[woscholar]

We are starting a PBL project involving the hiding of 30 geocaches the student groups must find in order to get the needed directions to "live" in a certain space of our nature center for ten days. Tons of research, documenting, and justifying will be involved along with a presentation to a panel of experts at the end of the project.

The problem:

The official geocache app rocks. Sadly, we cannot use it because posting our 30 caches to the official site is against terms of use and honestly not a good idea anyway since they will all be hidden on school grounds. That means the app will not be able to be used. Has anyone found a different method to hide caches, create some type of gpx file and then upload it to either an Apple iOS app or a Garmin? We like the user interface in the official geocache app, but the Garmin we use is the same model used by the Texas Parks and Wildlife. So, we can use it if anyone knows of a good program (prefer a Mac version, but can work with Windows) that allows for all of the information to be put into a GPX file to make it similar to the Geocache site/app. We want our kids to leave with a fascination of geocaching and get their families to try it on their own time, too. So, they need to understand the data to help their families.

It would be completely awesome if Geocaching.com made an identical duplicate site but only allowed education accounts on it and kept the caches private to the account that put it on the system. An option to share with other education accounts would be a cool option, too.

Solutions?

[markcase]

There are a couple solutions. On the education forum teaching 8-12 I have posted a lesson plan that I use for non=published caches on our school property. Most of the high schools in our area use this plan.

I either upload waypoints on the gps unit and they naviate to the caches via waypoints. Another way I have done it is use GSAK. I open a database, create the locations and then upload that gpx file to garmins and magellans.

Visit the other education forum to download the files uploaded there.

[woscholar]

markcase, on 12 January 2012 - 06:43 PM, said:

There are a couple solutions. On the education forum teaching 8-12 I have posted a lesson plan that I use for non=published caches on our school property. Most of the high schools in our area use this plan.

I either upload waypoints on the gps unit and they naviate to the caches via waypoints. Another way I have done it is use GSAK. I open a database, create the locations and then upload that gpx file to garmins and magellans.

Visit the other education forum to download the files uploaded there.

Thanks! I'll go take a look and get to work. Much appreciated. I'll share back the project we create in case anyone is interested in some PBL outdoor education.

[markcase]

Oh, one more item: if you make a public cache on school grounds, it can be done by doing the following:

1) the cache must be located in an area away from the students. Example: on our campus, we have a fence line along the bus parking lot. One cache is on the fence. Another cache is .3 miles the opposite direction on another fence, on the outside of the property.

2) you must get written permission from the administration and file a copy of that letter with the reviewer when you publish the cache. I put a copy of the letter in the photo gallery, so everyone can see there is permission granted.

3) most reviewers have told me this type cache should be difficulty 1 or 2 at the most. That way, no one is accused of 'snooping' around kids.

Hope that helps more.

[CHT2009]

markcase, on 12 January 2012 - 06:43 PM, said:

There are a couple solutions. On the education forum teaching 8-12 I have posted a lesson plan that I use for non=published caches on our school property. Most of the high schools in our area use this plan.

I either upload waypoints on the gps unit and they naviate to the caches via waypoints. Another way I have done it is use GSAK. I open a database, create the locations and then upload that gpx file to garmins and magellans.

Visit the other education forum to download the files uploaded there.

Have you ever thought about having the students input the data into the gps?

I use geocaching with middle school students. As part of the lesson, students mark waypoints and then change the north and west coordinates to match the waypoint I have supplied. It works fairly well and the students learn how to use the gps unit. We use Garmin eTrex Venture HC units.

[Ambient_Skater]

CHT2009, on 16 July 2012 - 03:05 AM, said:

Have you ever thought about having the students input the data into the gps?

I use geocaching with middle school students. As part of the lesson, students mark waypoints and then change the north and west coordinates to match the waypoint I have supplied. It works fairly well and the students learn how to use the gps unit. We use Garmin eTrex Venture HC units.

Entering more than one or two caches at a time gets tedious and introduces the opportunity for errors. Transferring them through a computer is best. Garmin's MapSource will work if you don't have GSAK.