Geocaching is our activity of the month. Why? Because it’s fun, active, and it gets you and the whole family outdoors.
So what is geocaching? It’s a worldwide activity in which participants hit the great outdoors and use a GPS receiver to find and hide ‘cache’ containers. It’s an activity that can be enjoyed by all, no matter what your age or fitness level is and is great to do as a family, with friends, for fitness or a bit of fun. Geocaching also has an avid following in the UK, so you’ll instantly become part of a friendly community.
So if you’ve never done it before, we have a few starter tips to get you on the way.
And now, over the Easter holidays is a great time to start and get the kids outside.
What gear do I need to start geocaching?
As a beginner, we’ll keep it simple.
• Comfortable footwear and clothing as you’ll be walking about
• A GPS device. Most smart phones have these now
• Compass – again, most smart phones have one
• Writing equipment (notepad and pen/pencil)
• Backpack or ‘cache bag’. Here’s some great day packs for ideas http://www.snugpak.com/outdoor/snugpak/news/rucksacks-and-travel/
• If you’re heading for a full day out, it might be worth taking a first aid kit and torch, just in case but we recommend you start with short distances such as 1-2 miles
What do I need to prepare for geocaching?
Like with any outdoor activity, preparation is critical – especially if it involves hiking out into the country where there are limited resources or people around. You definitely need to be prepared for weather changes. So make sure you have clothing for all eventualities, food and lots of water.
How fit do I need to be to start geocaching?
Geocaching is for all levels of fitness abilities and is an activity for everyone to enjoy.
Just make sure you choose your routes appropriately before setting off.
We have some handy links that will help you get started including the Britain on Foot website which has been designed to help get the UK active and outdoors.
https://getoutside.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/filter/?activity=geocaching
http://www.geocaching.com/guide/
Send us your pictures if you’re out geocaching. If you’re already a frequent geocacher and have tips for our starters, please get in touch via our Facebook https://www.facebook.com/snugpak or Twitter @Snugpak
Enjoy yourselves!
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