While geocaching is something that is enjoyed by people of all ages, geocaching for kids is perhaps the most beneficial. In addition to all the other benefits the hobby provides, it allows families a way to spend time together and work towards a common goal - finding a geocache container!
When people ask my sons, "What is geocaching?" They often reply, "Using billions of dollars of military hardware to find Tupperware® hidden in the woods." And technically, that is pretty much an exact description.
Geocaching is using GPS coordinates to find the latitude and longitude of a hidden container. The container could be in an urban or rural location. It could be out in the open, like at a public park, or hidden several thousand feet above sea level on the Appalachian Trail. We even saw on the map where a container is hidden in the middle of the Potomac River for kayak enthusiasts.
Preparing a Geocaching for Kids Adventure
Geocaching with young kids in tow might sound intimidating but really it is no more stressful than any other family outing. Here are some tips to help get you started:
- CLOTHING - Dress how you would for any other outdoor family event, like a hike over rocky terrain or a walk through an area with weeds or high grasses. In other words, dress comfortably according to the weather and wear socks with sneakers as opposed to sandals or flip-flops.
- SNACKS - Bringing snacks with you will save you the time and cost of stopping off at a convenience store or the drive-thru window of a fast food restaurant. Goldfish crackers, fresh fruit, and bottled water all make great geocaching snacks.
- CACHE BAG - Even though my kids are teenagers, we cannot leave the house without our "cache bag". It has a small notebook for keeping track of which sites we visit, a couple of mechanical pencils and pens for signing logs in the geocache containers, and some loot. Currently our loot is baseball cards, army men, and some small party favors.
Whatever other preparations you make will depend on the unique needs of your family. They might include medication (like an epi pen for those allergic to bees or other outside things), bug spray, wet wipes (even if your kids aren't in diapers, these things have a million uses).
The Best GPS to Use When Geocaching for Kids
If I had to buy a GPS right now, I would purchase the Magellan eXplorist GC Waterproof Geocaching GPS from Amazon. The display is about the same size as a cell phone, and its paperless connection to the Geocaching website makes it a great eco-friendly tool as well. Some of the other features of this little gadget include:
- Connect to Geocaching.com
- Free 30-day premium membership to the site (regular membership is still free, though!)
- Pre-loaded with plenty of popular geocache sites
- Easy navigation with colorful menus and graphics
- Transreflective screen for easy reading on super sunny days
- Storage for up to 10,000 geocaches
- Waterproof to IPX-7 standards to protect against drops and spills
- 3-meter accuracy when finding the geocache site
- 2 AA batteries provide 18 hours of life for a whole day of geocaching
- USB connects right to your laptop or desktop computer
Whether you are just starting out geocaching or have been doing this for years, you are entitled to have fun while staying safe. The Magellan eXplorist GC Waterproof Geocaching GPS allows you to do both. It even connects to waypoint locations that you set up -- such as where you parked the car or the location of that public rest room that you passed ten minutes ago. (Because we all know that kids don't have to go until after the bathroom is out of sight!)
Click the icon above to head straight over to the Amazon site where you will enjoy a generous discount. And if you are a member of Amazon Prime, then you will also enjoy free shipping as well! Don't wait until you are stuck relying on a cellphone that struggles to find a signal or a has a low battery life. Order your Magellan eXplorist GC Waterproof Geocaching GPS today!
