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The true treasures of Scouting are the values that we teach our youth, helping them grow with character and integrity. Through the Treasures of Scouting series of public caches, we’ll highlight Scouting values while getting Scouts and non-Scouts alike excited about the programs we offer.
Give kids a palm-size computer, tell them to hunt for hidden treasure, and watch them go! That’s just what we do through geocaching, a high-tech scavenger hunt that’s already adding excitement to outdoor Scouting programs nationwide.
The premise of the game is simple: Players hide and seek containers—called “caches” or “geocaches”—outdoors using GPS navigation devices. Then, they go online to Geocaching.com to report what they’ve found and give clues to others that might want to seek what they just hid.
Geocaching can be much more than a fun unit activity, though. As part of our 100th Anniversary Celebration, we’re using geocaching to get at a goal that’s important to every Scouter: membership recruitment and retention. Through the Get in the Game! program, Scouts and non-Scouts alike will be invited to join the adventure. In addition to inviting them to participate in events, we’ll also reach out to kids that are actively involved with geocaching, but not Scouting.
“Kids today are captivated by technology,” said Mary Stevens, Advisor of Crew 84 in San Rafael, Calif. and Get in the Game! Volunteer Lead. “This is a great way to introduce them to how much fun Scouting can be, and on their terms.”
On top of introducing youth to Scouting, Get in the Game! teaches lessons that parents will appreciate. Lessons like leadership, problem solving, cooperation, teamwork, respect for nature, and— in true Scouting form—orienteering.
“We haven’t replaced the map and compass, but GPS is a great addition,” Scout Executive Matt Devore said. “We’re celebrating 100 years of Scouting in America by showing we’re just as exciting, action-oriented, and relevant for today’s kids as we were when our journey began.”
This program is also a great way to find and reconnect with Scouting alumni who are active in the sport. One Scouting alumnus that found a cache wrote in the logbook, “Wow. Didn't know the BSA is getting into geocaching. Makes me wish I had contact with a troop or pack again.”
Caches are being hidden from Salem to Longview. And everyone (Scout or not) is invited to seek them out. Go to www.geocaching.com , and type in “CPCBSA Treasures of Scouting” . to find out where they’re stashed. But, don’t venture out empty-handed. Geocaching etiquette states you can take a prize from a cache, but only if you leave another in its place. For our 100th Anniversary Celebration, we’re tapping into the fun and excitement of geocaching to impact important council goals like membership and volunteer recruitment. What better way is there to get kids to join Scouting than to show just how much fun it can be? Through Get in the Game! geocaching events, Scouts and non-Scouts alike will participate in fast-paced, high-tech treasure hunts. This is a great way to share Scouting skills—and outdoor adventure—with a generation captivated by technology. It also provides a great way to share the excitement of the 100th Anniversary Celebration while highlighting core Scouting values.
About Geocaching
Geocaching is a relatively new sport, started in 2000 by an engineer in Portland, Oregon. In less than a decade, it has grown to over six million active players. The premise of the game is simple: Players hide and seek containers—called ―caches or ―geocaches —outdoors. Then, they go online to report what they’ve found and give clues to others that might want to seek what they just hid. For more information about this exciting sport, read ―A Guide to Geocaching by the experts at www.geocaching.com . Geocaching is extremely popular. People who try it, love it! And geocachers are often outdoor-enthusiasts with Scout-age children—exactly the kind of people we try to reach time and again. In fact, a lot of geocachers are themselves Scouting alumni. The synergy, and the opportunity, is tremendous.
The geocaching authorities at Groundspeak, creators of Geocaching.com, have partnered with the BSA to take Get in the Game! to a new level. The standard membership is free and easy to join. Having a free membership allows you to search for caches in your area and allows you to log your finds on the website for each cache. Remember to create your free account at www.geocaching.com and search for “CPCBSA Treasures of Scouting” . Then head out and have fun finding our caches.
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