Geocaching
Geocaching is an outdoor activity that is similar to a treasure hunt. The goal of the activity is to find hidden containers known as caches or geocaches using a portable satellite navigation device called a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver. Individuals who practice this activity (generally referred to as cachers or geocachers) place a cache in an outdoor location and post the cache’s latitudinal and longitudinal coordinates on the Internet. Other geocachers then use their GPS devices to download the coordinates and cache descriptions from one of several geocaching websites in order to find the caches.
Once the participants have found the cache, they may log their findings on the website. There are a number of different types of caches. Physical caches include a logbook, pencil, and trade items (small objects left in the caches for geocachers to trade with one another such as toys and key chains). Another type of cache is an earth cache, which highlights an area’s unique natural features.
More information regarding different types of caches and geocaching in general can be found at www.geocaching.com, www.opencaching.com, and www.earthcache.org
Visitors wishing to request permission to place Geocaches within the NPC jurisdiction, must download Appendix A and Appendix B, then email the completed documents back to the Parks Naturalist cburant@niagaraparks.com
