Long walks in nature with a treasure hunt. What more could you want?
Looking for a new hobby to get into while you’re at uni? Geocaching is a great way to take a break from studying and get outside. We’ve put together a guide with everything you need to know to help you get started.
What is geocaching?
Geocaching is a modern treasure hunt, using an app on your phone to find hidden caches, which are small containers holding the treasure. Once you’ve found the geocache, write your code name in the logbook, place the geocache back where you found it and then record your find on the Geocaching app.
Reasons to give it a go
It doesn’t cost the Earth! You can download the free Geocache app, and you’ll probably already have the rest of the equipment. Getting out and about can really help your physical and mental health and geocaching is basically going for a walk with a mystery attached to it. It’s also especially good for getting to know your local area.
Geocaching is an easy way to spend time with your friends by arranging to go geocaching with a small group. Or, if you’re feeling competitive, why not divide yourself into teams and compete against each other to find the caches? You could see if your university has a geocaching society; if there isn’t one, why not set one up yourself?
What you’ll need
- A GPS-activated mobile device, such as a smartphone, so you can download the Geocaching app
- Waterproof clothing
- A notebook to log your finds, or if you want to be more environmentally friendly, you can do this on the Geocaching app.
- A pen
- Thinking about hiding your own geocache? Then check out the guidelines on the official Geocaching website.
Our five top tips for finding a geocache
- Remember that geocaches are usually well hidden or camouflaged to look like everyday objects, such as rocks, bricks and tree stumps. Our best piece of advice is to use the hint in the app to help you find it.
- Geocaches also come in different sizes, so remember that you could be looking for an item ranging from the size of a small food container to a repurposed plastic pill tube.
- Think like a detective! Try to think about where the most likely place to hide the geocache.
- Look everywhere! Don’t just look at eye level. Remember, geocaches can be hidden underneath stones and benches or above you.
- Before searching for the cache, check its cache page on the app, which shows you the Difficulty and Terrain ratings to give you a better idea of what you’re looking for.
We hope we’ve shown you how fun geocaching can be! Head to the Geocaching app and type in your location to discover caches near you.
What hobbies are you bringing with you to university? Join our student panel and let us know. You’ll get 1000 reward points for signing up.
