Geocaching Heather Raniolo, Richard Geiger & Corey Wilcox PHED Module 4: High School Dr. Mangano Springfield College 3/6/14

What is Geocaching? ●Geocaching is a real-world, outdoor treasure hunting game using GPS-enabled devices. ●Participants navigate to a specific set of GPS coordinates and then attempt to find the geocache (container) hidden at that location. ●

To get started.. ●Register for free membership online ●Visit “Hide and Seek a Cache” page ●Enter postal code and search ●Choose geocache to locate ●Enter coordinates into GPS device ●Use GPS to find the geocache ●Once found sign the log-book and return ●geocache to original spot ●If you take something from geocache, ●leave something of equal value

What is needed? ●GPS device ●GPS-enabled mobile phone ●Geochaching.com free membership ●Geocaching is located all around the world!

Incorporate Geocaching in PE! You can incorporate Geocaching into a PE class by having student break up into groups, and trying to find the different locations around town or even around the school. You can have it so when the students get to a location, the students have to do a certain type of exercise, then once it is completed, the students will find a new location, and complete a new exercise. Like a scavenger hunt Students can improve critical thinking and problem solving skills.

Assessment You can use this tool to assess your students with their communication, working with others, their exercises at each station. You can also work with the social studies teachers in the school, to incorporate using a map, coordinates, etc. At the end of the class, the students have have a journal assignment where they can talk abou the activity; what went well, what did not go well, if they had fun. It can be collected and read by the teacher.

Current Trends Geocaching is not commonly used in physical education. We feel that in the next few years, more and more physical education programs will start using them because it is an easy way to incorporate technology along with social studies into physical education. Becoming more popular within fitness and blogging

Theres an App for that ●Tips, hints and instructions to guide through first adventures. ●For beginners ●Free ●Has 2 million hidden coordinates across the world ●Different difficulties of choice ●$9.99

References healthy/fitness/fitness-trend-geocaching