geocaching

Addicted.  Yep...that's all I can say about this outdoor activity!  If you are the type that enjoys a good adventure (like this family), loves being outdoors (also like this family) and loves treasure hunting (who doesn't?) then geocaching is for you!  This is something we have been meaning to try for a few years now, and just recently have got involved...like 4 days ago!  In a nutshell, geocaching is similar to a scavenger hunt, just with a GPS.  You basically find a geocache that you want to hunt for (via a website), download the info to your GPS, head off to your destination and start hunting!  The fun part however, is the finding.  Once you find the geocache, you log your find into the book provided, take a treasure, and leave treasure in its place.  Simple!  Now I must admit that the first few tries we came up empty handed.  I am not a technologically savvy person, so it took me a few trips to figure out how to use the GPS properly.  I am no expert in using it, but the bare minimum is just enough to locate the cache's. 

Aidan was all over learning how to read the GPS and find these cache's.   We ventured out with Grandma and Grandpa after dinner one night, and after a little bushwhacking, showers of pine needles, and trudging through thistle bushes and cobwebs.....we found our very first geocache!

Thanks to Grandpa Werkman's keen eyes, we located the treasure at the base of a tree, buried under brush and logs.  Aidan was grinning from ear to ear as he carefully examined the cache contents and selected his prize, and left one in its place.  After replacing the cache like we found it, it was off to locate the next one.  We ended up being 3 for 3 that evening, and left the trails with a feeling of all around excitement.  We are now officially addicted!