COLUMN: Family treasure hunts

     If you are looking for a fun outdoor activity to get your family moving and working together you might want to try geocaching. Geocaching is like an old fashioned treasure hunt with a modern twist.

     Whether you are visiting a national, state, or county park or simply exploring your own community, geocaching is a wonderful activity for all ages. Combining old-fashioned maps, code-breaking skills, and modern hand-held technology, participants search for the “cache” at the end of their geo-hunt.

     You never know where you might end up at the end of your hunt. I have seen and heard of caches hidden in the seat of historic site covered wagons, in hollow holes in trees, under park benches and logs, and even in lockers with coded lock access.

     “Caches” can range from traditional film canisters to larger containers to exceptional geological or physical sites or virtual caches. Sometimes caches include a log book and trinkets or treasures you can take or trade. Treasures can be as simple as shells, marbles, coins, or as elaborate as medallions. Some geocachers have their own calling card trinkets or even trackables and travel bags.

     Participants simply need a global positioning system (GPS) receiver or smartphone with applicable app. to get started. Visit www.geocahing.com/play to learn more about geocaching and to find geocaches near you. Jones County alone has over 125 geocache sites registered.

     If you would like to give geocaching a try, join the Jones County Naturalist on Saturday, July 29 at 1 p.m. at the Central Park Nature Center for a quick introduction to geocaching and a fun geocache treasure hunt. A limited number of GPS units will be available for use, or you can bring your own unit or smartphone with applicable mobile app preloaded.