Explore the world of geocaching

Course helps students explore geocache culture

MONTANA LIVING — Do you love to search for treasure? Do you enjoy technology like GPS?

Then geocaching might be for you.

Montana State University’s Continuing, Professional and Lifelong Learning will offer a hands-on workshop for people who want to learn geocaching, the high-tech treasure-hunting game.

Geocaching is a real-world, outdoor treasure hunting game using GPS-enabled devices, including smart phones. Cachers navigate to a specific set of GPS coordinates and then attempt to find the hidden geocache, or container, at that location. Class organizers say the activity is fun for all ages and requires minimal equipment.

Photos courtesy of www.geocaching.com

Geocaches can be found in most towns, in every state and in many countries around the world. More than 3 million people around the world are estimated to be active in geocaching.In a two-hour Friday evening session, participants will learn the basics of geocaching, including protocols and tools of the trade, the three rules of geocaching, how to find and log caches, how to make and place a cache, and maintenance of caches.

On Saturday morning, the class will go out into the field and practice finding caches.The instructor is Lynn Powers, who has been a geocacher for 10 years and has found nearly 1,000 geocaches in 33 states and provinces. Powers has created dozens of geocaches and hosted many geocaching events. She also has taught geocaching to youth and adults.

She is a Platinum EarthCache Master, the highest level of achievement granted by the Geological Society of America, and president of the Southwest Montana Astronomical Society as well as a NASA Solar System Ambassador.The course is $59. Participants should bring either a smart phone or a GPS (with instruction manual).

Participants should register online at http://ato.montana.edu/continuinged. For more information, contact MSU Continuing, Professional and Lifelong Learning at 406-994-6550 or continuinged@montana.edu.-st/ac- This story is available on the Web at: http://www.montana.edu/news/17492