Spring Break
Column: Geocaching yields great rewards
Sam Slaven/Columnist
Issue date: 4/23/09 Section: Opinions
For the past 10 years, I have been actively using hand-held GPS units for various activities in my life.
I have used them in the military, for recreation and while obtaining my education at Eastern.
During all these years, I always thought it would be fun to create a game where one leaves something at a specific location and then gives the coordinates to someone else to see if they could find whatever had been left at the location.
As with most of my great ideas, I was too late; this one had already come to fruition years earlier at the hands of other GPS enthusiasts.
They call this game of hiding and seeking items geocaching, and it is a wildly popular game played around the world.
Ironically, I didn't learn about this while in the geography department, but from watching a special on WEIU. I was completely shocked that this game actually existed!
Geocaching is a worldwide game of hiding and seeking treasure - and when I say treasure, I really mean treasure.
Some people actually hide items of great value for others to find.
Some hide cash in the cache.
Sometimes there's nothing in the cache but a piece of paper that allows you to log your visit.
You just don't know what you're going to find in a cache. Chances are you walk within just a few feet of a geocache everyday, because there are dozens located here on campus.
If you're not a geocacher already, I recommend you at least look into and try it, because it will definitely take you to places you would have never gone to.
Most of those places are literally right in your own backyard.
I'm surprised at some of the places right here on and around campus that I'd never seen before.
This game also seems to have something to offer to everyone.
There are multiple variations of how the game is played.
Some of the different themes are based on sports, nature or historical eras, just to name a few.
One can create a theme of his or her own choosing and it can reach across the world.
In fact, I think there's some sort of Dungeons & Dragons version of geocaching that could bring dozens of individuals out of their parent's basements and into the world again if they choose to put down the dice and pick up a GPS device instead.
Admittedly, that was a cheap shot at D&D players, but my point is that geocaching is a healthy alternative to sitting around, be it for D&D, video games or television.
If the economy keeps going south, being in good health will be of great value, especially if you don't have health insurance.
Sam Slaven is a senior geography major. He can be reached at 581-7942 or at DENopinions@gmail.com.
I have used them in the military, for recreation and while obtaining my education at Eastern.
During all these years, I always thought it would be fun to create a game where one leaves something at a specific location and then gives the coordinates to someone else to see if they could find whatever had been left at the location.
As with most of my great ideas, I was too late; this one had already come to fruition years earlier at the hands of other GPS enthusiasts.
They call this game of hiding and seeking items geocaching, and it is a wildly popular game played around the world.
Ironically, I didn't learn about this while in the geography department, but from watching a special on WEIU. I was completely shocked that this game actually existed!
Geocaching is a worldwide game of hiding and seeking treasure - and when I say treasure, I really mean treasure.
Some people actually hide items of great value for others to find.
Some hide cash in the cache.
Sometimes there's nothing in the cache but a piece of paper that allows you to log your visit.
You just don't know what you're going to find in a cache. Chances are you walk within just a few feet of a geocache everyday, because there are dozens located here on campus.
If you're not a geocacher already, I recommend you at least look into and try it, because it will definitely take you to places you would have never gone to.
Most of those places are literally right in your own backyard.
I'm surprised at some of the places right here on and around campus that I'd never seen before.
This game also seems to have something to offer to everyone.
There are multiple variations of how the game is played.
Some of the different themes are based on sports, nature or historical eras, just to name a few.
One can create a theme of his or her own choosing and it can reach across the world.
In fact, I think there's some sort of Dungeons & Dragons version of geocaching that could bring dozens of individuals out of their parent's basements and into the world again if they choose to put down the dice and pick up a GPS device instead.
Admittedly, that was a cheap shot at D&D players, but my point is that geocaching is a healthy alternative to sitting around, be it for D&D, video games or television.
If the economy keeps going south, being in good health will be of great value, especially if you don't have health insurance.
Sam Slaven is a senior geography major. He can be reached at 581-7942 or at DENopinions@gmail.com.
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Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 5
local geocacher
posted 4/23/09 @ 8:07 AM CST
Thanks for putting this information out there about Geocaching. Hopefully more students will get involved. Great work.
rob
posted 4/23/09 @ 9:00 AM CST
1st half of the article was ok, but after that, what the hell are you talkin about
Student Geocacher
posted 4/23/09 @ 7:59 PM CST
I really liked the article. I am an Eastern Geocacher and have placed several caches on campus. I think that the article did a good job of at least enticing readers to check it out on their own. (Continued…)
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