Although I myself am new to geocaching, I would like to get the word out about a new and fun geocaching game that all Virginia State Parks will be launching on March 29, 2010 that will run until December 15, 2010. If you are saying "what exactly is geocaching" like I was at first, I am here to help you out. Geocaching is simply an outdoor treasure hunt, but instead of a good old fashioned map you get to use GPS units to help locate the treasure.
In this game you will be looking for caches, which can be anything from a simple landmark to clear plastic containers of varying sizes. These caches will help you along your journey toward finding the "treasure." Virginia State Parks Geocaching Wildlife Adventure will give you the opportunity to explore the natural wonders Virginia has to offer and can be enjoyed by people of all ages.
I recently went geocaching at Occoneechee State Park and once I started I did not want to stop. It is a good way to get back in touch with nature and release the stresses of day to day life. Now, here are a few pointers on how this game works.
Each of Virginia's State Parks will have a special geocache with a collector's wildlife card inside that is unique to that state park. In addition to the wildlife cards, each park will have a small supply of "wild cards" that will be set out in caches throughout the year. You never know if you might be the lucky person to find a "wild card." The game also features a fun award system that rewards you with a prize once you have collected wildlife cards from 5, 10, 20, and all park locations. There will also be a special prize for the first person to claim 5, 10, and 20 parks; limited to one person for each level.
In order to get started, simply log onto www.geocaching.com to get more information and sign up for a free account so you can log your finds once you have started. You will also need to log onto www.VirginiaOutdoors.com and sign up for a free account in order to claim your prizes, starting with your 5th Geocaching Wildlife Adventure cache. Once you have set up your accounts you are ready to start geocaching. Simply log back onto www.geocaching.com to find a list of all the park caches, select the park you want to visit, download the coordinates to your GPS, and print out any hints or instructions that may help you locate the caches. If you do not own a GPS unit they can be rented at all Virginia State Parks for a small charge. Park offices and visitor centers are open on a limited basis so be sure to call ahead if you are planning to rent a GPS.
**UPDATE**
Monday, April 5, 2010 marked the first week of Virginia State Park's Geocaching Wildlife Adventure. It has been a somewhat stressful, but exciting week. Getting to see all of the wonderful comments posted by geocachers about our caches is great! While there have been a few bugs to work out, we are off to a good start with our game. All 34 caches have been found at least once and we have already had a couple of individuals claim their first 5 VSP Wildlife Adventure caches. It's amazing to see the dedication of the geocachers who are hitting 2 and 3 parks each day. I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of the summer season, for it promises to bring out the geocachers by the dozens. As for the non-geocachers, also known as "muggles," you might want to steer clear of the geocachers on a mission; however, feel free to ask state park staff for information on geocaching if you would like to join in on the fun. Here are some responses to our caches:
"Fun and creative cache!"
"Very well done cache and extremely enjoyable."
"Since it was so nice today, I decided to head to FLSP after work for a walk on the trails. And finding a cache along the way made it even more enjoyable. Thanks for this hide. Looking forward to visiting the other 33 Virginia State Parks in this series."
"Great fun searching through VSP. Our first time to the area but certain to be back."
For more information on VSP Geocaching Wildlife Adventure click here or log onto www.virginiaoutdoors.com. You can also learn more about geocaching at www.geocaching.com. This game ends December 15, 2010 so start your geocaching adventure with Virginia State Parks today.
