Geocaching

Geocaching is a relatively new pastime (some call it a sport) in which participants can place a variety of different containers (caches) in interesting or obscure locations, and challenge others to find them. Caches frequently contain small trinkets, suitable for children and other trinkets suitable for grown-ups.  The idea is to leave something in exchange for something you take - although a great many geocachers do not participate in this part of the pastime.  Once one has found a cache, one signs the logbook in the cache, and then logs the find on the geocaching website.  This pastime has been going on since hand-held GPS receivers became available (I started in 2002), and has grown considerably since then.  There are more than a million caches placed worldwide, mostly in developed countries (India, for example, had one before 2002 - there are more now, and I bet there will be more as time goes on.)

The exchange of information takes place at http://www.geocaching.com/.  Participation in this pastime usually requires one to own a hand-held GPS device, as the locations of caches, hints about caches, parking areas and meeting places are all given in coordinates used by these devices (latitude and longitude, for example N 51deg 20.479min E 001deg 25.764min, the coord of a house I once owned in Ramsgate.).  It is fun for the whole family.  Most geocachers start when they want to get their children out of the house and into nature.

Joining the Geocaching Community is FREE (except for the cost of the GPS receiver).  You can get a variety of new and used receivers.  Many people these days are using their phones!  iPhones and Blackberries, for instance, need only a bit of software to be perfectly function for this pastime.  For those like me who want a separate gadget, used receivers can cost under $100.  A somewhat advanced receiver that allows paper-less geocaching, like my Garmin Oregon 300, cost on the order of $350.  Of course, you can get much more sophisticated and expensive than this.