Advice for Scout who is just starting

[baxter316]

My son is working on the geocaching badge for scouts. We are working on the prerequisites before camp that will have him go out and locate several caches. During camp they will have hand held GPS devices and will be learning all about geocaching during camp. My question is do we just an app on my phone or go ahead and purchase the eTrex20x which is found on sale for 150? He is really interested and I am hoping he will continue past summer camp.

 

Thanks!

[+NanCycle]

My son is working on the geocaching badge for scouts. We are working on the prerequisites before camp that will have him go out and locate several caches. During camp they will have hand held GPS devices and will be learning all about geocaching during camp. My question is do we just an app on my phone or go ahead and purchase the eTrex20x which is found on sale for 150? He is really interested and I am hoping he will continue past summer camp.

 

Thanks!

 

Nobody can answer this question for you. You'll have to make your own decision. Do you really THINK or just HOPE that he will continue to be interested in caching?

[baxter316]

My son is working on the geocaching badge for scouts. We are working on the prerequisites before camp that will have him go out and locate several caches. During camp they will have hand held GPS devices and will be learning all about geocaching during camp. My question is do we just an app on my phone or go ahead and purchase the eTrex20x which is found on sale for 150? He is really interested and I am hoping he will continue past summer camp.

 

Thanks!

 

Nobody can answer this question for you. You'll have to make your own decision. Do you really THINK or just HOPE that he will continue to be interested in caching?

 

At this point, I hope he will continue. I guess the better question would be, which is a better choice for a newbie? The eTrex 20x or an app?

[+dprovan]

At this point, I hope he will continue. I guess the better question would be, which is a better choice for a newbie? The eTrex 20x or an app?

I have no experience with either, but if it's his phone, it's much more likely for him to go caching on a whim if he doesn't have to go home to fetch his eTrex, if he can remember where he put it the last time he used in a couple months ago.

[+noncentric]

I think the 20x is a good device. Not too complicated and sized well for smaller hands. Depending on where he's going and what phone he has, the 20x might be more accurate. The GPS functionality of some phones perform more poorly than standalone GPSr's in areas without cell reception. The GPSr could be used for other activities if caching goes by the wayside.

 

On that note, if your son uses a Windows phone, keep in mind that the app options for Windows phones are very slim.

[+Walts Hunting]

Keep on mind that sometimes Boy Scouts go where there is no phone service.

[+niraD]

Keep on mind that sometimes Boy Scouts go where there is no phone service.

So do I. My phone apps have worked just fine for geocaching where there is no phone service. Of course, I had to download cache data (and maybe maps) in advance, just like with a handheld GPS device.

[+K13]

I've taught the Geocaching Merit Badge a couple of times at Camp, and will be setting up the temporary caches for this year's class. The camp provided the eTrex (don't remember the model, but it was yellow in color). I used my phone to demonstrate a couple of the apps, but none of the boys had their phones with them in class. (Most of them left their phones at home, to avoid damage/loss while at camp.)

 

My son prefers the convenience of the phone, now that he's in college, but liked the spartan GPS when at camp a few years ago.

[+dprovan]

Keep on mind that sometimes Boy Scouts go where there is no phone service.

That's true. If off grid activities are what we're thinking about, a GPSr would be the better choice, but for reasons unrelated to geocaching.

[+noncentric]

I don't know what type of phone your son has, but durability is something to consider. GPSr's tend to handle being dropped on the ground or in a pond quite well, although the screen will crack if it hits the sharp edge of a rock with a lot of force.

 

If your son's phone is waterproof and/or has a protective case, then durability may not be an issue.

[baxter316]

Thanks everyone for their input. My son does not have his own personal phone yet, so we would be using my iphone. I guess I'll head over to the app forum and see if I can figure out which app to try.

[ohgood]

Keep on mind that sometimes Boy Scouts go where there is no phone service.

So do I. My phone apps have worked just fine for geocaching where there is no phone service. Of course, I had to download cache data (and maybe maps) in advance, just like with a handheld GPS device.

 

you're ahead of the game already if you know how to do this. a lot of people still don't know how to do this.

 

kids pick up on how to do things very quickly and automatically look for the "can" instead of the "can't", so he will do fine using a phone to cache.

 

most of the boy scouts are very good at both silencing and using airplane mode, while out hiking. the camera though.... it just keeps popping!