Geocaching (pronounced geo-kash-ing) is a worldwide outdoor treasure hunting game. Participants use a Global Positioning System receiver or mobile device and other navigational techniques to hide and seek containers, at specific locations marked by coordinates all over the world. There are over 3 million geocaches hidden worldwide and over 5 million people who play the game. There are a series of Geocaches for you to find in Margam Country Park.
What are the benefits of Geocaching?
- It's a fun pastime that combines technology with outdoor adventure
- It can be enjoyed by all members of the family
- It gets you outdoors and into the fresh air
- It gets you walking either a long or a little way
- It introduces you to unusual, interesting and beautiful locations
- It encourages the kids to ask, “can we go for a walk today?”
How does it work?
Geocaches are hidden all over the world by fellow geocachers. A geocacher will go to a location which usually has some special interest or beauty. This is often one of their favourite places to visit. At the location, they will hide a small waterproof container containing a few varied bits and pieces (usually of little value), a logbook and a pen or pencil. Using their smartphone or GPS receiver, the geocacher records the coordinates of their geocache and returns home to log its existence on a website. Another geocacher will see the geocache listing online or within a geocaching app, and go in search of it. When they find it, the finder may take something from the geocache and leave something in return, and for posterity, enter a log in the logbook. If you take something, leave something of equal or greater value in return and leave the geocache as you found it (hidden of course).
The seeker should log that they have found the geocache and pass any comments they wish - this can be done using an app whilst out in the field, or on the website once at home. These logs are important to the geocache hider; it is part of their 'reward' for hiding the geocache, so some detail should be included.
What do I need to take part?
You'll need to download the Geocache app onto a smartphone and you'll also need a sense of adventure to go and find places that you may never have known about.