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6.11.2010

geocaching - great family fun!


About three years ago, I while sitting in a waiting room (I'm telling you, I find great inspiration in waiting rooms) I came across an article about geocaching - my first thought was, Geo-what?  Then as a read on I learned that it was basically a high-tech version of a treasure hunt. 

With one little boy at home, and one on the way, I knew this could become a very popular pastime for our family.   And I began visualizing all the wonderful places we could go treasure hunting...

 
As soon as I got home I informed my husband that I wanted a GPS unit for Christmas...  he was a little shocked at first, but when I explained to him what geocaching was, and about the adventures that we could have in our own back yard (and all over the world), he was excited too.  



Geosack 4

Buying a GPS is kind of a steep up-front cost, but you might not even need to buy one if you have GPS-enabled cell phone or PDA.  (The iphone has great ratings.)
Geocaching in 8 easy steps: (list from geocaching.com)
  1. Go to www.geocaching.com and register for a FREE account.
  2. Click “Hide & Seek a Cache.”
  3. Enter a postal code or address and click “Search.”
  4. Choose any geocache from the list and click on its name.
  5. Enter the coordinates of the geocache into your GPS device.
  6. Use your GPS device to help you find the hidden geocache.
  7. Sign the logbook and return the geocache to its original location.
  8. Share your geocaching stories and photos online.
 


    So, here we are three years down the road.  Summer is right around the corner, and we are itching to get out and so some exploring.  I download some new caches and began to pack a bag so we could go on a hike. 

    While searching the house for all the items we needed, and I realized that it would be so much easier if I just had a bag to keep all of the essential geocaching items in.  A bag that we can just grab and go at a moments notice - when the sun decides to peek out from behind the clouds.  (Although, I might not be able to wait that long, so some ponchos might need to be added to the packing list.)



    After making the first round of Hobo Sacks from Dana's wonderful tutorial over at MADE, I knew they were the perfect size for a geocaching bag.  I grabbed some fabric from my stash (navy linen, gray quilting cotton, and orange jersey) and set to work. 
     

    Feeling like I needed to label the bag, I searched the internet and came across the geocaching symbol and stenciled it on using freezer paper.


    But I couldn't stop there, I then decided that we needed a First-Aid pouch, AND a bag for all our treasures to trade (swag). 

    I had so much fun making these bags - super fast and easy!
    Our Geocaching bag includes:
    • GPS
    • notebook
    • pen
    • trash bag - cache in, trash out (we use plastic bread bags)
    • Swag Bag with various small items for trading
    • first aid pouch
    • sunscreen
    • (poncho)
     
    Other items we throw in the backpack:
    • camera
    • extra clothes
    • snacks
      I hope you get out and try geocaching, it is fun for the whole family.  And you might even learn something along the way, because many caches are linked to historic sites! 
      Happy Hunting!

      12 comments:

      1. Oh! Fantastic! We don't geocache but we do letterbox which is very similar. I hadn't thought to carry all of that stuff in one bag! It makes so much more sense! LOL! After I make all of the other hobo bags that I have planned, I will do one just for letterboxing, and will include sunscreen, first aid kit, our stamp pads and stamps, notepad and pencils, and so on. Glad I clicked over to your blog today! :)

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      2. we letterbox also. We keep ours in a zipper pouch in the car so we are ready to go whenever. Someday when we get a gps we'll geocach. I found one once while we were letterboxing but it was locked.

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      3. Letterboxing sounds like a lot of fun, I think we might have to try it sometime!
        Emily

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      4. What a great idea! And for all the places you can't go, you can send "Flat Stanley" to go there for you!

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      5. That's funny, we just finished Flat Stanley! Great idea.

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      6. My husband and I love to geocache . . . and if/when we have children of our own we will definitely need to be more organized that we are now. I just might have to start on some hobo bags myself!

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      7. Hi Emily - I loved this post so much that I wrote about it on my blog yesterday and linked back to you. Hope that's okay!!
        What's letterboxing? The stamp pad and first aid kit requirement has me intrigued! x
        http://maxabellaloves.blogspot.com/2010/10/things-i-learned-this-week-including_22.html

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      8. I have no idea how I found your blog- but this is incredible!! Now I know what I am getting all the kids in my family. Thanks!!!

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      9. I love those bags!!
        They're fantastic!

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      10. How fun! I am enjoying exploring your site! I came over from someone else's site looking for your bread bag (just got a breadmaker) but that person didn't link to that post and I can't find a search bar that will keep me on your blog, soooooo, I am looking through all posts tagged bag hoping I come upon it.

        We're geocachers too so I just had to comment on this post - love your bags! We use an old army backpack to tote things, lol. Yours is prettier!

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      11. I geocache and my wife sent me this link. I think it's an awesome thing to do with kids and adding the sewing/crafty part to it is very, very cool! Keep it up! John/thenkengrene

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      12. Loved your post. Do you have measurements or did you use the same ones from the MADE website? Do you have a tutorial on the first aid kit? I am a beginner at sewing, but would love to make these for my nephews.
        Thanks,
        Kelly

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