My wife and if just finished our “babymoon,” our last hurrah before our little girl is expected to be born in September. We traveled up the Blue Ridge Scenic Parkway and then went to Washington D.C. for the 4th of July fireworks. We have been interested in Geocaching for a couple of years now and try to find a Cache in every state we visit while on vacation. If you are unfamiliar with Geocaching, watch this informative video.
Basically, you use a gps enabled device with a Geocaching app to locate a hidden cache of stuff. You then log your findings and take/add your own stuff.
While in Washington D.C., the closest Cache to our hotel was hidden on the back of a church welcome sign, the kind with the replaceable letters in a glass case. It was a “micro-cache” attached by a magnet to the back of the metal case. Here’s a picture of the church on the corner with the sign:
Now your church may already have a geocache, anyone can add them. To find out search for your local area at http://www.geocaching.com/.
While looking for the cache we learned some interesting facts about the church. For instance, it was designed by Adolf Cluss, the same architect that designed the “Castle” building of the Smithsonian.
This is why your church needs a geocache.
Having a cache will open up your church to an audience of Geocachers and allow them to learn something about who you are. You may even run into them while they’re trying to locate your cache, the perfect opportunity to start up a conversation. Plus, having a cache will make you “cool” by associating yourself with an extremely geeky hobby. It will show people that your church is technologically literate and forward thinking.
Here’s step-by-step instructions for creating a cache at your church. It would make a great youth activity.
http://www.geocaching.com/about/hiding.aspx
Happy Caching.