Treasure Hunting

            Ever dream of finding treasure? Modern day treasure hunting in the form of “geocaching” is an increasing popular outdoor activity. These treasure hunters or “geocachers” follow clues and hunt for hidden caches using GPS devices.  Geocachers hide caches and provide latitude and longitude coordinates and sometimes other clues on websites like www.geochaching.com.  A geocacher searches the website for caches near their location or a location they plan to visit, records the information about caches they would like to look for, loads the coordinates into their GPS unit and sets out on the hunt. Upon finding the cache they sign the logbook most caches contain and maybe take a photograph of themselves at the cache site and log their find into the www.geocaching.com website.

            Most caches contain some type of logbook for cachers to sign. Some also contain trading items like souvenir pins or buttons. These are usually a “take one-leave one” deal. Some caches also contain a “travel bug” or “geocoin”. Travel bugs and geocoins have individual identification numbers which are registered with a geocaching organization. When you find a cache with one of these items you generally take it and then place it in another cache. The tracking number can be looked up online and you log where you found it and where you leave it.

            One geocoin set with which I am familiar is Map@Syst geocoins. Map@Syst is a group of Extension  professionals from across the US who work together in what is called a “Community of Practice”. These individuals, including John Nowatski of the North Dakota State University Extension Service are all individuals who work with geospatial technology like the guidance systems and autosteering systems now common in farm equipment. This group had a series of geocoins created with a special Map@Syst logo. The coins were sent to geocachers around the world to be placed in caches. The geocoins are a fun way to raise awareness about the eXtension system. Each coin has a unique number and can be tracked as it is moved from one cache to another. It is interesting to see how some of these coins have moved many times in a small area and others have made jumps of thousands of miles from one country to another.

            I will be receiving one of these coins to start on its travels at a cache somewhere in Burke County within the next few weeks.