Our family enjoys a quickly growing past-time: Geocaching. We use a high tech GPS device to find "hidden treasure", usually a container of some sorts in which a log book and perhaps some trinkets for the taking (one to a family, please!) The idea is to use your GPS and some coordinates downloaded from the internet to find the treasure. Once found, you sign the log book ( or in the case of letterboxing stamping the image of your personal rubber stamp), take a trinket-replacing it with a trinket of your own-and putting the container back in its concealed location. Geocaching is the high tech version of Letterboxing...long a favorite past-time in Europe. Our family enjoys geocaching as it gets us outdoors doing something fun together...all the while teaching our wee chicks about longitude and latitude and the basics of orienteering (finding your way with a compass or GPS device). The great thing about Geocaching is it doesn't have to cost much other than your time and the initial cost of the GPS device...and if high-tech is not in your budget or lifestyle letterboxing is the way to go.
We have not geocached yet... but have considered doing it in the past... maybe we'll start this summer, maybe next, we'll see! Being in Alaska, I think I'd rather start in the summer! :)
I happened across your link on the elementary Apologia group and came over to take a look. My best girlfriend (and family) got my family hooked on geocaching and we have been having fun ever since. It is a learning opportunity in so many different areas and it is something the whole family can enjoy together. We now have a geocaching notebook we take with us that is helping us stay more organized as we search for Tupperware using billion dollar satellites!
Just the simple thoughts on life, children, books, nature, and God (to name a few) of an imperfect Christian momma as she ventures forth in search of the Sweet Life...
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Saturday, March 17, 2007 - Untitled Comment
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