How do you make geocaching fun and accessible for scouts of different ages and abilities?

1 Choose the right difficulty and terrain

Geocaches are rated by their difficulty and terrain, from 1 (easy) to 5 (hard). You can use these ratings to select geocaches that suit your scouts' skills, interests, and physical abilities. For example, you might want to start with low-difficulty and low-terrain geocaches for younger or less experienced scouts, or challenge older or more adventurous scouts with higher ratings. You can also filter geocaches by size, type, and attributes on the official website or app.

2 Prepare for the hunt

Before you head out to find geocaches, make sure you have everything you need to make the hunt safe and enjoyable. You should have a GPS device or smartphone with the geocaching app or coordinates, a map and compass, a pen or pencil, some items to trade, and a first aid kit. You should also check the weather, dress appropriately, and bring water and snacks. Don't forget to follow the Leave No Trace principles and respect the environment and property where the geocaches are located.

3 Engage your scouts

Geocaching can be a great opportunity to engage your scouts in learning and fun activities. You can use geocaching to teach them about navigation, geography, history, nature, or any other topic related to the location or theme of the geocaches. You can also make geocaching more fun by creating teams, setting goals, rewarding achievements, or adding challenges. For example, you could ask your scouts to find clues, solve puzzles, take photos, or collect items along the way.

4 Track and share your progress

Geocaching is not only about finding geocaches, but also about logging and sharing your experiences. You should always sign the logbook inside the geocache and trade items if you wish. You should also log your find online on the geocaching website or app, where you can write a comment, upload a photo, or mark a favorite. You can also track and share your progress with your scouts by creating a group profile, earning badges, joining events, or creating your own geocaches.

5 Adapt to different scenarios

Geocaching can be done in different settings, seasons, and situations. You can adapt geocaching to fit your scouting program and goals. For example, you can do geocaching in urban or rural areas, in parks or forests, or along trails or roads. You can also do geocaching in different seasons, as long as you check the availability and accessibility of the geocaches. You can also do geocaching in different situations, such as during camping trips, hikes, or service projects.

6 Have fun and be safe

The most important thing about geocaching is to have fun and be safe. Geocaching can be a rewarding and exciting activity for scouts of different ages and abilities, as long as you follow the guidelines and rules of geocaching. You should always respect the geocache owners, other geocachers, and the general public. You should also be aware of the potential hazards and risks of geocaching, such as wildlife, weather, traffic, or terrain. And you should always have a plan B in case something goes wrong or you can't find the geocache.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?