Up until now geocachers needed to spend a good deal of time on Geocaching.com searching out caches in their area and uploading them into their GPS device.
Not any more.
Apisphere Inc. and Groundspeak (the geocaching.com people) teamed up to create a device pre-loaded with 250,000 current hidden caches. Muggles seeking to convert could saunter into REI, slap down a mere $69.95 and find a few caches on the way home.
This device named Geomate jr. is great for newbies and kids. It was designed specifically with kids in mind. Don't expect to plot out a trans-global trek through jungles and canyons. This device is dedicated to the 21st Century version of treasure hunt.
Geomate jr. is pretty much a one button operation according to the promo videos.
Getting kids out and about is part of the cooperative's goal. Apisphere, Groundspeak and REI are hoping to tap into the campaign to reverse the current couch-potato pandemic affecting American children.
Geocaching doesn't require backpacking through bear country or dropping gobs of money. It can be done withing biking distance from many places. Hunting for treasures is a fun and motivational way to get kids out of the house and on the move. My three-year-old asks me on a daily basis if we are going geocaching. In a few years this will be an ideal entry device for him so he can log his own finds.
Take the family to REI and check it out.
photo from press kit file at Apisphere
Comments
Hello Darcie:
AS always great article and a neat new product! I am writing to you from Iraq, just so you know that your audience is far reaching! :)
Chris
I understand that it costs extra to get a cable and to be able to update the listings. Since new caches are added on a regular basis, this seems like it would be necessary.
Groundspeak has a relatively inexpensive membership that lets you download cache listings and keep things up to date without too much trouble. And used gps units can be found on ebay that would give you greater flexibility.
But anything that gets kids out and about is good. I have hiked with my daughter up hills and ridges in search of a series of caches, where we never would have gone except for the caching adventure.
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