~Geocaching is a great way to add some more fun and exploration into your outdoor recreation. Geocaching is an activity that utilizes a GPS (Global Positioning System) to find a "cach" at particular coordinates. A cach is something left at a specific location for geocachers to find. It is most often a container with items inside and a list for visitors to write their names. These types of caches are the most popular, but there are also other types. You can find out more about geocaching at www.geocaching.com, and create a free account!
What I've Learned
~I've definitely improved my skills using GPS during this unit. I have a better idea of how to move through the menus and selections, and can do it much faster than before. I have learned
how to use a GPS before learning about it in this unit, but it was a very useful review!~I learned a lot more about geocaching. I made an account on geocaching.com and know how to find information and coordinates of caches. I also learned that you should try to find caches that have been found by other people recently. If they have not, it may have been removed or relocated.
My Groups' Geocaching Results
~On the first hunt, my group did not find one cach. The biggest reason for this was poor planning. We didn't know where the coordinates were when we chose the points. We entered some of them into the GPS after we left the classroom. We thought that on of the caches was at 5 Graves, but all of the ones we chose turned out to be in the Makena/La Perus area. We searched too broad of an area for caches online.
~The second time, all three caches that we chose were in Kihei, but we could not find any of them. We did have a forth cache near the Wailea Fire Department, which we were able to find. Good thing too; it was our last hope!
