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Written by Bret Hammond
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It’s amazing to see how much handheld GPS units have advanced since the beginning of the 21st Century. In the early days these “bricks” were huge, heavy, clunky and nowhere near as accurate as they are now. They possessed rudimentary functionality in comparison to even today’s most inexpensive models. You cannot deny that geocaching has significantly impacted the manufacturing of GPS’s. When Garmin first updated the eTrex to include geocaching icons it was big news. The world had noticed our little game. Now, entire models are marketed specifically for geocaching. Recreational GPS usage is a major factor in this high-tech marketplace. |
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Written by Bret Hammond
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Travel bugs have a bad habit of disappearing. We take a lot of steps to make sure they get where they're going. We put them in ziplock baggies, we print out info sheets and laminate them, we carefully record their numbers and keep the copy tags "just in case" something goes wrong.  One of the problems I've noticed with travel bug info sheets is they're just too big for a lot of caches. And while they identify the travel bug and its goal, they don't fully cover the problem of new cachers who just don't know how to log and take care of a trackable.
The Travel Bug Travel Guide addresses both those issues. It fold into a neat 8 page "zine" format and provides the space you need to add important information about the bug, its mission and its owner. There's also plenty of information about how to log and care for a travel bug in your possession. It can be a little tough to fold a zine for the first time, so plan on making a couple mistakes. Basically you want to fold on every line so you have eight individual panels. After that, cut on the dotted line in the middle two panels and fold it so the cover and back are on the outside. If you're still having trouble check out the video in the "read more" link. Travel Bug Travel Guide
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Written by Bret Hammond
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 Ten pages coloring and activity fun! Bring along some crayons and pencils and pass out the pages to the kids (and maybe an adult or two). In addition to the coloring pages there's a word search, jumble and crossword puzzle.
The pages can be printed out individually or as a book. This is a great way to give kids something to do at the event that's just for them. I've had emails from some event hosts that have used the coloring pages as a contest for kids at their events. Be sure to bring a few extra prizes to give out! Download the Coloring Book |
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Written by Bret Hammond
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Vehicle PlacardPart of camouflage is making yourself look like you're supposed to be there. Some geocachers carry clipboards with them, others wear hardhats. I'm always amazed at how few people question me when I'm wearing an olive green hat. Somehow I look like a park employee. One man even thanked me for my surveying work while I was geocaching once! This printable not only provides a bit of camouflage but also identifies who you are and what you're doing. When people see a strange vehicle parked alongside the road, having a placard explaining what you're doing will go a long way to relieve them of their suspicions.  The design has two text areas (the large white rectangles. One side is for "Vehicle/Owner Contact Information." You can use this area to enter your name, address, even cellphone number if you're comfortable with that. The other side simply says, "Geocache Identification." Text can also be entered on this side, but the real purpose is for you to enter either the GC# for the cache or the coordinates themselves in this space.
To do that, lamination is essential. Once it's laminated you can write on the placard with a dry erase marker and wipe it off when you return to the vehicle. We don't always think about what could go wrong when we're geocaching, but even a quarter mile walk into the woods can turn into an emergency situation. All it takes is stumbling over one rock and breaking a leg and suddenly that simple hike becomes dangerous. Letting people know where you are is just plain smart. This design goes a long way towards both identifying what you're doing and keeping you safe. Click Here to Download |
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