Geocache, a free (with optional payment) app in the App Store and Google Play Store, has become one of my favorite things to do. After a friend told me about it, I was curious so I downloaded the app. While it took me a couple months after downloading the app, to find my first cache, I can now say that I can’t wait to find more caches.

Geocaching is defined on the Geocaching website as a real-world, outdoor treasure hunting game. You use a GPS device, whether it be on your phone or a handheld to find the coordinates of the hidden caches. There are only three rules. If you take something from a cache, leave something. Sign the cache log with the date you found it. Log it online so other’s know that the cache is still active and findable! Also, take pictures, just make sure the picture doesn’t reveal exactly where the cache is!

Geocaches are located all over the world. A simple search in your town could give you anywhere from five or six, to over 50! Geocaching has become something that my mom and I do together. So far, we have not gone without each other. We have found 11 geocaches, most of them in my town. A few of them were within walking distance from my house. We have lists made for each town around us and we hopefully will be finding some out of state soon! We even have a list of caches that we weren’t able to find the first time, so we’re going to try them again.

While not all Geocaching adventures are successful, it is so much fun. You get to explore your town, your neighboring town or even go off track while on vacation. We’ve done things that I never thought we would do. We’ve trampled through the woods and even climbed a fallen tree bridge. We stood there for a minute and debated it, but the cache was right on the other side!

I’ve learned how to successfully use a compass to get to a location. I thought that compasses were outdated, but without one, I wouldn’t have found some of the caches we’ve found so far. I’ve found trails in my town that I didn’t know were there and they are now one of my favorite places to walk.

Geocaching is for all seasons. Some caches can only be reached in certain seasons because of overgrowth. We found our first cache in March. It was called “Gooseberry Island” and was located on one of the beaches in my town. We followed that up by a few more in March, one of them on the Cliff Walk in Newport and more hidden around town. Those were pretty easy to find. We didn’t have much to deal with for growth on the ground. Now, there is some overgrowth and it makes it a little harder.

As this piece comes to an end, I can say that I’m excited to go find my next cache and can’t wait for more to come. I love having a new sense for adventure and love exploring my town and the towns around me. Eventually, I hope that I will find all the caches in my town and even the next town over. I’m sure my mom and I can successfully do it.

Happy geocaching. Good luck, whether it’s your first or your 100th cache!