Handy Dandy Tools of Geocaching

Geo Swag

Whether you are new to geocaching or a self proclaimed expert who could use a reminding. Here are some tools we always carry.

Pens- You must sign the log! Not really, but it is always handy to carry a pen or 10.

Swag- Yes, those cool trinkets to trade with the cache once you find it. My daughter likes to make those rubber band bracelets. The toy isle at the dollar store has some cool stuff too.

Tweezers- For those micros that are just a log rolled up really tight in a tube that you can never get out.

GPS- Not necessarily essential, but definitely handy. Most people can get by with their smart phone, but if you're out in the middle of no where you're going to want a GPS.

Extra magnets- For the clumsy cachers like me. I have a tendency of dropping loose magnets and not being able to find them. So it doesn't hurt to have a couple extra in your bag.

Gloves- Not the my hands are going to get cold kind. The "I know the cache is in that dark, dirty crevice and there's no way I'm sticking my bare hand in there" kind of gloves.

First aid kit- Just in case.


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March Madness

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Enjoy a weekend of geocaching and culture in beautiful Madison, WI. The first day will be filled with caching and seeing the sites on the University of Wisconsin- Madison campus. Some of the things you will visit on campus are: University of Wisconsin Arboretum, Babcock Hall Dairy store, Picnic point and Eagle Heights Community Garden. For the second day you will go out and about the town. You will take a tour of the state capitol building, visit the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art and end at the Olbrich Botanical Gardens. Of course geocaching along the way.

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Reasons to Geocache

Ask any geocachers why they cache and you will get a mile long list. Everyone has their own reasons but I thought I'd share some of my favorites.

1. Get outside- The world has so many beautiful views and yet people are more concerned with what's going on with the screen in front of their face. The beauty of geocaching is that it can take as short or long of time as you want it to. It can be a quick stop at the highway lookout spot or an all day hike through a national park. You decide. So take a walk around town, finally check out the wildlife reserve on the edge of town or plan a weekend camping trip to a state park.

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2. Connect with your kids- You'd be amazed by how searching for a container in the woods brings people together. If you have a little one give them the GPS and let them lead the way. Even if you spot the cache first, step back and let them search and find it. They may dance around and rub it in but it is a great confidence boost for them. If you have an older kid or teenager plan out a longer hike and use it to find out what's going on at school or with their friends. Don't settle for "Nothing, school's boring." Go beyond "What's your favorite class or teacher?" Find out what it is about the teacher that they like, is it the way the teacher helps them, is it the class content etc.

3. Connect with yourself- For me nothing says freedom like jumping on my motorcycle and hitting the open road. For others it might be hitting the bike trail or just taking a stroll through town. There is something about being alone with nature and your thoughts that is refreshing, exhilarating and therapeutic. Whatever road, trail or sidewalk you're on there is probably a geocache nearby.

4. Exercise!- I think most of us would say that we should exercise more than we currently do, right? And it's definitely easier if we're doing something fun that makes it seem like it's not exercise. That is exactly how geocaching works! Check out this study that Texas A&M did on the health benefits of geocaching.

5. Learn something- There are many ways you can turn geocaching into an educational experience. A couple ways are the mystery/puzzle caches, multi-caches and my favorite, the earth-caches. Mystery or puzzle caches give you clues or a puzzle to solve in order to get the actual coordinates for the cache. Multi- caches will give you the coordinates for the first "cache" then you will have to get information from the location, maybe a sign or historical marker, that translates into the coordinates for the next "cache"  and so on until you reach the final cache that has the real cache with the logbook. Earth-caches don't have actual cache boxes, they are just a geological location. Many have placards explaining the history or significance of the location. There are many ways you can use geocaching as an educational experience. Look at how some teachers are using it in the classroom.

Share why you cache in the comments below.