Temporary Geocaches - Birthday Party

[emandbsmama]

Question for the experts!

 

We take our daughters (currently 6 & 8) geocaching on a relatively regular basis. We've used it as an "excuse" to get them out traipsing off trail into the woods...so they aren't afraid to get dirty, get scratched up, encounter bugs, etc. This resource has been absolutely invaluable. I'm so grateful for the app...and the community who places all of the fabulous treasures that we find.

 

My 8 year old wants a "geocaching" birthday party. What I'd LIKE to do - is plant some temporary geocaches at a local park. Put some treasures out in the woods for the kids to find using our phone GPS. These would not be public geocaches and would disappear after the weekend.

 

Technology is not my strong suit...can anyone give me hints on how to properly do this?

 

Any and all help and suggestions would be very helpful!

 

THANK YOU!

[+cerberus1]

You don't say what app you have, or what operating system you're using.

Info on hiding can be found in Geocaching 101.

There's a number of coordinate averaging apps to help with placement.

Does the park allow caches?

You may think it temporary, but a park employee may see an unauthorized geocache.

Possible that muggles could find these containers with "treasure" inside meant for your party?

Along with muggles, isn't it possible that a cacher spots your containers, thinking it an unpublished, or archived cache?

They could sign the log (if one inside), or supply one, thinking they lucked out.

Sure you don't just wanta set up a scavenger hunt?

[+Walts Hunting]

Use something like gsak and create way points for each then export it as a gpx file and load it on any device you want. Those won't go on anybodys actual gc account.

Edited August 1, 2015 by Walts Hunting

[+cerberus1]

We take our daughters (currently 6 & 8) geocaching on a relatively regular basis. We've used it as an "excuse" to get them out traipsing off trail into the woods...so they aren't afraid to get dirty, get scratched up, encounter bugs, etc.

And you're positive the parents of your Daughter's friends feel the same?

Maybe going through (yet another) generation gap thing, but my Sister's girls (and now granddaughters) would rarely get dirty, much less get scratched up.

[emandbsmama]

We take our daughters (currently 6 & 8) geocaching on a relatively regular basis. We've used it as an "excuse" to get them out traipsing off trail into the woods...so they aren't afraid to get dirty, get scratched up, encounter bugs, etc.

And you're positive the parents of your Daughter's friends feel the same?

Maybe going through (yet another) generation gap thing, but my Sister's girls (and now granddaughters) would rarely get dirty, much less get scratched up.

 

It's a very small birthday party - her cousins and two close friends who 100% are onboard.

[+coman123]

Why use and technology

Set it up an an old fashion treasure hunt

 

Get a photo of the park off Google Maps

 

Mark the cache locations with pirate like X's

 

Make each participant their own map

 

To make it even cooler, burn the edges of the map to make it look old.

Label each cache with a number on the map, but make each map numbers different, it will be fun

Kids will be running in every direction LOL

[+Mineral2]

Easiest way to do this is if you have access to GPS receivers. Maybe you already have one, but to make it fun for the kids, they should have one to use too.

 

Of course, you could also just take the kids geocaching for real. Find a park with a bunch of caches already hidden and use that for your party location.

[+TeamRabbitRun]

Easiest way to do this is if you have access to GPS receivers. Maybe you already have one, but to make it fun for the kids, they should have one to use too.

 

Of course, you could also just take the kids geocaching for real. Find a park with a bunch of caches already hidden and use that for your party location.

 

This comes up in LOTS of discussion threads about Scout caching and subjecting other people's caches to "led muggles".

 

Please do not take non-cachers, especially kids, to *real* geocaches unless you think there's a good chance they'll get into the hobby.

 

I wouldn't want one of my caches to be shown to seven year olds, regardless of how "on board" they are, who may show it to one of their other friends, and soon it's emptied or gone.

 

The best thing to do here is to follow your initial instincts about setting up your own caches. Get the coordinates for them, make a paper map with the coordinates listed and use your phone's geo-services to "find" those coordinates if you don't have a dedicated GPSr. If you do, it probably has a way to hand-enter "waypoint coordinates". Probably came with a manual. If not, you can most likely download one.

 

Sounds like a fun birthday party. Make sure you set up a multi-cache! Let the 'treasure' in one be the coordinates to the next!

 

Finally, if you do any education about the hobby, make sure they understand it's not REALLY about treasure; the vast majority of real caches have nothing in them, and the joy is the hunt.

 

After the party, come back to this thread and let us know how it worked out!