[RainbowTVP]

Any other homeschoolers out there?

How are you using geocaching?

We are very loose here- child-directed unit study/project type approach- but geocaching has been very educational here!

It takes care of phys ed, geography, local history (and American History as we run out of local caches soon!), Science, art (making cache items ), hmm what *doesn't* it cover?

Geocaching seems to be a great past time for homeschooler-s except for the GPS part- were usually on limited budgets ya know...

Tara P

Tara P

[5beares]

We're homeschooling, too, and new to geocaching. Relatives from NY told us about it, and got us hooked while on a trip together. My children are 11, 8, and 5. So far we've just been looking for caches, but have talked about making one ourselves soon. We keep taking friends to caches with us, so we are spreading the word and getting other families involved. (And, of course, we're socializing!)

[Captain No Beard and the Pi Rats]

AAARGH Mateys...
Tis Cap'n No Beard 'ere t' let ye know yer not 'lone...Yes th' Wench schools the li'l Rats at home 'ere too!
We've found 68 and 'idden 'bout 16...Lots to larn ye no!!!Arr Arr Arr.
Ye can check out sum o' Pi Rat #1s ritin skylls on th' cache 'e started...Look a' our profyle an' click on the 'iddens, then look fer the one 'bout phase'r...Ye can also see th' rats themselves in a few pitchers in our caches.
This weekend we 'elped with th' event nearbye called Van-Isle Cachers Get Together (GC74AF).
Th' Rats werked real 'ard and larned lots doin' that kinda stuff, too! Yes th' sport certainlee doo provyde many a larnin' hopportunitees an' this year we be integratin' it inta th' plans...

Karry on Lunden...

Keep yer sail 'igh, 'nd move swiftly,
Captain No Beard and the Pi Rats

[RainbowTVP]

I knew there'd be more of us out here!

Any other educational activites you have found for the GPS?

Tara P

Tara P

[Family O Foxes]

we homeschool here in Oregon.

I have a 6 year old (1st grade), a 4 1/2 year old (kindergarten) and a 3 year old.

We do 99% of the geocaching together. We like doing them as a family. They are just fun way to get out and see the area. The kids use vocabulary they have learned when we are out geocaching. We use geocaching more as entertainment. We started Memorial day weekend and we now have 72 finds. And have hidden 12 caches. The kids just think it is a "hoot".

Amy of the familyO'foxes

[BlessedArrows]

We use unit studies as well as whatever works for us at the moment. Right now, geocaching works. We're doing it without the use of the well-renowned GPS, though, so we are learning all about maps and the trusty compass. Of course, we've also taken in quite a bit of history, sociology (or is it sociopathy?? lol), math, english & reading, researching, etc etc. Not to mention that it's just plain fun.

[Daclaren]

We weren't able to get our GPS until June, so we only started using geocaching as a part of homeschooling with this school year. I only wish the weather would cooperate on days when hubby isn't working (since we only have one car)!

Due to lack of caches in our area (especially with the new DCNR regulations), we've done a few locationless caches and are concentrating mainly on logging benchmarks. Benchmark hunting covers the same subjects, and the marks far outnumber the caches in our area. Not only that, but we also rarely use our GPS for benchmark hunting, instead relying on maps and the clues given in the descriptions.

I made a worksheet for caching (which we haven't yet been able to use) and am considering having my stepsons (16 year old twins) keep a written list and/or journal about the benchmarks we find. They're both quite dyslexic, so they need the writing practice. Does anyone do anything similar to this?

It's great to find other homeschoolers involved in geocaching/benchmark hunting!

Goodbye twenties, hello minivan.

[The KatcheNJammer Kidz]

We do alot of geocaching as part of our homeschooling. It is great exercise (PE Time,) gets us into map and compass reading as well as GPSR use, and the caching trips are very educational. I have found many of the virtual caches to have great history lessons behind them. Also, Jammin has a young naturalist backpack put together and ready to take along for those jaunts into the "wilderness." Just wish it would cool down a bit so we could do more hiking. Jammin is my only child, so it is a homeschool of mom and son, and I think I learn as much from him as he does me.
Bowsprite
The Katche4Lee Gang

[Dawgies]

We've been home schooling our 3 kids 5 years now. 4th grade, K and Pre-K. We wouldn't have it any other way...

GPSr, compass and map lessons are working well with the kids studies, besides being just plain fun!

A learning experience for all!

~Honest Value Never Fails~

[MissEm]

We did our first three caches sans GPSr. Then when we had a little extra money we "splurged" and got one. I felt a little guilty about spending so much on "just a hobby" until I started playing around with the thing, and realized how educational it could be! I don't feel nearly as guilty spending money on educational stuff! We've found a total of 29 caches this summer, and hidden 1. We always do it as a family. It has been GREAT! I can't say enough good things about it!

"Some people are just interesting. They can't help it. They just are." --Rick Bragg, "Ava's Man"

[spiderlady]

I homeschool my 2 (2nd grade and 4th grade) and we haven't used geocaching too much in our studies but it is a great treat for when they've been inside studying and need to get out and stretch their legs. (Mine too!!) The kids ARE learning how to use the GPS and are learning the compass too.

It does give us a great opportunity to discuss all sorts of things with our kids though. Sometimes not happy things... pollution - "Gee Mom, how come all this garbage is here?", stealing - "Why would someone take the cache?", etc. but usually it is of a more positive nature. We all get to discover the history of the places we go together and I hope they only have good memories of our outtings when they grow up. We do not cache and dash... we prefer to linger and talk and maybe have a picnic lunch or pick berries.

My daughter has her own cache stash and both of them are helping us decide what we want to put in our own cache and where we want to hide it.

It's been good for our whole family!

quote:

---

Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there. - Will Rogers (1879-1935)

---

[The KatcheNJammer Kidz]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by MissEm:
We did our first three caches sans GPSr. Then when we had a little extra money we "splurged" and got one. I felt a little guilty about spending so much on "just a hobby" until I started playing around with the thing, and realized how educational it could be! I don't feel nearly as guilty spending money on educational stuff! We've found a total of 29 caches this summer, and hidden 1. We always do it as a family. It has been GREAT! I can't say enough good things about it!

.....Not to mention that you might find a way to declare it a tax deductible educational expense ....And I definitely agree that it is a great family activity, and also one that some of his friends enjoy with us (several of the guys "beg" me to save some of them for "after school" so they can come too!) I can't say enough good things about geocaching and geocaching.com. This has been a great learning experience, bonding experience, getting in shape experience and has given us unmeasurable hours of adventure and has taken us places we might not have found without cache placements, both real and virtual!
Bowsprite and The Katche4Lee Gang
XXMan000, Jammin the Trailblazer and LuckyDog

[Knight School]

We haven't gotten a GPS yet, but we have been having fun finding benchmarks. We have found 4 so far (and 1 cache that is easy to find and close by) (since February) and plan on finding all the benchmarks we can in our town! We also occasionally go out of town and have fun finding ones there.

The Mom at Knight School

[Seattle Seekers]

I also homeschool my 13 year old son. We go geocaching every Friday or Saturday. Sometimes both day's.

I have alway's considered it to be a good lesson for P.E., Science, learning about nature and geography.

[AD0OR]

I'm a homeschool kid.

[Green Achers]

The one we're homeschooling doesn't like to Geocache [it's that sick?] and the other we have at the mercy of the public system, whom can get enough caching.

Maybe next year, I'll work in Geocaching to the program. That should cover: Math, P.E., History, English, History, Geography and Cryptography. Looks like a busy year.

Bill of Green Achers

"The difference between art and science is that if something works in art, you don't have to explain why." Author Unknown

[Team Discovery Kids]

Wow! it's great to see so many home schoolers using GeoCaching! I'm new to it myself, and this weekend I took my boys out on their first two caches. We went with a good friend who has a GPSr though. I don't have the funds to get one myself just yet. So we've just been borrowing him and his.. hehe My boys loved it though and are ready to go out for more! I've home schooled them their whole lives and they are 9 and 7 now.

Christine & Boys

[MissAngele]

Good for all you Home Schoolers! Is Geocaching in the ABEKA curriculum????? I used to home scholl until I lost a lengthy court battle over it with my X! Still a licensed school, but no longer active. WE still geocache though. My 10 year old loves it. Congrats to all of you who make the home schoolind choice!

MissAngele

[Roeboaters]

WOW! It's awesome to see so many other homeschoolers here. We have 6 wonderful children (3 - 13) and are just starting with geocaching (found our 1st on tonight). I use my gps alot in firefighting, but it is great to incorporate the children and help them to see how gps and compass navigation works.

[New England n00b]

What a great use of GCing. I never thought about all the disparate disciplines that can be incorporated into it.

1. Cartography
   
2. History
   
3. Ecology
   
4. Ethics
   
5. Sociology
   
6. Physical Education
   
7. Math through at least triginometry
   
8. Safety (strangers, woodland survival etc)
   
9. I'm sure there's more. Great job everybody!
   

---------------------
Don't hurt me. I'm new here.

[houseofbrew]

We're homeschooling,too! How nice to see other geocaching homeschoolers! Our son is 4 and is really getting into geocaching and has already learned about direction - n,s,e,w - from it. We're also finding out a lot about our area, places we pass by but have never stopped. The possibilities of education are endless!

[richardreynolds]

Holy cow! All of these posts are awesome and everyone here should know that you are the best parents in the world for doing what you do.

I am a 30 year old stay at home father of one. My daughter's name is Abby and she is 16 months old. A picture of Abby.
I went to Catholic School until my Soph. year of high school and then went public. My sister did the same until 8th grade and then became home schooled. She is now ready to graduate high school and get her AA degree at the same time! It seems that there are way more opprotunities for home schooled kids. That and you can keep them out of school system that is slowing falling apart.

This being said, I have decided to home school my daughter. She is 16 months old right now. Does anyone have any info on what I should be working on right now? By default, I am teaching her new words, manners, counting and whatever else I think of. It would be great to find some kind of guide as to what she might be ready for now or what to focus on. I would love for her to be "ahead of the game" as far as school but still able to be a kid and enjoy growing up. I just want to make sure I am doing everything I can, maybe a little extra but not go too far. I am sure you all have thought these things so you know what I'm talking about.

So, any info would be appreciated and yes I do plan on integrating GC with her!

Thanks,

Rich

"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."
-Dr Seuss

[New England n00b]

Try www.homeschool.com, believe it or not...

Tons of resources listed. Pick and choose to meet your needs, I guess.

---------------------
Don't hurt me. I'm new here.

[Mannings]

Yes, another Homeschooling family here. We have been caching for 6 months (In fact, today is our 6 month anniversary). It has been a great way to learn local history - there are things out there we never knew about. We also travel a lot so it is a great way to see a new area. We just came back from a three week trip to DC and Williamsburg. We got 52 caches. We would have found a lot more if Isabel hadnt decided to tear through the area.

To Rich - your daughter is 16 months old - for at least 5 years her best education will be through play - give her an enriched environment and watch her thrive. In Homeschooling it is almost always better to give them as much time to come into thier own on a subject. I have a 13 year old boy - last year he scored a perfect 800 on the Math portion on the SAT (College entrance exam), but he has only recently been able to write without tears, so I haven't been pushing writing until now, and let him spend more time with his strong points (obviously math is one of them). So, now he is 13, and received some national attention for his math skills and is starting to write without hating it. He will catch up on his writing. Homeschooling is wonderful because they work at their own paces, and better late than early!

Laura

[Alphatexana]

We homeschool our seven and five year old. Geocaching on the weekend is Dad's opportunity to pitch in on the science and nature part of their education. They are so busy hunting treasure, they don't even recognize they are learning about lat. & long., plants, animals, ecology, etc. We covered the different types of erosion yesterday while hiking. Quite fun.

Alphatexana

Our life is frittered away by detail. Simplify, simplify.
--Thoreau

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<td align="center">
<a href="http://www.texasgeocaching.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.texasgeocaching.com/images/texasgeocaching_sm.gif" border="0" alt="Texas Geocaching Association" vspace="3"></a>
</td>
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[dyankee1995]

Hello to all:

Another homeschooling family here. 13 year old boy and 7 year old girl.

Has anyone here in the homeschooling community thought about doing a travel bug project with other homeschoolers???

[Milbank]

Hi,
I think what you people are doing with geocaching is great!

If any of you are using travel bugs too I would like to offer my help.

If you would like to start your travel bug in some other state other then the one you live in please feel free to mail it to me.

I'm located in Milbank South Dakota. I'm also just 10 miles from the Minnesota state line so I could start your travel bug off in South Dakota or Minnesota, your choice.

I can get the TB's started the first weekend after I get them if not quicker.

If your interested send me a email from my geocaching profile page and I will send you my address.

Have fun and enjoy....

[Milbank]

double post, sorry.

This post has been edited by Milbank: 19 September 2005 - 04:10 PM

[Ambrosia]

We homeschool our children, ages 11 and 8.

We have been caching for 3 1/2 years.

I like all the things that everyone has listed here, especially the things about teaching children honesty, social skills, etc.

A couple other things that I would add:

1. Typing

2. Computer Skills

3. HTML

[forthferalz]

HI from Down Under,
me too for the local history lessons - usually quite dull otherwise. I was thinking about the guys who can't afford a gps - the english use a thing called letterboxing - just clues and you have a logbook for the rubber stamps. I'm going to make our first cache a letterbox hybrid.
Perhaps some of you might like to swap 'remote caching' - you pick a cache near us we haven't done and send us to get it. Contact me by email if interested.
The other thing I'm going to try is to get son to make a virtual geology cache or earth cache - some extensive research and writing skills required there.

[501_Gang]

We have and still are homeschooling our childern. Not all of them have been homeschooled but out of the two that we have, one is in college and the other is 13 yrs. old and still being homeschooled.

Geocaching has taken us all over the great state of Indiana and our son loves going. We have taken him to many historical places and sites that we would have never even thought of going to if not for Geocaching.

[logella]

We are home schooling our kids and just started geocaching a few weeks ago. I'd never really though about incorporating it into schooling. We've just been doing it for fun. But, the more I think about it I'm kind of intrigued by the schooling possibilities.

[GrabCachetic 4]

We're homeschooling too, our 4 1/2 year old and almsot 2 year old. we kind of ecclectic unschool, mostly child led learning and I fill in the gaps here and there. I love it cuz my kids can work on thier own levels in a variety of things. My older son likes to do 2nd grade level science projects, but isnt as interested in art for example. it gives us more flexibility. we've only found a few caches so far but already i can just see them brimming with homeschool opportunity! very exciting!

~The Invisible Woman (aka mrs grabo172)

[Team Red Devil]

Another Down Under post

I have just taken on the mammoth task of 'unschooling' our 8 yr old daughter, in order to homeschool her.

I'm not exactly sure how to go about it, but I'm getting there! I have found so far that some subjects are best left to dad!

I love the idea of a 'remote caching' network- it would be fun. I was thinking about it and it would be good to get homeschool kids to learn about other parts of the world...for example, we could go caching to a cache that has some significance (whether it be historical/geographical etc) and send our 'remote' team tonnes of pics, and information on that particular cache site...then our visit has a double purpose, and it helps to teach two lots of kids almost at the same time...if that makes sense. And the 'remote' team get to share in the journey too...

(I'm not feeling well so I think I may be rambling a bit...please read around the rambles!)

Marie.

[Team Maple Leaf]

Hello homeschoolers! We've just learned about geocaching. We're reading the idiot's guide and researching our gps purchase. We haven't looked for or hid a cache yet but it sounds like fun.

I'm thinking my first cache with be for homeschoolers. Maybe a multi-cache with some math and trivia to solve where the next location will be.

I like the idea of travel bugs tracked by homeschoolers...good one!

I'm looking forward to reading how homeschoolers are using geocaching.

Kind regards,

Danielle
www.homeschoolabc.com

This post has been edited by Team Maple Leaf: 08 January 2006 - 04:22 AM

[docdigit]

We have been homeschooling FOREVER. I have two that have graduated college and the third will graduate this May. I still have a 10 year old and 15 year old at home working on it. The two year old is just happy to be walking (yes the spread is from 2 years to 27 years...we foster and adopt!) We also live in Illinois. I got my GPS for Christmas and have only cached a couple of times but I can tell that it is going to be a big help with the 15 year who has some problems due to alcohol fetal syndrome. He loves the outdoors but has a terrible time understanding simple math and directions. I think that I may have found something that will hold his attention long enough to get him there! His little sister probably has an IQ of about 180 so I'm not too worried about her but I know she is going to want to go along just to solve the puzzles.

Doc

This post has been edited by docdigit: 07 January 2006 - 03:49 PM

[Falcon Loader]

Howdy folks,
My wife and I are home schoolers and I use geocaching for both science, math and PE. Granted these are still very basic things as our oldes child is only 6. Doing Geocaching cuases the child to go out and exocise (especially in Maryland if you attempt any of trev's caches . )

[Falcon Loader]

Any one thought of starting a Home School GeoCache Club? For example there are different State or local level group such as the Maryland Geocaching Socitey?

[Team Maple Leaf]

I love the idea of a Geocaching Homeschool Club. Definitely something to think about.

We've created a couple of geocaches, which has been almost as much fun as finding them. If you're ever in the Peoria, IL area, please check out our "Ode to Homeschool" cache

http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_detai...d9-6fc0e9bbf2f4

[Team Maple Leaf]

I love the idea of a Geocaching Homeschool Club. Definitely something to think about.

We've created a couple of geocaches, which has been almost as much fun as finding them. If you're ever in the Peoria, IL area, please check out our "Ode to Homeschool" cache

http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_detai...d9-6fc0e9bbf2f4

Kind regards,

Danielle
Team Maple Leaf

[Mr.Sneaky]

I nice to homeschool in Hinton, Alberta because you get geocache alot, i was wondering if there are any geocaching clubs in or around hinton.

[Falcon Loader]

 forum345, on Feb 8 2006, 01:57 PM, said:

I nice to homeschool in Hinton, Alberta because you get geocache alot, i was wondering if there are any geocaching clubs in or around hinton.

There are some groups up in Canada, have you checked in the forum for organized caching?

[PDOP's]

 forum345, on Feb 8 2006, 02:57 PM, said:

I nice to home school in Hinton, Alberta because you get geocache alot, i was wondering if there are any geocaching clubs in or around Hinton.

Sneaky the nearest to you would be Geocaching Edmonton. They also have a very active forum. You should wander over there and introduce yourself.

The Calgary Area Cachers forum is also a friendly place.

I'm looking forward to your first cache near Hinton.

[Super_Nate]

Hi there,

I have been looking through this thread and I am shocked as to the number of Geocachers out there that are or were homeschooling! I homeschooled all along until 10th grade when I went to a dorm school, but I was an active Geocacher when I was homeschooling (still am, but homeschooling is the subject line here) My sister (Sahib15) is a very active Geocacher and is homeschooling!

I think it is a great thing to have all these families finding and hiding caches! It should be an eye opener to those who hide not-as-fun caches in Wal-Mart parking lots and focus more on the sweet places in life.

[man on the moon]

No Money? No Problem!

This is something we did in my orienteering class in college: Buy a USGS quad map of your home area, they average $7-8 each and are available both online or from local map shops. A local seat of government or local state or national park should be able to tell yuo the closest physical location these maps cam be found.

They are good topographical maps, generally covering a 5-7 mile square(ish) area. They show roads, benchmarks, sturctures, etc. A cheap plastic overlay will expand the grid lines shown on the side of the map down to the meter. (Instead of every thousand as printed on the map. This gets you up to the meter UTM coords for $12 or less. It does take a bit of practice to read the map and use the overlay, but the store staff should be able to show you how to do it. If not, there may be a thread in here somewhere describing it.

The maps also have deg/min/sec readings.

A GPS is easier in the field, but if you can't afford it, or want a challenge in a different way, or your GPS won't pick up satellites because of trees or clouds...hey, why not? You can even laminate the map at a printing store for under $20, then it is water proof, and you can use dry erase markers on it! Just wipe it clean with water or a water/rubbing alcohol mix when you're done!

Happy Hunting!

[elmuyloco5]

We homeschool our three kids (8, 7, and 5). We've just started geocaching and are using it as a regular part of our curriculum. We just got home from a two day trip with 24 caches. I think it can be intertwined into to many subjects, and is just plain fun. Our kids have started their own blog on hiking and geocaching with kids [link]http://kidstrek.blogspot.com/[/link] that they will will work on weekly. I think it's a fabulous way to get outside as a family and anything that incorporates something educational is a winner in my book!

[leswon]

I am homeschooled and I geocache. Not really a connection. Maybe this thread would make my Mom let me go geocaching more.

[TeamFROG]

Hello Fellow Homeschoolers! It's a joy to see so many of you out there.

We homeschool our 4 children (8th grade, 6th grade, 4th grade, and K). We enjoy caching as a family on the weekends. We used to incorporate caching during the week, but sadly our days are now so filled with other things so we have to save it for weekends.

The kids are all experts at how to use the GPSr - way better than mom!

Blessings,
TeamFROG

[mindyeva7]

We homeschool and our homeschoolers group geocaches together as a group activity once a week. Does anyone have a form that they use to "record" their cashes for a notebook? I can't find one for actually "locating" a cache, just planting one.....

[Carbon Hunter]

Hey, we are homeschoolers from South Africa.

Been thinking about using geocaching as part of the fun for a while. Well now I have bought a GPS unit, and I trust that we will start this together as a family.

Will keep giving feedback on the development of our family time together.