Mount Pleasant fathers Todd Allen, David Garris and Scott Balach weren’t quite sure what they were about to experience when they took their sons to a recent geocaching program at James Island County Park, but they were excited to find out.

Balach, the boys’ Scout leader, found it listed in the Charleston County Parks’ winter program guide and thought it looked fun – and Cub Scout Pack 505 members are all about adventure and trying new things.

“It didn’t exactly explain it in the book,” he says.

CCPRC is joining a long list of area organizations offering geocaching programs as the phenomenon continues to grow and become more popular in the Lowcountry.

And as more people began to ask about it, the commission responded by offering programs to teach and implement geocaching within the park system.

What is it exactly?

Groundspeak, a company with three Web sites that inspire outdoor play using location-based technology, is a forerunner in the geocaching world.

Groundspeak’s most popular site is Geocaching.com.

Jen Sonstelie, marketing manager for Groundspeak, says the game of geocaching is popular in the Northwest because that is where it originated, but it can be quite mysterious to those living in the Southeast.

“It’s one of those things that’s very hard to describe, and so it’s very much a word of mouth thing,” she says. “You can describe it as much as you want, but people really need to go and try it and once they try it, they get it. It’s exciting.”

Basically, geocaching is a technical scavenger hunt. Someone hides a container that contains something inexpensive (called a cache) and records its latitude and longitude on a Global Positioning System (called a waypoint). The person provides a clue for others to use to locate the hidden cache, and then posts the clue and waypoint on the Internet so players can try to find it.

Geocaching is a flexible game. It can be as complicated or as simple, as expensive or inexpensive as one wants to make it; but in the end, the overall goal is to get outside, explore and have fun.

Sonstelie says the game gets people who are accustomed to being inside with their gaming consoles off of the couch and outside – still with a technological gadget in hand. It gets people who would otherwise be more sedentary outside and walking around.

The game can be paired with any outdoor activity, such as boating or scuba diving. It can be incorporated into a field trip, birthday party or even become an inexpensive and fun afternoon activity for families.

Sonstelie says the game’s one common goal is a good way to bring families and friends together.

“My personal favorite part about it is that people often complain lately that technology is taking away social interactions and this uses technology to bring people back together.”

Discovering new places

Sonstelie says Groundspeak estimates that there are 940,000 geocaches hidden around the world. The company hopes to hit 1 million early this year.

It’s fun to geocache while traveling in order to discover unique places while visiting other cities, she says.

“People will hide geocaches in really interesting locations and often the geocache description page will contain a little bit of history or background of the location. So when you’re visiting a new city and you read all about the event that happened at this location where they hid that geocache.”

For families it’s important to know the game is adaptable. They can hunt for a cache that is nearby or make it a daylong adventure and look for many in the area.

On a local level, Sonstelie says the game helps people discover places that are “really in your backyard that otherwise you would have no idea about.

“Have you ever come across those little parks that are kind of hidden away and tucked in a corner? People will often hide geocaches in places like that to bring locals to strange or interesting places.”

There are many caches hidden all around the tri-county area just waiting to be found.

Charleston County parks are just one example of many places where one can find caches in this area. People are allowed to leave permanent caches at the county parks, as long as they follow established policies.

If guidelines aren’t followed, the container might be thrown away and the owner cited for littering.

For example, certain areas of the parks are off limits for geocaching.

“It can’t exceed a certain distance from a trail. We don’t want people bushwhacking through the woods,” says Oliver Sendall, CCPRC program coordinator.

However, geocaching scavenger hunts are welcome in the parks, just let staff know the plan and don’t place caches too far into the woods.

Intro to geocaching

Oliver Sendall coordinates the geocaching programs for CCPRC.

His program is a mini version of actual geocaching games which often span miles and require travel or driving to locate.

The CCPRC course allows new players to learn about geocaching in a less formal setting and in an environment where they can stop and ask questions if necessary. It’s also a contained game where participants walk from point to point while familiarizing themselves with the use of a GPS system.

Using and reading a GPS unit isn’t difficult, Sendall says.

“Your waypoint is the latitude and longitude you’re following to get to where you’re going. Once you are at the waypoint you use the clue (or clues) given to locate the actual cache itself.”

In his program, he chooses landmarks that are easily identifiable instead of hiding caches randomly on the side of a trail.

“That way if someone is having trouble finding it, we can give them clues as to where it is located.”

Geocaching, he says, builds teamwork skills and is a fun way for parents and children to bond, get exercise and discover new places and new things.

“It’s good for families. It’s a little adventure every time you do it.”

Want to get involved?

Passport to Geocaching is being offered Feb. 20 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at James Island County Park. Teams of up to eight members are welcome. Cost is $5 each for members and $6 each for nonmembers. This class is for ages 8 and older. Call 795-4FUN (4386) or visit www.ccprc.com to register.

Geocaching, a two-day program is being offered at St. Andrews Parks and Playground gymnasium Jan. 28, 6–8 p.m. and Jan. 30, 12:30–5 p.m. and Feb. 25, 6–8 p.m. and Feb. 27 12:30–5 p.m. Cost is $55 for both sessions. For more information call 763-4360 or visit www.standrewsparks.com.

Lowcountry Geocaching is a local Facebook group that offers an online community of local people and families who geocache.

Groundspeak offers many national and local resources for geocachers.Basic membership is free; premium membership costs $30 per year. Visit Geocaching.com.

Want to set up your own? Be sure to read Set up your own geocaching scavenger hunt in 5 easy steps