I hope I'm not lost

[+YSG and RedBeard]

Hello all, beginner here.

 

Myself and Redbeard are going camping for vacation next week and we thought it would be nice to take the Grandkids (6 and 4yr olds). The State Park does not have many activities for this age group, so we charged up the GPS eXplorist 400 and started to learn to use it. Gramps and I have found 4 local caches so there is not much experience here yet.

 

I've got the driving routes picked out and bookmarked some caches along the way so we can get some more experience in before getting the kids and take them trapesing off into the woods - you know so we don't look like total idiots.

 

Any other advice or tips before we venture out?

[+worstcaster]

Have a trail map will be very helpful. Figure out where the cache is in relation to the trail. May people have bushwacked straight through the woods, streams, steep hills, when they could have just hiked the nicely maintained trail. Mark the location where you parked your car as a waypoint. This way if you get turned around in the woods you can find your way back. Make sure to pack some swag with you in case the kids what to take anything from the cache. Remember travel bugs and geocoins are travelers and not trade able items.

[+YSG and RedBeard]

I actually did think of swag - I picked up some stickers, carabiners, mini coloring books, little cubes of sticky notes and some of these rubberband shaped things that the kids are raving about now.

 

But a trail map I did not think of. Hopefully I can grab one at the State Park.

 

Thank you!

[+hukilaulau]

Mark the location where you parked your car as a waypoint. This way if you get turned around in the woods you can find your way back.

 

Worth repeating. In fact, practice waypointing your location before you go, so that you're sure you not only know how to do the waypoint, but can find it again on your eXplorist. Also, carry a compass. At the very least, note which general direction you're heading when you leave the car, so if you lose your gps down a rabbit hole, you can head back in the opposite direction.

[GOF and Bacall]

Don't forget the most important part that Worstcaster mentioned. Waypoint the car. It is no fun if you get lost in the woods. Rather embarrassing if you do it with a gps in your hand. If you know how you could still use the tracks feature to get back, but easier if you just mark the waypoint at the car.

[+hukilaulau]

But probably not worth a duplicate post

(And I don't even know how I did it 18 minutes after the first one. Usually I get timed out after that long.)

Edited September 17, 2010 by hukilaulau

[+seabee89]

If you're taking the kids, take some water or other drinks for them. Don't forget the camera as well! When I first started taking my daughter, I found several good photo ops to have pics with her. Most of all, have fun.

[+SweetPea&Crew]

Double-check the Difficulty/Terrain levels on the caches in the park you're going to visit. When we started caching with our then six-year-old, we made the mistake of going after some caches that required very long hikes. She was up to some of them; others, we had to turn back (or carry her).

We also found out the hard way about marking a waypoint at the vehicle...

[+Bear and Ragged]

Mark where the car is parked!

 

The kids will enjoy it more if the caches aren't Micro/Nano size.

Check the size 'not selected' and 'other' caches aren't really Nano's...

[+YSG and RedBeard]

Waypoint - check. Drinks, camera, don't forget to Waypoint, double check D/Ts. Waypoint.

Will still have to grab a compass, as I've donated all of my old Scouting Stuff to the local Cub Scout Pack

 

Thanks All - I'm getting excited.

 

I went into my craft box last night and found some little zippy bags and some un-painted wooden trinket boxes. Thought the boxes would be a good way of teaching the kids a little bit about the GPS. Get to the campsite early enough and hide the boxes for them to find and then decorate, then they can use them to keep their Swag in. We've even picked up a second GPS (Triton 400). I've downloaded 21 caches for the trip, but we are taking the miniLaptop with us in hopes to connect up if we need more. Or the local Library should have connection.

 

Now to pack the car.

[+mdplayers]

Sounds like you've got it covered.

 

Have fun and report back when your trip is over. We'd all love to hear any good stories.

 

p.s. just thought you might need yet another reminder - mark the location of the car. LOL.

[sdarken]

With kids it's better to do less, than more. If you overdo it on one outing you'll have a tough time convincing them to come out again. As noted above, larger caches are generally better for kids but dont focus on the "treasure" aspect of the game or they are likely to be disappointed. Have fun!

[+YSG and RedBeard]

Thanks again all for the tips.

 

We have made it back unscathed, well at least the kids did. I have learned that as I age the eyes do not adjust to the darkness as they once did and a flashlight is becoming a necessary item to take to the latrine. Those helpful "fire pits" tend to get smaller after the sun goes down.

 

Anyway, we got a late start and did not get to stop along the route to find any caches. After picking up the kids, setting up camp and a good nights rest, we stopped in at the Visitors Center to ask about a trail map. The DNR Naturalist was very helpful in getting us set up with the map and teaching us little bit about reading it. He even let us know that two of the three trails in the Park were heavily laden with ticks and would wait until a cold snap hit to kill off the little buggers. And the third cache - he did not find last month when we went looking. So we searched in the local town - spent an hour looking in the wrong place for one micro - finally started over and found it. RedBeard and I need more practice - we called it a day.

 

Every night while the kids slept and with flashlight in hand, I placed the trinket boxes around the campground and marked them. With both GPS's this was easy - they couldn't wait until breakfast was over and the dishes done to get started. It became a race to see who could find their box first.

 

O' the one cache that the Naturalist couldn't find last month was still there. We found it on the second to last day we were there and found a really wonderful piece of history to boot.

[+hukilaulau]

Woot!

waydago!!

[+michigansnorkelers]

"Every night while the kids slept and with flashlight in hand, I placed the trinket boxes around the campground and marked them. With both GPS's this was easy - they couldn't wait until breakfast was over and the dishes done to get started. It became a race to see who could find their box first. "

 

Great Idea! This kept it simple; the grandkids enjoyed themselves; and everyone left with pleasant memories!

 

Glad you had a great time!