Geocaching Lesson Plan
Camp Drake 2015
Parker Arnholt
Day: Monday
Requirements: 1,2,3
Materials: 1st Aid Scenarios, Term Definitions
Requirement #1:
 Do the following:
o Explain to your counselor the most likely hazards you may
encounter while participating in geocaching activities, and what
you should do to anticipate, help prevent, mitigate, and respond
to these hazards.
o Discuss first aid and prevention for the types of injuries or
illnesses that could occur while participating in geocaching
activities
o Discuss how to properly plan an activity that uses GPS, including
using the buddy system, sharing your plan with others, and
considering the weather, route, and proper attire.
Skit day! Have the class divide into patrols. If more than one patrol, give out a different
scenario to each patrol.
Scenario #1: A group of 8 Scouts hunts for a Geocaches on a nice Summer day. While
hunting for a Cache Scout 1 walks through a thorn bush getting cuts and scrapes. As he
was walking through the bush, he interrupted a bee, who proceeded to bite Scout 2.
Scout 2 is severely allergic to bee’s and has a epee pen in his back pack. Lastly, Scout 3
was determined to get the cache. As he approached the cache, he picked it up, and
underneath was a snake that bit him.
1. Explain how to treat each victim
2. Give 3 things that could happen to help prevent this.
Scenario #2: A group of 8 Scouts hunt for Geocaches on a nice Summer day. Scout 1
starts to feel dizzy, tired, and has a sever head ache. Scout 2, hasn’t put on sunscreen at
all today, and is getting very hot and red skin. Scout 3, has just walked through a patch
of poison ivy.
1. Explain how to treat each victim
2. Give 3 things that could happen to help prevent this.
After each patrol goes, go over why the Buddy System should be used, and why looking
at the weather before geocaching is good idea.
Requirement #3: Explain the following terms used in geocaching:
 Waypoint
 Log
 Cache
 Accuracy
 Difficulty
 Terrain ratings
 Attributes
 Trackable
 Cache to Eagle
 Clue (hint)
 DNF
 FTF
 GC (geocache) code
 GPS
 Travel Bug
 TFTC
Have the Scouts, in their patrols, chose at least 5 of the above terms to use in a skit. The
skit must be 1-2 minutes in length, and incorporate all Scouts and all terms.
Requirement #2:
 Discuss the following with your counselor:
o Why you should never buy a cache
You must respect other people, and that others want to find the cache. Burying a cache
is rude, and will not let other people find the cache, and enjoy geocaching as you did.
You don’t want the public tearing up gardens looking for that fake sprinkler head.
Since the GPS doesn’t take you to the correct spot, too many holes would be dug to find
the cache.

How to use proper geocaching etiquette when hiding or seeking a cache,
and how to properly hide, post, maintain, and dismantle a geocache.
To post a cache, go to www.geocaching.com and fill out the online form on the “Hide &
Seek a Cache” page. Write a description and add attributes. A volunteer will go and
test out the cache and if it passes your cache will be added to the public.
Once you hide a cache, it is your obligation to maintain the cache, and the area around
it. You will need to return to the site as often as needed to maintain the cache. If you
can not maintain it for at least six months, and no one will “adopt” the cache, you
should remove it. This mean take the physical container and any litter around the
hiding spot and dispose of it. Leave the location as you would before the cache was
there. (LEAVE NO TRACE)
Geocaching Lesson Plans
Camp Drake 2015
Parker Arnholt
Day: Tuesday
Requirements: 4,5
Materials: GPS, Maps, UTM system
Requirement #4: Explain how the Global Positioning System (GPS) works.
Then, using Scouting’s Teaching EDGE, demonstrate to your counselor the use
of a GPS unit. Include marking and editing a waypoint, changing field
functions, and changing the coordinate system in the unit.
• What does a GPS Do?
Tells you where to go
Tracks where you have been
Stores maps: topo, trails, street
Stores coordinates (waypoints, points of interest)
Communicates with Satellites out in space
• Three Segments
Space
• 24-30 satellites orbit around the earth at an altitude of about
12,550 miles
• Transmits position, orbit and location, and altitude
Control
• Satellites are tracked by US Air Force Monitoring Stations
scattered throughout the US.
• Ground stations will send navigation updates to the satellites
User
• GPS
• Uses data from satellites to calculate user’s position, altitude
and other data
• To sum it all up:
The GPS uses the time it receives the signal from the satellites to determine
location and altitude
The GPS only needs to receive data from 4 satellites to determine location. The
more received, the better the accuracy
• Interference: Factors that prevent GPS from receiving information from
satellites
Weather
Buildings
Trees
Canyons
• Takes longer for GPS to receive satellite signal
•
•
No GPS is 100% Accurate
Most GPS units will get you within 20 feet of a Geocache
Parker will need to familiarize himself with the GPS that Camp Drake has.
Make sure to know all the functions before Teaching.
Requirement #5:
 Do the following:
o Show you know how to use a map and compass and explain why
this is important for geocaching.
o Explain the similarities and difference between GPS navigation
and standard map reading skills and describe the benefits of
each.
Have Scouts in their Patrols first, use a map and compass to point to a point
designated on the map. Then have the Scouts brainstorm answers to similarities and
differences.
o Explain the UTM (Universal Transverse Mercator) system and
how it differs from the latitude/longitude system used for public
geocaches.
o Show how to plot a UTM waypoint on a map. Compare the
accuracy to that found with a GPS unit.
Parker will need to learn this. Going to discuss with Paul.
Geocaching Lesson Plans
Camp Drake 2014
Parker Arnholt
Day: Wednesday
Requirements: 6,7
Materials: Internet
Requirement #6: Describe to your counselor the four steps to finding your
cache. Then mark and edit a waypoint.
Requirement #7: With your parent’s permission, go to www.geocaching.com.
Type in your zip code to locate public geocaches in your area. Share with your
counselor the posted information about three of those geocaches. Then, pick
one of the three and find the cache.
Use the projector and grab internet from someone. Look up the caches in camp, and
then go find them!
Geocaching Lesson Plan
Camp Drake 2015
Parker Arnholt
Day: Thursday/Friday
Requirement: 9
Materials: GPS, Paper, Cache set up.
Requirement #9: Plan a geohunt for a youth group such as your troop or a
neighboring pack, at school, or your place of worship. Choose a theme, set up a
course with at least four waypoints, teach the players how to use a GPS unit,
and play the game. Tell your counselor about your experience and share the
materials you used and developed for this event.
Have the patrols come up with their own geohunt. Thursday, they will develop the
goehunt, and Friday they will swap and have the other patrol do their hunt.