HIDE & SEEK

GEOCACHING IS FUN FOR YOUNG AND OLD

- JIM COBB

We'd been searching for several minutes without success. According to the app, we had to be right on top of it, but it was just nowhere to be found. Suddenly, one of our sons shouted, "Here it is!" as he pulled an old ammo can from behind a fallen tree.

Inside was a small notebook, a few pens, and a smorgasbord of trinkets, from tiny figurines to Mardi Gras beads. We'd found the geocache!

Geocaching has been around for about 20 years now. The term was coined back in 2000 and is a combination of "geo," referring to the earth, and "cache," a hidden stash of some sort. The concept is similar to a scavenger hunt or even a game of hide and seek, albeit on a global scale.

HOW IT WORKS

The first step is to download the Geocaching app and create an account. This is free, though there are paid premium accounts that offer several benefits, such as access to exclusive geocache locations. You can also use their website, Geocaching.com, to search for cache locations in your area or an area where you're traveling.

Once you've identified a cache to find, you'll load it on the app and head in that direction, using the app to narrow your search as you get closer. It works with your phone's GPS to track where you are in relation to the cache.

As you zero in on the location, you might consult the app's listing for the cache, as it may give you a hint about where to look, such as "it is hidden near a notably large tree." The listing should also indicate the approximate size of the cache. Here are examples of each standard size:

Micro: 35mm film canister, prescription bottle