator to install any sort of software and mandate the software to be installed by a technician.) The only way for you to do it is by distributing handouts containing lists of the caches and their coordinates, and showing your classmates how to enter them one at a time. This'll be tedious, so I suggest bringing in your own laptop with EasyGPS loaded with all the caches and "imaging" each unit one at a time.

As for making sure the trip goes smoothly, make sure you've gone over with your class what to do when they find a cache.

I hope you have a great time! I've always wanted to form some sort of geocaching group at my school but not enough people were interested.

That is an excellent post, AS. Particularly the part that I bolded.

June 20, 2011

There's no way to automate the process of changing the coordinate format. Walk your classmates through the process as a group, and then offer to do it manually for anyone who can't figure it out. You may also want to learn the actual names of the coordinate systems, to sound sophisticated in front of your friends.

I understand that you asked for a method of transferring the caches without installing software not because you don't want to go through the trouble, but rather because it's impossible for students to install software on school computers. (Those of you who haven't been in school for a while probably don't know this, but just about all school districts require approval from a district administrator to install any sort of software and mandate the software to be installed by a technician.) The only way for you to do it is by distributing handouts containing lists of the caches and their coordinates, and showing your classmates how to enter them one at a time. This'll be tedious, so I suggest bringing in your own laptop with EasyGPS loaded with all the caches and "imaging" each unit one at a time.

As for making sure the trip goes smoothly, make sure you've gone over with your class what to do when they find a cache.

I hope you have a great time! I've always wanted to form some sort of geocaching group at my school but not enough people were interested.

Good idea, but the only laptop I have access to is my moms work laptop, and that won't let me install software either... Looks like we will have to do it all manually.

Thanks everyone for the ideas!

June 20, 2011

Hi Ryan,

School is still on till next Tuesday in Edmonton, Alberta.

1. You may have to teach your fellow students how to make a mark and then change the coordinates to the ones that you give them on a handout. Good practice for multis and puzzles. If your friends know how to text, then changing the coordinates should be easy.

2. Either send the groups out 5-10 minutes apart or in different orders so that they won't all meet at one cache or see what the other groups are doing.

3. Offer prizes/awards for most found, most DNFs, funniest story, fastest run, etc.

4. Practice some CITO - prize/award for that too.

5. Have fun!

Edited out first post.

Thanks for the idea!

1.7k · June 20, 2011

Hi Ryan,

School is still on till next Tuesday in Edmonton, Alberta.

1. You may have to teach your fellow students how to make a mark and then change the coordinates to the ones that you give them on a handout. Good practice for multis and puzzles. If your friends know how to text, then changing the coordinates should be easy.

2. Either send the groups out 5-10 minutes apart or in different orders so that they won't all meet at one cache or see what the other groups are doing.

3. Offer prizes/awards for most found, most DNFs, funniest story, fastest run, etc.

4. Practice some CITO - prize/award for that too.

5. Have fun!

Edited out first post.

Thanks for the idea!

Hmm, does you School have a C++ or Java class? School Administrator's make an exception for running .exe files on these computer's.

June 20, 2011

Hi Ryan,

School is still on till next Tuesday in Edmonton, Alberta.

1. You may have to teach your fellow students how to make a mark and then change the coordinates to the ones that you give them on a handout. Good practice for multis and puzzles. If your friends know how to text, then changing the coordinates should be easy.

2. Either send the groups out 5-10 minutes apart or in different orders so that they won't all meet at one cache or see what the other groups are doing.

3. Offer prizes/awards for most found, most DNFs, funniest story, fastest run, etc.

4. Practice some CITO - prize/award for that too.

5. Have fun!

Edited out first post.

Thanks for the idea!

Hmm, does you School have a C++ or Java class? School Administrator's make an exception for running .exe files on these computer's.

Nope, we do not have any programming classes... The issue isn't that I can't run the .exe, it is that I can't INSTALL it, even to a thumb drive. I am thinking maybe use portable apps creator From pendriveapps.com, and make gsak installer into a portable app that can be run from a thumb drive. I am most certain this will work. Going to bed now, as it's almost nine here and I gotta wake up in the morning.

1.7k · June 20, 2011

And school ends June 21, 2011- Last Day for Pupils in Philadelphia where ColdGears seems to spend a lot of time.

Technically, I live in bucks county, about 2 miles from Philadelphia (The green line is the border between Philadelphia and Bucks County), so I got out 2 days ago on Friday.

1k · June 20, 2011

Hmm, does you School have a C++ or Java class? School Administrator's make an exception for running .exe files on these computer's.

The restriction isn't on running .exe files, it's on installing software. If you found a coordinate transfer program that was an .exe file and didn't need an installer, it would probably work.

June 20, 2011

I love the smell of *BUMP* in the morning...

June 20, 2011

The geocaching today went OK, but there were some issues. The first was entering coordinates and navigating to them, but that was cleared up quickly. The second problem was that although the grade 7 class enjoyed geocaching and respected my property, the grade 8 class did not. Examples: Ammo can left open with contents dumped on the ground, hanging cache lowered down and left there, re hiding several caches so other people can't find them, leaving film cans in the open, leaving a cassete tape case out in the open, signing fake names on log books, trading sticks and pine cones for items in caches, the list goes ON AND ON! If anyone would like to comment, please do!

2.1k · June 20, 2011

One question. What is your postion in this school?

2.1k · June 20, 2011

One question. What is your postion in this school?

It's pretty clear in the OP that he is a student.

2.1k · June 20, 2011

One question. What is your postion in this school?

It's pretty clear in the OP that he is a student.

That is what I thought, but wasn't 100% certain.

Intersting that it is a student run activity. Not a bad thing, just interesting.

June 20, 2011

The geocaching today went OK, but there were some issues. The first was entering coordinates and navigating to them, but that was cleared up quickly. The second problem was that although the grade 7 class enjoyed geocaching and respected my property, the grade 8 class did not. Examples: Ammo can left open with contents dumped on the ground, hanging cache lowered down and left there, re hiding several caches so other people can't find them, leaving film cans in the open, leaving a cassete tape case out in the open, signing fake names on log books, trading sticks and pine cones for items in caches, the list goes ON AND ON! If anyone would like to comment, please do!

Aww, man! Sorry it didn't all go smoothly! I think it makes the point, though, that not everybody is going to enjoy geocaching, and "forced fun" doesn't usually go well. I'm curious as to how big the groups were, as they went out to find the caches. I'm guessing that small groups (2-4 people) would be more likely to return the cache to it's proper position than a larger group. Also, was there any kind of time constraint? If kids were intent on finding them as quickly as possible, that again would contribute to people not replacing the cache properly. I'm sorry they weren't all respectful to your property, but I'm also a bit relieved that these were temporary caches, and not other people's listed geocaches.

June 20, 2011

The geocaching today went OK, but there were some issues. The first was entering coordinates and navigating to them, but that was cleared up quickly. The second problem was that although the grade 7 class enjoyed geocaching and respected my property, the grade 8 class did not. Examples: Ammo can left open with contents dumped on the ground, hanging cache lowered down and left there, re hiding several caches so other people can't find them, leaving film cans in the open, leaving a cassete tape case out in the open, signing fake names on log books, trading sticks and pine cones for items in caches, the list goes ON AND ON! If anyone would like to comment, please do!

Aww, man! Sorry it didn't all go smoothly! I think it makes the point, though, that not everybody is going to enjoy geocaching, and "forced fun" doesn't usually go well. I'm curious as to how big the groups were, as they went out to find the caches. I'm guessing that small groups (2-4 people) would be more likely to return the cache to it's proper position than a larger group. Also, was there any kind of time constraint? If kids were intent on finding them as quickly as possible, that again would contribute to people not replacing the cache properly. I'm sorry they weren't all respectful to your property, but I'm also a bit relieved that these were temporary caches, and not other people's listed geocaches.

Yeah they were in pairs of 2... And I agree with you about being relieved that they are only temporary... We have decided that only the people who had fun and respected the caches will be going out to find a "real" geocache.... As for the time constraint, we had around 100 minutes to do as many as you can at your own pace.

2.3k · June 20, 2011

I like this way of using geocaching as a school project better than another way I've seen where a teacher who just discovered it decided as an assignment she would send her students out to hide caches and she would submit them under her account (no other supervision in the process). No way to tell if the hide is appropriate or f permission was had. Nothing. To date none have been published that I know of but she's also not a very active cacher and very new.

Given the choice between that method and the method you used... your's is by far superior. Good job on your project and taking it on.

June 20, 2011

If the school is the only place that you can get kids to cache in, then try emailing a couple of the "GeoKids" around your city. Im sure they would be more than happy to go out caching with you. Im a freshman in Colorado and I taught a few of my friends how to use my GPS, (E-Trex Legend H, might I add) and two of them bought their own. Its always more fun to have a couple of people you know to go out caching with.

June 21, 2011

Kudos to you, Ryan, for doing so much work on the geocaching school thing! It sounds like you did a great job (even if everybody else didn't do what they were supposed to do - you can't help that). Good work!

June 21, 2011

The geocaching today went OK, but there were some issues. The first was entering coordinates and navigating to them, but that was cleared up quickly. The second problem was that although the grade 7 class enjoyed geocaching and respected my property, the grade 8 class did not. Examples: Ammo can left open with contents dumped on the ground, hanging cache lowered down and left there, re hiding several caches so other people can't find them, leaving film cans in the open, leaving a cassete tape case out in the open, signing fake names on log books, trading sticks and pine cones for items in caches, the list goes ON AND ON! If anyone would like to comment, please do!

Sounds like you had a good day!

Entering data into any new machine is always confusing at first and as you said, cleared up quickly.

Focus on the fun that the Grade Sevens had. Interesting that the more 'mature' young adults were more careless.

We are very impressed that you were able to create and hide so many different caches for your fellow students to find.

Looking forward to see what you do next!

3.7k · June 21, 2011

The geocaching today went OK, but there were some issues. The first was entering coordinates and navigating to them, but that was cleared up quickly. The second problem was that although the grade 7 class enjoyed geocaching and respected my property, the grade 8 class did not. Examples: Ammo can left open with contents dumped on the ground, hanging cache lowered down and left there, re hiding several caches so other people can't find them, leaving film cans in the open, leaving a cassete tape case out in the open, signing fake names on log books, trading sticks and pine cones for items in caches, the list goes ON AND ON! If anyone would like to comment, please do!

Sounds like you had a good day!

Entering data into any new machine is always confusing at first and as you said, cleared up quickly.

Focus on the fun that the Grade Sevens had. Interesting that the more 'mature' young adults were more careless.

We are very impressed that you were able to create and hide so many different caches for your fellow students to find.

Looking forward to see what you do next!

+1. Well done, Ryan! Your experience - both your approach and reaction of the kids - sounds similar to what I do for the youth geocaching presentations I do.

Also really liked ambient_skater's thoughtful replies.

1k · June 21, 2011

Well Ryan, I'm glad things more or less worked out for you. Perhaps next year will go even better. Just one question, what grade will you be in next year?

Intersting that it is a student run activity. Not a bad thing, just interesting.

How so?

2.1k · June 21, 2011

Well Ryan, I'm glad things more or less worked out for you. Perhaps next year will go even better. Just one question, what grade will you be in next year?

Intersting that it is a student run activity. Not a bad thing, just interesting.

How so?

Interesting isn't bad. I was wondering what the OP's age was in relation to the students. Sometimes the age (or perceived age{Disclaimer some day I"d like to look old enough to drive}) can be a hinderence to an activity.

8k · June 21, 2011

... signing fake names on log books, ...

You're not supposed to sign fake names on the log book? :unsure:

1k · June 21, 2011

Interesting isn't bad. I was wondering what the OP's age was in relation to the students. Sometimes the age (or perceived age{Disclaimer some day I"d like to look old enough to drive}) can be a hinderence to an activity.

RE: the bolded part -- I know. I just didn't really understand what you meant.

You're not supposed to sign fake names on the log book?

I'm guessing he means signing a name other than the caching name they chose or was assigned to them.

Edited June 21, 2011 by Ambient_Skater

6.7k · June 21, 2011

... And why are you still going to school in the middle of summer vacation?

Why were you in school on the last Saturday before summer vacation? :unsure:

Edited June 21, 2011 by TheAlabamaRambler

June 21, 2011

Ok some people in my school are IDIOTS... At the end of the day today, I was retrieving 1 last cache I forgot to bring in, and when I came out of the bushes, a teacher is like "let me see what's in your bag. I know you were using GPSes today and I know you stole one." problem with that is, I DIDN'T! So when I show him that my bag has an apple and some other food, he's like "you can go home now, but I know you hid it in those bushes"... I think this falls in the category of "approached by authorities while geocaching" or something like that... Please reply to tell me what you think about this whole thing... (note that the teacher who thought I stole the gps was not the teacher we geocached with)

2.1k · June 21, 2011

You should refer them to the teacher sponsor for the event.

2.1k · June 21, 2011

Ok some people in my school are IDIOTS... At the end of the day today, I was retrieving 1 last cache I forgot to bring in, and when I came out of the bushes, a teacher is like "let me see what's in your bag. I know you were using GPSes today and I know you stole one." problem with that is, I DIDN'T! So when I show him that my bag has an apple and some other food, he's like "you can go home now, but I know you hid it in those bushes"... I think this falls in the category of "approached by authorities while geocaching" or something like that... Please reply to tell me what you think about this whole thing... (note that the teacher who thought I stole the gps was not the teacher we geocached with)

Ryan,

Thanks for reminding me why I hated school.

Among grown-ups, accusing someone of being a thief is a really big deal. And searching someone's belongings in an attempt to find evidence of theft requires a search warrant.

But when you are a kid in school, you just have to put up with such carp. All I can tell you is, "it gets better." Hang in there.

June 21, 2011

I know this is off topic, but I just changed my forum title and signature, and the new ones dont show up... Anyone know why?

9.2k · June 21, 2011

I know this is off topic, but I just changed my forum title and signature, and the new ones dont show up... Anyone know why?

Log out, log back in.

June 21, 2011

I know this is off topic, but I just changed my forum title and signature, and the new ones dont show up... Anyone know why?

Log out, log back in.

Thanks!

7k · June 21, 2011

Did anyone mention yet that there's nothing American at all about longitude and latitude coordinates? <_< :unsure: :blink: :huh:

1k · June 21, 2011

...when I came out of the bushes, a teacher is like "let me see what's in your bag. I know you were using GPSes today and I know you stole one." problem with that is, I DIDN'T! So when I show him that my bag has an apple and some other food, he's like "you can go home now, but I know you hid it in those bushes"...

Who owns the GPS devices you guys used for the activity? Did this teacher's participate in the event?

Did anyone mention yet that there's nothing American at all about longitude and latitude coordinates?

That's why I use UTM, to avoid the confusion and be rebellious.

June 22, 2011

The gpses belong to the school board. The teachers supervised.

June 23, 2011

Oh hooray... Now the class is going to attempt to hide geocaches, again on our school grounds... I will be showing people good and bad containers, good and bad hiding places, and playing "reviewer". Someone already wants to hide a geocache 3 meters away from another one, I told them "With the GPS' accuracy, someone looking for one cache will probably find the other by accident" Oh well... I plainly said I would be giving everyone's containers the "Dunk Test", and if they don't pass, they shouldn't be hidden... Like I said before, we are lucky these aren't "real" geocaches being published on the site...

June 23, 2011

Oh hooray... Now the class is going to attempt to hide geocaches, again on our school grounds... I will be showing people good and bad containers, good and bad hiding places, and playing "reviewer". Someone already wants to hide a geocache 3 meters away from another one, I told them "With the GPS' accuracy, someone looking for one cache will probably find the other by accident" Oh well... I plainly said I would be giving everyone's containers the "Dunk Test", and if they don't pass, they shouldn't be hidden... Like I said before, we are lucky these aren't "real" geocaches being published on the site...

Sounds like the teacher and the school thought that you did an excellent job of organizing your first geocaching event!

I don't know if you can use youtube in school - but GeoSnippits Geocaching Tutorial Videos hosted by HeadHardHat is a great series covering a variety of geocaching topics.

You might let a few mistakes in hiding happen so that your fellow students can learn by trial and error such as:

- 3 feet apart and the signed log does not match to the final tally sheet.

- Put some kleenex in each container and see what happens if it is not "dunk" proof.

- A simple reversal of seconds digits can send seekers to the other side of the school ground.

- What can happen to a sensitive area if they do not "tread lightly".

A fun game that we did at our Tenth Anniversity of Geocaching in Alberta event was to see "Who was the Most Like Me" game. We took a set of coordinates and hid a marker in the ground. Then we gave the coordinates to the other geocachers. They each put a flag with their name where they thought GZ was. And there were flags 10 yards/metres all around. One couple each went out and each had a different result. See http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=88e9c7f1-c064-47ea-8851-53df12623674 . A good reminder that you need to take the time to take multiple set of coordinates so that you are as accurate as possible. And to start searching when you are 10 yards/metres away.

Keep us posted!

edited to fix link.

Edited June 23, 2011 by mwellman

June 23, 2011

Oh, just remembered that there is forum topic about bad containers with pictures. Don't have the link, sorry.

Print off a few pictures of what the sun and freezing can do to plastic, how metal key holders rust and some damp moldy swag and logs.

Then go to the Cool Cache Containers and have some pictures of containers done right.

And Enjoy your second geocaching school day.

School caching?

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