Geocaching TEXAS Style

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD): Geocaching in Texas State Parks

Texas State Parks Geocache Challenge Coordinates

(Check with the park before your visit to make sure it will be open.)

Want to learn more?

• Attend a geocaching workshop. Visit our Events page to find one near you.
• Sign up for geocaching e-mail updates. Learn about special theme challenges, special event caches and more!
• Purchase a Texas State Park Pass. With the pass, you and your guests can enter any state park for free for one year! Purchase the pass at most state parks or call (512) 389-8900.
• Learn how to hide a geocache on state park lands. Download the Geocache Placements information sheet. You must get approval from a park's superintendent before placing a geocache in that park.
• Questions?  E-mail txgeo@tpwd.state.tx.us 

Introduction to Geocaching - Texas Parks and Wildilfe [Official]

by

Texas Parks and Wildlife

Look for online resources like message boards, community geocache associations and Facebook groups.

• Visit the Learn section on Geocaching.com.
• Find a Geocaching 101 workshop in your area on our Events page.
• Join the Texas State Parks Geocache Challenge.
• Download guidelines for hiding a geocache on a TPWD property.
• Sign up for e-mail updates about geocaching.com.

 

Also visit the Texas Geocaching Association - Site News and Updates



Look for

Texas Geocaching Association (TXGA)

Updates and News such as:

• Cache of the Week
• Events
• Contests
• TXGA Store
• Forum
• TXGA Geocaching Education Events Calendar

:) Creative Geocache Containers

Go to:  19 Ridiculously Creative Geocache Containers

playcreateexplore.com

GeoGuessr game fun!

If you like geocaching, then you will probably like this game called GeoGuessr!

 

  GeoGuessr is a web-based geographic discovery game designed by Anton Wallén, a Swedish IT consultant.   

The free game uses Google's Street View images and Maps, which drops the player in random locations, challenging them to decipher where they are.

Go now, and explore the world!!!

GeoGuessr.com

 

 

 



External links

Wikipedia Categories:

• Geography educational video games
• Google Street View
• Browser games

An amazing urban puzzle geocache :)

Luvin' this urban puzzle geocache site in Germany!

"We’ve Got Urban Geocaching on Lock — QuadLockLog (GC330KJ) — Geocache of the Week"

Geocaching.com Presents: LOST Places - GERMANY 'Stadt im Wald'

Upon discovering this Geocaching YouTube video, I felt reanimated because a few months ago I decided to start trying to learn the German language.  Although, to be honest it has been slow going since I am attempting to teach myself German through various online lessons, etc.  Even though I still have a lot of Deutsch lernen to do, I was happy to be able to understand a few words such as:

• Stadt [shtat] = City
• Wald [valt] = Forest

So then, 'Stadt im Wald' in English means 'City in the Forest'.

• mein Name ist (insert your name here) [miyn nahmuh ist] = My name is ...
• und mein Geocaching Name ist ... = and my geocaching name is ...
• alten Plätze [alten pletsuh] = old places
• klein [kliyn] = small
• The word 'Geocaching' [GEE-oh-cashing] is a no brainer.

Anyways, maybe this will inspire some of you to learn another language, and expand your Geocaching territory!

Check out the German 'Word of the Day' app on the right side of this blog. -->

Note:  This video is spoken entirely in German. Click the CC button for English or German subtitles.



About this video:

 

Watch the first Geocaching.com Presents video from Germany. Join a group of German geocachers as they explore a Lost Place cache. Lost Place Caches takes geocachers to a location that has been all but forgotten by time. Follow a group of geocachers as they search an abandoned Soviet military base. It's located in what used to be East Germany.

----------------------

Sehe das erste "Geocaching.com Presents" Video aus Deutschland. Schließ dich der Gruppe von deutschen Geocachern an, als sie einen Lost Place, der sie zur einer ehemaligen sowjetischen Militärbasis führt, erforschen.

 

Geocache Location of reference:

Brandenburg, Germany

N 53°03  E 013° 22

(“Stadt im Wald” GC17K3A GEOCACHE OF THE WEEK – June 6, 2011)

 

This Geocache looks like so much freakin’ fun!   :D 

If you are planning a VaCachen, you may also want to read these posts:

• Planning Your Next VaCachen
• 5 Reasons to Geocache Around the World
• I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For ... Ireland's Best Caches
• Vaya geocaching en Chile!

UPDATE:

Sadly, I have to report that this popular Multi-Cache is no longer.  After the demolition of parts of the site, damage allegedly caused by geocachers, and too many visitors in the late evening hours, the final access point has been sealed forever by the forester.  The owner of the cache (hornesia caches) has terminated the cache.
"City in the forest (GC17K3A) was undoubtedly one of the most famous German Lost Places caches. Was similar to known really just "The Ruins of prow" which was sent to the archive forever also a few weeks ago."

R.I.P. Stadt im Wald

Never fear!  There are still thousands of geocaches to find throughout Germany and Europe.

Geocaching in Deutschland Geocaching.de - Die deutschsprachige Informationsplattform über das Hobby Geocaching in Deutschland.  (The German-language platform for information on the hobby of geocaching in Germany.)

Geocaching and Surviving Zombie Outbreaks?

(WARNING: Graphic Content May Not Be Suitable for All Viewers)

"Geocacher’s Guide to Surviving a Zombie Outbreak"

Even though this Latitude 47 blog post is more of a promotion to sell geocaching gifts and gear, you have to give them props for their clever way to grab people's attention. For instance, the link labeled "13 essentials to survive a zombie outbreak", which takes you to geocaching.com's holiday gift shop.

(zombie-blog-picture from Latitude 47)

I have to admit that I have also been caught up with the current Zombie phenomenon sweaping the world. The Walking Dead, 28 Days Later, and Resident Evil are a few of my favorites!

(Watch every 'Walking Dead' zombie kill ever)

(28 Days Later... (2002) - IMDb)

(Six Reviewers Really Can’t Agree On Resident Evil 6)

Why are Zombies so popular today? It may be due to the economic hardships we have been dealing with in recent years. Zombies could symbolize the feelings we have of helplessness and hopelessness in our societies. Either that or we simply enjoy the gore and excitement of watching characters like Rick Grimes of The Walking Dead and other regular folk much like ourselves, slashing zombies heads with a machete, axe, etc.

Zombies or not, it's always good to be prepared!

I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For ... Ireland's Best Caches

Geocaching Ireland Links:

www.geocaching.com "Ireland - Best Caches (shared, public)"

Geocaching Ireland @ www.geocachingireland.com

JoeVlogsTV's channel (Irishman, vlogger, geocaching enthusiast)

trackable Geocaching Ireland coin

from Geocaching Ireland (www.geocachingireland.ie)

Riddle Me This?

How to Make a Puzzle Geocache

Vaya geocaching en Chile!

Go Chile is a online travel agency offering consulting services and reviews on hotels in Chile, tours, cruises, flights and car rental deals.

GoChile.com offers up some insight and advice on geocaching in Chile:

Where to Practice

Although the sport is very recent, nearly 340.000 hidden caches exist in more that 130 countries around the world. The numbers in South America are growing, with about 500 caches (as of Nov, 2006) and Chile being the most developed geocaching country with around 165. We hope that soon more gocachers will unite us.

Geocaching is not solely about searching, but also hiding caches. For more information on how to hide caches, refer to Geocaching.com.

You can search geocaches in Chile, from Geocaching.com with the link below:

* Geocaches in Chile

Recommendations

- Take the same precautions that you would when you go on a hike or trekking trip.
- Advise or warn someone about your travel itinerary
- Take a map, water, sun protection and a flashlight in case the night catches you in the way.
- Do not underestimate the time for the trip. The distance of the GPS indicates a direct route.
- Choose a cache in accordance with the difficulty and your abilities as well as the people who are accompanying you.
- It is convenient that you familiarize yourself with the area through a topo map and identify the possible obstacles and dangers.

-----
While you are in Chile, you might also want to plan a trip to Rapa Nui island (aka Easter Island, Spanish: Isla de Pascua). Do a little more geocaching and sightseeing amongst ancient stone statues, called "moai" by the islanders.

The "GeoKs”(JEE-oh-kays) chronicled their island geocaching adventure on their blog, Geocaching Around the World – Chile (Rapa Nui), which also includes some awesome photographs!

-----
Got a case of Wanderlust? Thinking about living abroad? A US expat currently living in Chile, Leslie Foreman's site (www.leslieforman.com) has some great tips on how to become a global citizen! Also, read her article on Brazen Life; How to Launch Your Career Overseas.

GPS Coordinate Converter/Mapper Online Tools

Check out some of Jeff Boulter's handy GPS tools at boulter.com.

We've used the GPS Coordinate Converter to plot multiple waypoints on one map. It is fairly easy to use, but it would be nice if it had better map printing options other than just printing the web page, and the map view area could be larger. This tool also converts coordinates into different formats of Latitude and Longitude data such as in decimal degrees(WGS84), degrees/minutes/seconds, GPS, and UTM.

Ducktivities? Duct-Tape Crafts Ideas

According to www.duckbrand.com, "Ducktivities are what we call fashion, crafts or anything else made using Duck Tape®." Go there for more tips and ideas.

It also comes in handy on a camping or hiking trip. ( Uses for Duct Tape While Camping - ehow.com ) Maybe you could come up with some creative duct-tape ideas for geocaching swag, containers, etc.

You might have seen those cooky MythBusters tv shows on the Discovery Channel, where they make a duct-tape bridge or a boat made almost entirely out of duct-tape. No doubt this is strong stuff that can be used in a wide variety of ways!

A Tailgate net for your pick-up truck. Really? Wow!

Here's some Duck® Tape Drink Koozies

Or look at this cool Duct Tape Wallet.


Disney Family Fun (www.familyfun.go.com) has come up with some Duct Tape Hiking Gear

Camouflage any Geocaching-Container with Camo Tape!(found @ www.findyourgeocache.com) We've come across a couple of these camouflaged geocache containers and boy are they tough to find, especially the smaller ones!

Email us some of your craft ideas at info.geoprospectors@gmail.com

Geocaching with relatives/friends on Thanksgiving

Geocaching with relatives over Thanksgiving "
"A good way to work off Thanksgiving dinner is to take a nice hike to find a geocache. ...."
Continue reading on Examiner.com Geocaching with relatives over Thanksgiving - San Jose Geocaching | Geocaching with relatives over Thanksgiving, by Rick Wong

(pic from cache post by Sakiman and mmacgown @ www.geocaching.com

L.L.Bean--Holiday Savings & Parks Search

"L.L.Bean, Inc. has been a trusted source for quality apparel, reliable outdoor equipment and expert advice for almost 100 years."
Go to www.LLBean.com to start shopping!

L.L. Bean Park Search "L.L.Bean's Park Search(sm) puts the world's parks at your fingertips. It's the perfect place to start planning your next adventure, and it's easy to use. Start your search by entering a park name or by choosing a region you want to explore."

L.L.Bean 10% OFF Coupon, Thanksgiving Weekend Nov. 23-28, 2011

Geomate Jr. testers - video - Golden Apple Awards | GreatSchools

A glimpse at our toy testing process – and our toy testers.
Geomate Jr. testers - video - Golden Apple Awards | Great Schools

www.greatschools.org

Trees, Trails & Tupperware: Cachin' & Cruisin' Alaska Style

Trees, Trails & Tupperware: Cachin' & Cruisin' Alaska Style: I've done a lot of geocaching & exploring in my life but nothing like this last trip! On June 7th my daughter and my parents and I set sail...

5 Reasons to Geocache Around the World

GO GLOBAL! Here is an article that will inspire you...

Harness Your Inner Amazing Race Contestant: 5 Reasons to Geocache Around the World
By Mary Richardson, March 29th, 2010 on BootsnAll Travel Network (go here to read full article)

Here are their five reasons to incorporate geocaching into your travel plans.

1. Geocaching Has Gone Global
"Since its inception, the geocache craze has spread all over the world – and I mean all over.

Not only are there caches right now probably within a 20 mile radius of you, but they are waiting to be discovered in thousands of international locations. There are caches hidden among the temple ruins of Angkor Wat, side alleys in Barcelona, and jungles in Okinawa.

This means that you can participate almost any place you happen to be visiting, or design trips based on descriptions sounding interesting to you. Perhaps even more relevant in these trying economic times, however, is that you can trek around your own city and entertain that wanderlust without ever leaving home."

2. Geocaching Takes You Off the Beaten Path
"While searching for that cache down a side street in Rome, for example, you might find a tasty hole in the wall to eat your lunch, which could end up being the best Italian food of your life. Or you might saunter through a public park in China and come upon an interesting artistic performance."

3. Geocaching Gets You Closer to Nature
"Because the caches are stashed where they can’t easily be tampered with, you’ll sometimes find yourself immersed in natural beauty."

4. Geocaching is Great for Planners and Spontaneous Sorts
"In fact, geocaching appeals to both types of traveler as it provides a short-term specific goal and chance environments. In addition, it’s ideal for imparting that same sense of purpose for solo travelers as well as families with children, who perhaps need a reason to be excited about being away from home."

5. Geocaching Involves You in a Community
"Geocaching enhances your sense of involvement in a dynamic global community. You’re encouraged to record your discoveries online as well as post anecdotes and pictures of your enterprises.

More importantly, you’re given a unique opportunity to “craft” experiences for others to enjoy. Did you stumble upon a special waterfall while hiking in Hawaii? Place a cache nearby and bestow the encounter on a fellow nature-lover. Wandering around narrow side streets in Tokyo, did you find an interesting temple? Hide a geocache in a crevice in the wall and lead another person right to it."

www.bootsnall.com

Planning Your Next VaCachen

"Thanks to advances in satellite technology, social media, and the Groundspeak Geocaching iPhone application, geocaching as a family hobby is wildly growing in popularity. Yes, you can enjoy finding all the caches in your neighborhood and even treasure hunt on a day trip or two. But what about geocaching as a reason to take a family vacation? At Road Trips for Families, we call it Going on VaCachen™. ..."

They list examples of these geocaching travel destinations:
~ Pendleton, Oregon
~ Black Hills, South Dakota
~ Lincoln City, Oregon
~ Charlotte, North Carolina
~ Highland Forest Park, Syracuse, New York

Go to Planning Your Next VaCachen to read the full article.
Submitted by Julie Henning on September 12, 2010 on www.roadtripsforfamilies.com

For more info about Road Trips for Families web site and geocaching trips, go to: RoadTripsForFamilies.com ; Geocahing events and destinations for your next road trip. You can also find info here on GPS and geocaching book reviews, etc.

Have you gone on a "VaCachen"? Where to? Share your "VaCachen" travel destination and plans with us!

Walk As if Your Life Depended on It (LLS-LTN)

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS's) Light The Night Walk's 2011 Ambassador:

"The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society pours a tremendous amount of money directly into cutting-edge cancer research - research that I've certainly benefited from," says Hall. "It's an organization that you can be confident is at the forefront of moving things forward."
- Michael C. Hall


PSA featuring Michael C. Hall:
Hall appears in a new public service announcement campaign titled 'Walk As if Your Life Depended on It, produced and directed by filmmaker, Jesse Dylan. Successfully treated for Hodgkin lymphoma in 2010, Hall shares his personal experience and encourages people to walk in support of this important cancer fundraiser.

"To Whom It May Concern" by The Travel Bugs - Music 4 Geocaching

Very funny video about the invasion of geocachers from the planet Gee-och-ka-ching!

by SteveWeeksMusic / www.thegeocachers.com, posted on www.youtube.com

"www.thegeocachers.com -
After 3 years of filming in multiple locations around the globe with an all-star cast and a budget of over $300 million, the latest music video by The Travel Bugs for their hit song "To Whom It May Concern" is complete!

The song, from their CD "Found It!", chronicles the woes of a certain Mr. Mug L. Guy and his growing concerns about the strange people he sees wandering around the fields.

If you like Geocaching and music (and big budget Hollywood productions), this video is dedicated to you.

Happy Geocaching!
www.thegeocachers.com"

How To Make Your Own Low-Cost Geocoins - Part 2 [Shrinky Dinks]

Last month I shared on How To Make Your Own Low-Cost Geocoins [wooden nickels] out of wooden nickels and a custom stamp.

This time we're making geocoins with Shrinky Dinks! You might remember creating things with Shrinky Dink plastic as a kid and watching them in the oven/toaster oven as they get smaller and smaller. I believe I got this idea from a geocoin forum somewhere. The good thing with this method is that you have a wider range of options to be creative in creating your geocoins, such as shape, colors, size, etc. There are so many possibilities.

So lets get to it. I found several types of Shrinky Dinks sheets sold at local craft stores like Michael's and Jo-Ann's. At first I wasn't sure which type I should use so I opted for the Frosted Ruff N' Ready (Item D100-10A) because this plastic has been roughened to accept any colored pencil, and the Bright White for Ink Jet Printers (Item D600-6A). Frosted Ruff N' Ready runs about $5.99 for 10-8"x10" sheets, and the kind for Ink Jet Printers is about $13 for 6-8"x10" sheets. You may also need to experiment to get to the final result you want for your geocoins.
Watch out for sales at theses craft stores. They also offer discounts on their websites, weekly ads, etc. At Michael's I got a coupon at checkout for a 40% Off Any One Reg Price Item on my next purchase. On Jo-Ann's website you can get mobile phone apps to get coupons and other info sent directly to your phone.

1. Before you begin you need to think about your design and what size you want your end product to look like. Shrinky Dinks plastic shrinks down to 1/3 of it's original size after baking. So if I want my geocoin to be close to the standard geocoin size, which is 1.5" wide in diameter, then my design on the Shrinky Dinks sheet before baking needs to be about 4.5" diameter (1.5" x 3 = 4.5"). I tried creating a basic design that would print out to the 4.5" wide diameter onto the Shrinky Dinks plastic to cut down on time. After this initial trial run I will probably come up with a design to streamline the process even more, so I won't have to do anything after printing/cutting except maybe adding a little more color or detail if the printer doesn't get it all. See example below:

After much frustration with our Epson printer refusing to accept the Shrinky Dinks sheets, we fished out our old HP printer from the garage and got it printing onto the sheets. Yeah!!

2. In this case I did add some color and detail with stamps after printing my basic design onto the Shrinky Dinks sheet. With the Bright White for Ink Jet sheets you can't use pencils, but stamping worked out pretty good for me and you can also use permanent ink pens. I was also able to use the printer on the Frosted Ruff N' Ready which allows light to pass through and the printed areas show up more faded then the bright white sheets. Here's an example on how the two types look side-by-side so you can see the difference:

[left Frosted Ruff N' Ready, right Bright White for Ink Jet Printers] sorry photo quality is so crappy =)

3. Read and follow Shrinky Dinks instructions, tips and info from the package and/or on their web site. Remember, instructions vary for the different types of Shrinky Dink plastic sheets.

4. After it's all done baking and cooled, your geocoin is basically ready for it's geocaching adventure to begin! It will be about 1/16" thick, hard plastic, and the colors get more vivid after baking. If you're using the Bright White for Ink Jet Printers, the instructions say to spray with sealer. If you're making your geocoins into the typical circle shape, keep in mind they will come out of the oven slightly different every time. You will probably notice the perfect circle you originally cut out before baking became slightly distorted in the shrinking process. But that's okay right? It just means every coin you make will be special and unique just like you!

Have fun creating your custom Shrinky Dink geocoins and more!! We'd love to hear about your homemade geocoin and swag ideas for geocaching.