Geocaching App

Summary of the Tool

Geocaching an online treasure hunt app. People use Global Positioning System (GPS) on their mobile device to find the “hidden” items. There are three versions that people can download; a free introductory version that shows “geocaches” within 10 miles of current location. There is $9.99 version that will allow you to search outside your current location and the premium version which is $30 for a year that lets the subscriber search for specific types of geocaches as well as other enhanced benefits.

Pedagogical Uses

This is a fun app for EVERYONE that wants to be a treasure hunter for a day using technology. It also helps students use maps, GPS coordinates, and technology together to find specific locations. One of the great features is once you decide on a which geocache you would like to search for you find out the last time someone was there, how easy (or not) it was to find and other comments including the history of the geocache location, etc.


How to do it

Prior to beginning treasure hunting an account must be created using a valid email address on Geocaching. After creating your account and selecting your version your treasure hunting adventure can begin.

Screencast/ Screenshots

Limitations

In the free version you only able to find geocaches within 10 miles and paid versions offer more in depth searches. The $9.99 (one time charge) version will let users search any location and give you access to every geocache available. The premium subscription version let’s you do all of the above as well as let’s you create your our geocaches for others to find. The premium version has a lot “extra” to offer but also carries a heavy price tag.

Conclusion

Geocaching is an excellent way to use technology and explore the outdoors. The different versions give users the option to ease their way into their treasure hunting adventure. The mobile app versions available for iOS/Android users make it easy/challenging to participate in this worldwide search.

Revision History/Audit Trail

Originally posted on 8/5/2014 by Anne Marie Lanning