Nice Cache!

by Amanda Crawford, Student Intern - Recreational Therapy

Client Daniel D. and TR intern Amanda C. find the cache

Special Tree clients Daniel D. and Will H. can now count themselves among the six million "geocachers" worldwide who are hooked on this great way to enjoy the outdoors.


Geocaching is an outdoor sporting activity, often described as a real-world outdoor treasure hunting game, where participants use a GPS-enabled device to seek hidden containers called "geocaches" or "caches" anywhere in the world.  Players then share their experience online to help others find caches near them.



Time to look inside!

A typical cache is a  small waterproof container tucked away in crooks of trees, under rocks or sometimes buried like real treasure, that contain a logbook where the geocacher enters the date they found it and signs their name.  Larger containers such as plastic storage containers (Tupperware or similar) can also contain items for trading, usually toys or trinkets of little value.

Daniel and Amanda sign and date the cache's log

Geocaches are currently placed in over 100 countries around the world and on all seven continents, including Antarctica. After 10 years of activity there are over 1,532,000
active geocaches published on various websites.

Clients started geocaching last fall with Clinical Mananger and TR Angie Dorsey. Her group of young adults loved it and found caches ranging from the size of 1 inch to a five gallon bucket. 

Geocaching offers many therapeutic benefits for clients says TR Grace DeMuch who also takes clients on monthly geocaching outings.  "Geocaching helps our clients with balance and coordination, visual scanning, navigation, feedback utilization, safety awareness, and fluid thinking,” she said.

“Geocaching is the perfect combination of excitement and happiness,” says outpatient Daniel who works with Grace.   Will, another client, also agrees. “Geocaching is fun because it’s a combination of mystery and adventure.” 

 

With a growing list of cache finds, the TR department is now ready to take on the challange of creating and hiding their own caches.  Stay tuned for updates.  

Anyone can geocache and it’s an activity the whole family can enjoy.  Learn more at www.geocaching.com.