Teachers, Treasure Hunts, and Technology!
Geocaching workshop engages all participants
April 29, 2010
It is described as a high-tech treasure hunt. All over the world people have hidden stashes and some of them are probably right under your nose! What is this worldwide phenomenon? Geocaching!
Last week Linda Loder uncovered many mysteries surrounding Geocaching for participants in her workshop, “Geocaching—Engaging Students in Geography, Science, Current Events, Math and P.E.” In this workshop participants talk about GIS technology and learn how it works. They also examine and familiarize themselves with the official Geocaching website, set up a free account and begin their journey! Then this workshop quickly becomes one of our most interactive as teachers hit the streets to find geocaches in the Salina area.
“It’s really a lot of fun,” says Loder. “I send the group out on their own because if I’m there I give the location away!”
After doing a little caching themselves, participants hide a stash for their community and monitor it online. “Most of the participants are surprised at how many stashes are already in their area!” says Loder “and a lot of the ones they stash are found within the first couple days!” The workshop also has participants write a lesson plan they can take back and use with Geocaching in the classroom and many people are surprised at how cross-curricular this activity can be.
“You can usually find all kinds of things and be able to connect them to different areas of education,” Loder explains, “It’s just a hoot! I’ve done geocaching with kids as young as four to high school age and even adults, they all have just as much fun!”
Interested in learning more about Geocaching? Join Linda Loder for one of her other Geocaching workshop opportunities on May 26-27 or July 29-30. Unavailable those dates? We try to offer this twice every summer and once during the school year so watch your Smoky Hill publications or click on the yellow “Calendar” button for more information or to register.
