Help
I am in desire to start a geocaching club at a nearby local high school. I was wondering what all a GC club could offer the students at the high school. So far, I believe that this will be a good way to help get the kids:
-getting outdoors more
-staying clear of drugs & alcohol
-a great activity to share wonderful stories
As well as developing skills in the following:
-basic geography skills
-map reading skills
-becoming familiar with GPS
-problem solving skills (with mystery caches)
-Navigational techniques
-team building skills
I will go more in depth when I present this to the school board. I was wondering if there is anything that I am overlooking or missing. The school is in a small town where we could easily walk around town and grab the caches. I will let the members and students run the club though, and let them decide how they would want to continue from their.
Momentarily, having GPS devices would be a small issue, though I am sure some fund raising would help there. I also know of where I could go and get small & cheap GPS devices, but it would be grand if anyone who has knowledge on the devices personally, know which devices are easier to put in coordinates or geocaches.
I would also like to know, if those with knowledge in this sort of department, has anything they would like to add that I may have overlooked.
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High School Geocaching Club Creating a Geocaching Club in a High School
#2
Posted 08 March 2011 - 12:33 PM
Leave the cache listings to sites like gc.com. You basically need some place to discuss things online. You might want to ask the local state club if you can have a section of their forum for students - (subject to moderation). Otherwise you can find yourself a free 'group' site.
#3
Posted 15 March 2011 - 03:24 PM
I think something more than an online discussion would be great. There would be an opportunity to do group hikes or biking, learn orienteering skills, and of course, find some caches. While I am not a big fan of scouting, it might be good to point out that caching has been incorporated into their merit badge program. You could also do specific CITO projects at school or in parks. And you could potentially work with park managers to place caches in local parks -- or the science department to develop earthcaches. Release a creative travel bug and record its progress, if any. Work with a school art teacher on taking quality pictures while caching and print off some of them to place in an appropriate spot in the school.
I would also find local cachers, or teachers who are cachers, who could offer sponsorship, advice, mentoring -- whatever is needed by the district for an officially recognized club. But someone like that could assist in a number of ways. At the very least, when people decide that they want to place caches, an experienced cacher could offer advice and ensure that any caches are appropriate to the area and maintained over the long term.
It might be good to check out the resources in the thread about gps and geocaching in education.
I have attended events that have combined caching with gps games. So if you thought of a caching club as offering a periodic event for students and incorporated educational and outdoor activities, it could be fun. If my daughter could participate in a mountain biking club, then certainly there is room for a caching club as well. Just make sure you have consent forms and the like in place as well -- if it is to be held through a school, they will want to be held harmless in the event of an accident.
I would also find local cachers, or teachers who are cachers, who could offer sponsorship, advice, mentoring -- whatever is needed by the district for an officially recognized club. But someone like that could assist in a number of ways. At the very least, when people decide that they want to place caches, an experienced cacher could offer advice and ensure that any caches are appropriate to the area and maintained over the long term.
It might be good to check out the resources in the thread about gps and geocaching in education.
I have attended events that have combined caching with gps games. So if you thought of a caching club as offering a periodic event for students and incorporated educational and outdoor activities, it could be fun. If my daughter could participate in a mountain biking club, then certainly there is room for a caching club as well. Just make sure you have consent forms and the like in place as well -- if it is to be held through a school, they will want to be held harmless in the event of an accident.
This post has been edited by mulvaney: 15 March 2011 - 03:45 PM
#4
Posted 15 March 2011 - 03:32 PM
I don't know how geocaching would keep kids away from drugs and alcohol, but....
the rest of the plan sounds good. I think puzzle caches are GREAT for high school kids to work on together. How fun to have a geocaching club at school. Good luck with it, and keep us posted on how things go. I'd love to hear!
the rest of the plan sounds good. I think puzzle caches are GREAT for high school kids to work on together. How fun to have a geocaching club at school. Good luck with it, and keep us posted on how things go. I'd love to hear!
#5
Posted 16 March 2011 - 06:11 PM
Max and 99, any group activitiy a student can participate in through school, church, scouts, etc. is a step towards drug/alcohol prevention.
I, too, have been considering a Geocaching club/group through my school. I thought to begin as an employee group. Three teachers in my department (math) have experience geocaching. Others have voiced interest as I have gotten more into it. A recent injury while on the trail spiked interest (or concern).
Just belonging to a group is a good thing for students of any age. Geocaching is a good thing particularly for those who do not always "fit in" with other groups in school. Not every student can be a straight-A student, athlete, artist, musician, linguist, etc. But any one can geocache. It requires not specially honed skill set and can be taken up at any point in the year. A student who moves into the district will not have missed out on instruction or practice that would put them at a disadvantage to other students.
I, too, have been considering a Geocaching club/group through my school. I thought to begin as an employee group. Three teachers in my department (math) have experience geocaching. Others have voiced interest as I have gotten more into it. A recent injury while on the trail spiked interest (or concern).
Just belonging to a group is a good thing for students of any age. Geocaching is a good thing particularly for those who do not always "fit in" with other groups in school. Not every student can be a straight-A student, athlete, artist, musician, linguist, etc. But any one can geocache. It requires not specially honed skill set and can be taken up at any point in the year. A student who moves into the district will not have missed out on instruction or practice that would put them at a disadvantage to other students.
#6
Posted 22 April 2011 - 06:28 AM
You might want to try and piggy-back on an existing club to get started - like the FFA. I am an Ag Instructor and FFA advisor and I incorporated GPS into my curriculum and my kids loved it! They wanted to meet up outside of school and find more caches! FFA advisors almost always appreciate help from community members to plan events and if it works out well, they have a built in fundraising or support system to get GPS receivers. If you don't have FFA in your district, try something like a Math or Science club. The teachers probably just don't know what Geocaching is!
We didn't buy receivers for my GPS unit, the MO Dept. of Conservation had a set they loan out (Garmin eTrex). Depending on your location, you might see if a Conservation Dept, Soil & Water District or Ag group might be able to help you. Knowledge of GPS is almost a neccessary skill in the Agriculture community because of field mapping and precision agriculture.
We didn't buy receivers for my GPS unit, the MO Dept. of Conservation had a set they loan out (Garmin eTrex). Depending on your location, you might see if a Conservation Dept, Soil & Water District or Ag group might be able to help you. Knowledge of GPS is almost a neccessary skill in the Agriculture community because of field mapping and precision agriculture.
#7
Posted 30 April 2011 - 04:30 AM
We teach GPS and GIS to educators in ILL. Garmin hooked us up with a Garmin dealer who extends good discount to schools and groups. Usually about 25% off, reasonable shipping and no tax for groups.
We have been dealing with him for years and his service is great. If you want his contact info, please email me at: egorny@gis2gps.com
Ed Gorny
www.ilega.org
www.gis2gps.com
We have been dealing with him for years and his service is great. If you want his contact info, please email me at: egorny@gis2gps.com
Ed Gorny
www.ilega.org
www.gis2gps.com
#8
Posted 03 May 2011 - 05:42 PM
Sounds like a great idea. I wish they would have had it why I was in school. Obviously you will most likely get the nerdy kids (like me and many of us) but they will be doing something to get exercise and have fun. I would bundle it in with camping/hiking so you do everything from learn how to navigate with a map/compass to surviving in the wilderness.
#9
Posted 20 June 2011 - 02:30 AM
I don't know where you are, but in Ontario, Canada, at my school the school board loans out 30 garmin eTrex units to classes...
#10
Posted 20 June 2011 - 05:51 PM
I'm a high school English teacher who's used geocaching in his classroom on numerous occasions. A fellow teacher in the middle school actually got a grant for 12 Garmin GPS60csx units. I'd look into that--no sense in paying for GPS's yourself unless you have to.
Also, I'd start out the club with a heavy, heavy emphasis on geocaching morals/rules. I'd also make an initial course that's self-contained--i.e. on school property available to students only and not on Groundspeak. I think wanting to set up a geocaching club is great, but there's a cautionary tale I have to share about a teacher in a neighboring district. Bright-eyed idealist that she was, she introduced her students to geocaching, thinking the same as you--it would keep them out of trouble, introduce them to something awesome, etc. etc. Her students thanked her by muggling each and every geocache within a 10-mile radius.
Also, I'd start out the club with a heavy, heavy emphasis on geocaching morals/rules. I'd also make an initial course that's self-contained--i.e. on school property available to students only and not on Groundspeak. I think wanting to set up a geocaching club is great, but there's a cautionary tale I have to share about a teacher in a neighboring district. Bright-eyed idealist that she was, she introduced her students to geocaching, thinking the same as you--it would keep them out of trouble, introduce them to something awesome, etc. etc. Her students thanked her by muggling each and every geocache within a 10-mile radius.
This post has been edited by krymdog: 20 June 2011 - 05:52 PM
#11
Posted 27 June 2011 - 05:59 PM
holt45, on 22 April 2011 - 06:28 AM, said:
You might want to try and piggy-back on an existing club to get started...
that's an excellent idea. you might not get a lot of interested students if they don't know what geocaching is so you have to sneak it into another club to start it off.
This post has been edited by Ambient_Skater: 27 June 2011 - 05:59 PM
#12
Posted 25 July 2011 - 08:25 PM
As a highschool student myself (I too would like to start a group) I would join as a charter member, then again I found this sport.
I think I am going to start making fliers and a website sometime soon. Thanks for the idea!
I think I am going to start making fliers and a website sometime soon. Thanks for the idea!
This post has been edited by Hunter275: 25 July 2011 - 08:26 PM
#13
Posted 25 July 2011 - 08:45 PM
Another high-school student here. I would definitely sign up! Play up on the 'high-tech treasure hunt' aspect. 
I personally have used my iPhone and Google Maps to make all my 50 cache finds, and once mapped the coordinates on a country park map. These ways work and are quite a bit cheaper. Copying and pasting the coordinates into Google Maps generates this green arrow which is quite accurate, and you can use Satellite view to see the features around if you need to.
I personally have used my iPhone and Google Maps to make all my 50 cache finds, and once mapped the coordinates on a country park map. These ways work and are quite a bit cheaper. Copying and pasting the coordinates into Google Maps generates this green arrow which is quite accurate, and you can use Satellite view to see the features around if you need to.
This post has been edited by hiddenanna: 25 July 2011 - 08:45 PM
#14
Posted 25 July 2011 - 09:49 PM
hiddenanna, on 25 July 2011 - 08:45 PM, said:
Another high-school student here. I would definitely sign up! Play up on the 'high-tech treasure hunt' aspect.
I personally have used my iPhone and Google Maps to make all my 50 cache finds, and once mapped the coordinates on a country park map. These ways work and are quite a bit cheaper. Copying and pasting the coordinates into Google Maps generates this green arrow which is quite accurate, and you can use Satellite view to see the features around if you need to.
I personally have used my iPhone and Google Maps to make all my 50 cache finds, and once mapped the coordinates on a country park map. These ways work and are quite a bit cheaper. Copying and pasting the coordinates into Google Maps generates this green arrow which is quite accurate, and you can use Satellite view to see the features around if you need to.
Yeah that seems a good way to cut cost, most people now days have smart phones that have GPS so you could use them too.
#15
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Posted 21 October 2011 - 05:47 AM
I am a high school science teacher and my son is a freshman at another school than I teach. I have educator friends in three additional high schools. It was our hope to get some geocaching clubs going. Things have not worked out as well as we wanted: lack of sponsors, transportation, etc.
Our plan was simple: clubs meet twice a month. One meeting is to develope, build and do the write up for establishing new caches. The second meeting of the month was to visit areas that have caches and find them.
We had plans to get clubs together a few times a year for some kind of competitions: cache design, write ups, cache courses, etc.
We have not given up, just lack of administrative support and finances are stopping us.
Our plan was simple: clubs meet twice a month. One meeting is to develope, build and do the write up for establishing new caches. The second meeting of the month was to visit areas that have caches and find them.
We had plans to get clubs together a few times a year for some kind of competitions: cache design, write ups, cache courses, etc.
We have not given up, just lack of administrative support and finances are stopping us.
#16
Posted 06 December 2011 - 03:07 PM
Wise Bear, on 08 March 2011 - 12:17 PM, said:
I am in desire to start a geocaching club at a nearby local high school. I was wondering what all a GC club could offer the students at the high school. So far, I believe that this will be a good way to help get the kids:
-getting outdoors more
-staying clear of drugs & alcohol
-a great activity to share wonderful stories
As well as developing skills in the following:
-basic geography skills
-map reading skills
-becoming familiar with GPS
-problem solving skills (with mystery caches)
-Navigational techniques
-team building skills
I will go more in depth when I present this to the school board. I was wondering if there is anything that I am overlooking or missing. The school is in a small town where we could easily walk around town and grab the caches. I will let the members and students run the club though, and let them decide how they would want to continue from their.
Momentarily, having GPS devices would be a small issue, though I am sure some fund raising would help there. I also know of where I could go and get small & cheap GPS devices, but it would be grand if anyone who has knowledge on the devices personally, know which devices are easier to put in coordinates or geocaches.
I would also like to know, if those with knowledge in this sort of department, has anything they would like to add that I may have overlooked.
-getting outdoors more
-staying clear of drugs & alcohol
-a great activity to share wonderful stories
As well as developing skills in the following:
-basic geography skills
-map reading skills
-becoming familiar with GPS
-problem solving skills (with mystery caches)
-Navigational techniques
-team building skills
I will go more in depth when I present this to the school board. I was wondering if there is anything that I am overlooking or missing. The school is in a small town where we could easily walk around town and grab the caches. I will let the members and students run the club though, and let them decide how they would want to continue from their.
Momentarily, having GPS devices would be a small issue, though I am sure some fund raising would help there. I also know of where I could go and get small & cheap GPS devices, but it would be grand if anyone who has knowledge on the devices personally, know which devices are easier to put in coordinates or geocaches.
I would also like to know, if those with knowledge in this sort of department, has anything they would like to add that I may have overlooked.
#17
Posted 06 December 2011 - 03:15 PM
I teach grades 6-12 in a charter school. We have begun a geocaching club in our school and love it. The kids each have their own account and log the finds they get, but we go out as a group. We just recently placed our first geocache out in the community. They had the experience of learning how to do this part as well. Along with your other learning points here are a few more:
* learning respect and responsibility...if you take something out, put something back and learning to log trackables
*learning about caring for the planet with cash in, cash out
*We have a local phonologist who teaches them to make observations in the woods. The students take a small notebook and write down their observations while they are out there
*I have them keep a journal about the experience so they are writing.
Just a few ideas.
* learning respect and responsibility...if you take something out, put something back and learning to log trackables
*learning about caring for the planet with cash in, cash out
*We have a local phonologist who teaches them to make observations in the woods. The students take a small notebook and write down their observations while they are out there
*I have them keep a journal about the experience so they are writing.
Just a few ideas.
#18
Posted 10 April 2013 - 08:32 PM
it is good for us we can learn lot of things from Geocaching, it great to us.
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