Fidissimus

Here's a link to a great comparison of the two models... http://patrick-roeder.de/reviews/garmin_gpsmap_60CSx.htm I wound up getting the 60csx... it's been good to me.

Well living in the Pacific North West I'd say rain is just a wee little something I should be concerned about! Okay - so I'm totally convinced now that glass is out of the question (I was pretty convinced when I posted but this just confirms many of my thoughts) SO NO GLASS! And if I do use tupperware I promise not to buy the cheap stuff. Thanks for all the other cool ideas on containers too - I also found that thread about "cool cache containers" - It's puts the lowly ammo box to shame... Cheers~

THOUGHTS: Taking them caching and teaching them about caching seem to me to be two separate things. As as neophyte myself, I did a lot of "home schooling" on the sport before ever going out and locating my first cache. This is something I've wanted to do for about 4 years. I also knew I wanted to do it right and so took the time to research to varying degrees nearly every topic that was listed above. My point is I think learning about all the components first make it a much more valuable experience. I would worry that you wouldn't have enough time to cover it all in 16 hours in addition to getting out in the field and having them practice cache. I agree with those above that there's a lot of ground to cover before you even take one step out the door! As a former software instructor I'd be sure you really know your stuff before you attempt to teach. Adults ask the darndest questions! Do you think you could answer the more technical questions about triangulation, Apogee & Perigee, transponders, WAAS, etc... you never know what your students will know coming into the class. Some of them will have more knowledge about certain things that relate to a GPS or satellites than others. This is also a challenge that you will have to consider. How to educate those who know nothing on the subject without loosing the interest of those who come into the class with a bit of knowledge already. Also are you comfortable speaking in front of large groups of people? Sometimes it sounds easy, but then when you have to speak it might be a little intimidating. (Also points for public speaking - don't pace, don't constantly shift weight or tap a pen, when pausing to think don't say "uuuuh" or "mmmm" out-loud - this are all very distracting and take away from key points that you are trying to make.) I know you will probably attempt to teach this class anyway, so my recommendation is to BE PREPARED! CLASS IDEAS: After a basics course on the operation of a GPS and letting them find one or two caches that you've set up (Could all that be covered in day one?) I think for day two it would be fun to split your students into two groups and let each group create a cache and hid it (within a specified area). Then they swap coordinates and search for the other teams "treasure". Also other topics to cover: What all the symbols mean when looking a members found cache list (virtual, multi, traditional, mystery, event, etc...) How to post for help in the forums once the class has ended and they still have questions. REFERENCES: This is a link to an excellent Power Point presentation on Satellites and triangulation. It is set up as an HTML version, however if you click on the blue link at the top of the page you can download the actual Power Point presentation. If you want an excellent reference on survival, check out: SAS Survival Handbook: How to Survive in the Wild, in Any Climate, on Land or at Sea by John 'Lofty' Wiseman This is an excellent thread for ideas that go beyond the average tupperware or ammo can. Shown last I think it would really get their creative juices flowing and excited about all the possibilities that Geocaching has to offer... Good luck to you and happy caching!

*$&^@$& Crap! Okay it took me three days to read this post from top to bottom... yeah, yeah, yeah there were a lot of breaks in between - I've got kids, what can I say? Man! As a neophyte I thought - "Geocaching will be fun! How hard could it be? Go some places I've never been before, get some sun, go for a walk in the woods, find a cache." What a naive fool am I. I'm doomed... doomed I say! The good news is, now I can finally put that art degree to good use! Thanks for all the amazing ideas. Wow - I'm so impressed. Not only will I probably steal a few of these, but I hope to one day contribute to this thread with a few "originals". I also will be on the look out for more than just tupperware... you sneaky devils you! Thanks for the awesome thread. PS: I do worry about some of the "electrical" caches, especially when caching with kids - I don't want them to think it's okay to mess with that kind of stuff. It's one thing if an informed adult makes that decision, but children can't always distinguish between the game and the real thing. I would highly recommend marking these or at least making a note in the description for the hunt. (for the covered outlets, mark under the cover - the casual observer wouldn't bother it - a Geocacher might open the cover and see a mark and know it's okay to muck about with it... just a thought)

More effective? Yes.... but it doesn't have quite the same feel as the graveyard.

I picked up a great Title Nine bag that became my Geocache stash. It's perfect because it holds a bottle of water on the side and has two pouches under the front flap that fit the 60csx and my cell phone perfectly - they each get their own pouch. Then the inside is roomy for wallet and gloves, batteries, swag, small flash light, pens, zip lock bags, etc. And there's a zipper section in front for whatever and another outside pouch that a folded 8.5 x 11 piece of paper will fit in - if you printed out cache info. I couldn't be happier! Dimensions: 10"x81/4"x3 1/4".

Just remember do not leave food or candy otherwise the cache might get muggled by a Racoon... Thanks for the Toy Connection - love the Monster stuff! Way cool!

I've had good luck with shopping at TigerGPS. Plus if you find a rockin' good deal on some web site somewhere but don't trust to order from them you can order it from Tiger at their competitors listed price, "We are so sure that our prices are the lowest in the world that if you can find a better price anywhere for any item in our store, we will beat that price. Just fill out our form!" Which I did when I bought my GPS and they honored the lower price - it was great because it allowed me to pick up some accessories (like the rechargeable battery kit!) that I otherwise would've had to shell out extra $$ for.

Okay, it's gonna be pretty obvious I'm a mom with this question... I have tons of glass baby jars at my house from the hungry munchkin... While they are durable little containers, they are glass. Yet every time I look at an empty one I want to use it as a container for a cache. Is this a good idea or a bad one? My gut says "Do not use" - but I hate to just get rid of them...(yes they get recycled - but still...) What are your thoughts on using these? Or what other items do you use as containers (I've seen film canisters, Altoid tins and of course ammo cans - none of which come easily to me - I shoot digital, I'm allergic to some of the ingredients in Altoids and well I wouldn't even know where to get an ammo can) So am I left to purchase tupperware at the dollar store?

I have the same GPS as you and could cache okay with the provided base map... but I opted to up grade to the city guide - it was like a whole new world! I personally think it's totally worth it if you've got the $$ and patience to deal with installing it - unlock codes were not my friend! Remember to open the package all the way, not just enough to get the CD out - or you won't be able to find the unlock code sheet - annoying. Sheesh. Anyway, I picked up the topo software too, but have yet to install it; I haven't really needed it because I haven't been caching in a lot of off-road areas.... though there were a few times it would've come in handy... I've got to do that soon....

Or if you're feeling a little flush with cash for your cache... you can go HERE to buy cool pre-printed log books... My personal favorite is the piratey one... aarg!

YEA! That's so funny that you'd know that before I did... well maybe he came here and saw my post - "oh boo-hoo poor me...waaa, waaa, waaa...." lol And I'm a camera hound so of course I always take loads of photo's when I can. I've moved a few bugs along and always try to take pictures of them on their "adventures"... Geowoodstock - is the Travel Bug Graveyard virtual - something though this site? Or just something you do to commemorate the "life and death" of your TB's? Sorry about the 15 months - that's rough. LSP is a Gumby! Yea! That's really fun! Love the "Ahh, Much Better" picture... For anyone interested in checking it out go to Lone Star Pokey's Page Thanks again everyone for your nice thoughts and words! I guess I got myself all riled up for nothin'...

Okay, lesson learned. Don't make anything "nice" into a travel bug... I guess I'm out the $15 on this one. However I won't let it deter me from releasing more, I'll just have to be more creative with what kind of TB I release. It should be interesting but not valuable or desirable - now that's a challenge! By the way all my communication with individual was very polite and kind (you always catch more flies with honey than vinegar) and I'll give him the benefit of the doubt - my e-mails might have just been dumped into his junk-mail folder and he may have never even seen them. I came here to express how I was really feeling... 180 - he hasn't logged any new caches since picking up this bug (that I'm aware of - haven't checked recently, but otherwise a good thought). Personally I also I think your comment, "You left it in a cache. You should have said goodbye to it then." is off base. I wouldn't put a pot of plants on my front porch and "expect" them to be stolen because they aren't under lock and key. I guess I don't want to assume that any TB I put out there will be stolen just because it's in a cache (even if this is occasionally the reality). Auntie - you're the best!

Okay maybe some more experienced geocaching folks out there have some good advice or words of wisdom to share. I started caching in late spring and was really excited to get my first travel bug out there. I dropped him off in a cache and he was picked up the next day. Well that was on 6/25. The cacher who took him still has him. I e-mailed the guy a couple of times but never got a response. I'm not sure if it's "stolen" because he noted it's in his posession and he's got 8 TB's of his own, so you'd think he'd get it. Plus you can check when the last time someone logged into their account here - which he did last Friday. So I know he didn't slip off the face of the planet. I'm just frustrated! What do you do when someone picks up your TB and then just hangs on to it?

Uzturre, that link was made to order, eh? Good info, just what I was looking for. Thanks!

MCF - Thanks for the tip, but PC Nation's got it for $100 less than TigerGPS. Compare Prices for the 60csx. Neo_Geo - Thanks for your feedback. What are the best perf's to pick up when purchasing a GSP? I know it comes with a [crappy?] base map. Do you have to buy the software from Garmin or can you pick up NG Topo! or is that separate? Sorry to ask these basic questions, I just don't know... Thanks! PS: Don't worry - the coffee ALWAYS goes in the head hole, never on the computer... I'm too much of a junkie to let it go to waste like that...

I've never owned or used a GPS before but would like to take up geocaching. Which unit would you recommend? From reading here it looks like the csx has a few bugs to work out... also how much more did you spend on peripherals? maps, software etc.? Is the cs a better deal even though it's now the older version? I'm torn - ideas, thoughts, comments? Thanks for helping out a neophyte. Cheers~

1, 2, 3 geocashing

That's pretty funny!

Neophyte test...