Today is National Scavenger Hunt Day. We’re hard pressed to think of someone who isn’t in love with the idea of finding buried treasure, or following clues that may lead to a mysterious prize! It might seem like a fantastical concept, something only seen in books or movies, but we’re really excited to tell you that you can enjoy the real deal treasure hunt right here on Log Island! That’s right, folks, thanks to an amazing hobby called Geocaching, you and your loved ones can go hunting for mystery trinkets and treasures without having to sail the high seas.
What is Geocaching?
Originally called “geostashing” upon its inception in the early 2000s, Geocaching is an outdoor treasure hunt that involves using a GPS receiver or your mobile phone or tablet to pinpoint the location of hidden treasure! This rugged wilderness game of hide-and-seek leads adventure seekers to containers called “geocaches” or caches at each of the GPS coordinate locations. The rules for geocaching are simple: Find the cache, take something from the cache, leave another item in return in the cache, and then write it in the logbook. Geocaching is great for mental health on multiple levels: it gets you moving, it gets you outside, it promotes thinking outside the box, and it’s also a great boost of serotonin and endorphins once you finally land your prize! Who wouldn’t love that?
The best part is that this is a global affair! Once you’ve got the hang of the hunt, you can explore geocaching locations in just about every section of the world. Just go online and check the local area you’re traveling to or visiting, and see what locations have been marked on the regional maps. It’s an amazing way to experience nature as well as learning how to employ GPS and Map Technologies to pinpoint locations and read maps in different regions.
What do you need for Geocaching?
Geocaching basics require a smartphone with good connectivity range that is capable of GPS coordinate mapping (latitude and longitude coordinates) or a mobile satellite GPS device. You’ll want to make sure you bring a portable battery charger to ensure that you don’t lose charge while on the hunt!
You will need a set of comfortable clothing made for hiking and walking, because some journeys may take a little longer than others. You’ll want comfortable footwear that is made for hiking and walking in different climates and terrain, as some geocache locations may be off the beaten path. You’ll need to bring plenty of water and electrolyte drinks to keep you hydrated, and protein packed snacks to keep you energized.
You’ll also want to bring a few small treasures and surprises to leave behind on your geocaching adventure when you claim your prize. These can include things you’ve made, small trinkets and collectibles, currency from other countries, crystals or shells or rocks, or other small giftables.
And of course, you’ll want to bring a camera or video recording device to log your adventures and share with friends!
How do I find Geocaches near me?
If you’ve got an Android or Apple smartphone device, you can download the Official Geocaching App!
You can also check out the database of Geocaches on Long Island to see what’s new, what’s active, and what’s no longer a treasure spot.
If you’re headed up state on a family adventure, you can check out the NY Upstate Guide to Geocaching as well, where there are more than 2,000 geocaches across the state.