Geo Caching - A Fantastic Lesson in the Woods

As homeschool parents we are always looking fortradition is to log it in the log book in the cache,
creative ways to do things and interesting wayspracticing writing, and take an item and leave an
to integrate learning ideas together while making ititem of equal value, usually some type of little
all interesting. I enjoy commingling all of this withtrinket. When you are finished hide the cache in
technology to give my children a cutting edgethe same location you found it and log it on the
experience that will serve them well in the future.internet.
Geo caching is a new game that has homeschool,I am not even going to go into how many lessons
technology and fun written all over it, if you haveyou could work into something like this or you
never heard or geo caching it is simply a worldcould just use this a reason to get out into the
wide scavenger hunt. It utilizes GPS, the internetgreat outdoors with your kids and do something
and good ole hide and seek.fun. There are geo caches all over the world,
The basic premise is that you find a geo cache insome are hard to find and others are child's play,
your area, which is basically just a hidden stash,but no matter where you are I am sure there is
the coordinates can be found on the internet, andone fairly close.
a handheld GPS unit must be used to try toThis activity gives kids the opportunity to get up
pinpoint the coordinates and find the cache. Itclose and personal with location aware technology.
may sound easy, but caches are usually hidden inI am sure they have seen similar technology in
remote areas like parks or forest. It can be quitethe car or on your phone but this is a much more
a journey and there could be many obstacles likeexiting application and one that they are sure to
rivers or gorges in your way.remember.
Talk about unschooling! This will give you theTechnology and different types of home school
opportunity to teach about all things wilderness,software give parents the ability to take their
including respect for the environment, camping,child's learning to the next level and have fun in or
survival, map reading, geology, forestry, etc. Theout of the class room.
list is up to you. When you find the cache the