Geocachers Participate in CITO Event

Last weekend math instructor and geocacher extraordinaire Michael Oberle took a group of students to a geocaching CITO (Cache In, Trash Out) event at McKinney Roughs Nature Park. They hiked the trails, looking for gnomes and geocaches and picking up any trash they found on the way. Participants included Joshua Foster, Austin Raven, Jonathan Wilkey, Jesus Perez and Dennis Lu.

Geocaching involves searching for hidden objects using global positioning system (GPS) coordinates that are posted on the Internet by other geocachers. St. Stephen’s geocachers explore the natural surroundings while searching for hidden caches. There are more than 3,000 geocache locations in and around Austin and more than 2.8 million caches around the world.


We asked Oberle to explain this phenomenon for the uninitiated:
 
When did geocaching begin at St. Stephen's?
I believe it was Adam Long ‘09 who introduced students to geocaching when he was a member of the Devil's Canyon Wilderness Program (DCWP). He would take DCWP members on geocaching trips around town, both finding and hiding geocaches. He still has nine active geocaches hidden in the Austin area, and I have adopted the geocache that is closest to campus that was hidden by DCWP member Nicole Ezell ’12.
 
What types of “treasures” can be found by geocachers?
The only item that is required to be in a geocache is a log book, so people can sign in to show they have found it. If you are out hiking and happen to spot a container hidden under some branches or rocks, look for the log book to see if you found a cache! You can also find logs on the geocaching.com website. It is always helpful to log a "Did Not Find” on the website if you could not locate the cache so that the owner knows it may be missing. Some geocaches do contain “swag” or little knickknacks that people can pick up from the cache. However, if you take something from the cache, you should leave something behind of equal or greater value for the next geocacher. While there may not be any hidden treasures, per se, people around the world have found some interesting items, including books, jewelry and animal skulls.
 
What is it about geocaching that is so appealing?
Geocaching is a wonderful experience for the body, mind and spirit. People enjoy the physical aspects needed to find a geocache, such as hiking or climbing trees. The intellectual challenge is also appealing, as you are trying to solve a hidden picture puzzle in the real world. Being out in nature and paying close attention to the world around us can restore the spirit and provide a welcome break to academic studies.
 
What skills does this help develop in students?
Geocaching encourages students to get out and explore nature, and it helps them develop an appreciation for the natural world. Geocaches can be hidden very well, so students are required to consider where a geocache might be hidden and use their observational skills to find a cleverly camouflaged cache. There are also numerous physical and planning challenges to tackle when geocaching.
 
What other types of geocache-like activities are available?
There are many similar activities that encourage people to get outdoors and search for objects using their smartphones, either by scanning QR codes (Munzee) or locating virtual objects (Pokemon Go). In geocaching itself, there are a growing number of geotours available where people hide caches in particular locations to highlight spots of cultural or geological interest. There are also geocaches that require solving puzzles, and some geocachers use coding and electronics on their cache containers to make it a puzzle to access the log book once you find the container. Some groups even plan social events where geocachers get together to share stories and plan outings. My most memorable geocaching trips have been with groups that have formed to take on a particular geocaching challenge.

 
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Address: 6500 St. Stephen's Dr., Austin, TX 78746
Phone: (512) 327-1213