Treasure Hunting in Kansas City

Wouldn’t it be great If there were still unexplored places? Undiscovered lands? Great expeditions to seek out the lost… Something? Sound like stuff of fairytales or history books?    What if “Unexplored Places” are actually just the back roads of your neighborhood? What if “Undiscovered lands” are just a nature trail you never knew about at the park? What if that “Great expedition” were real? Wait, that doesn’t fit with the rest of my “What if”-ing. Or does it? Let say that “lost something” isn’t actually lost. Maybe it was just hidden by someone. Hidden treasure? Yes, let’s call it that. 

You rally together some friends, and explain the journey. You’re equipped with only a treasure map and survival kit. You show them the map and daydream about what kind of treasure might lie in store, what adventure may await.

Hang on a minute! That sounds more like the beginning of a story than a plan for an actual trip.  Or does it? What if I told you that that’s actually how it works? Translate that into normal everyday words. Now what does it sound like? Still strange? Replace “treasure map” with GPS, and “survival kit” with water bottle and a snack. Now how’s it sound?  Still a bit strange, but much more like something you might actually do.

But why would you go on this “journey”? What are you looking for? You’re going for fun; you’re looking for a Geocache. What’s a Geocache?

Geocaching is a worldwide treasure hunt.  A giant game of hide and seek. Sound like fun?

What is a Geocache?

AGeocache is a small container. Once you find a cache (short for Geocache) you sign a log book to record that you found it. Most caches are about the size of small can of peanuts and have trinkets inside. You can take one of these, but be sure you leave something in its place so the next person will have a bit of “treasure” to find, too.

Now that we’ve gotten the main terminology straightened out, you’re probably ready to get started aren’t you?

How to Geocache:

You go to the website, http://www.geocaching.com/, click “Play” and fill out a search. A list of caches will come up based on your criteria. Click on the cache you want to see. Somewhere on the cache’s page will be the co-ordinates to put in your GPS (there are Apps you can get for your iPhone or Android. Two main ones are Geocaching’s official paid App , and the free, unofficial App C:Geo). After you’ve gotten the GPS programmed, it’s time to begin the hunt!

Terrains range from meadows and mossy woods that require only a good pair of shoes, to cliffs and mountains where rock climbing equipment may be required. Any of these can be in a park, by the side of the road, or anywhere in between. Just because the terrain is rough, doesn’t mean the cache is going to be hard to find, and just because it’s out in a park doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy!

You call some friends and tell them what you’re going to do. All you’ve got is a GPS, water bottle and a snack. You show them the directions, and as you head off begin talking about what you might find.

Annie Hall, Teen Blogger