Here at EverWalk, we like to walk with a purpose. . . and one purpose is finding ways to have more fun on your walks by turning them into games or adventures. Both activities are great ways for family or friends to walk together. That’s why geocaching and orienteering can turn outdoor exercise into a challenge anyone can enjoy!
WHAT ARE ORIENTEERING & GEOCACHING?
Here are the basics of orienteering:
• Use a map and compass to travel from point A to point B across forested terrain.
• Compete against other teams or individuals to see who finishes the fastest.
• Learn and practice navigation skills. Courses range from easy beginner routes to advanced challenges that can take hours to complete.
• Improve aerobic fitness while exploring outdoors.
And now for the basics of geocaching:
• It’s a worldwide scavenger hunt! Players search for hidden caches using a GPS unit or smartphone.
• To play, simply log into geocaching.com. Caches in your area are ranked from easy to extremely difficult. Geocaching is a great way to reach your 10,000 daily steps while exploring new places.
WHO BENEFITS?
Orienteering and geocaching not only provide fun physical activity. they also teach map-reading, geography, and engagement with your area. Check out this link for some great geocaching activities. https://www.geocaching.com/play
THE HISTORY OF GEOCACHING
Geocaching has grown rapidly during the past five years thanks to Pokémon and other adventure-based games. The activity makes the journey just as fun as reaching the destination. Think of it as a treasure hunt that takes participants off the beaten path to discover not only trinkets and “swag,” but also landmarks and locations they may never have explored otherwise.
Geocaching began in 2000 in Portland, Oregon. Since then, the phenomenon has expanded worldwide, with millions of hidden caches and active participants. In the early days, players needed a GPS device to get started. Today, smartphones make the game much more accessible.
The caches themselves come in many shapes and sizes and are sometimes cleverly disguised. Finding them can be simple or extremely challenging depending on the player’s skill level. Once players discover a cache, they sign the logbook. If the cache contains a trinket or prize, they trade it for an item they already have. Afterward, they return the geocache to its hiding place.
The beauty of geocaching is that it appeals to all ages. It also gives people an excuse to get off the couch and enjoy the outdoors, which helped make it especially popular during the pandemic.
So, if you're looking for a fun way to up your walking game, try geocaching or orienteering — and walk with a new purpose!
