The Geauga News Weekly Roundup – August, 9th, 2018
Welcome to this week’s edition of the Geauga News Weekly Roundup – and we have plenty of events for you! Checkout this weekend, where the Geauga County Parks Department hosts a free, outdoor movie screening, a meteor shower viewing and more. Give your kids an end-of-summer treat with free train rides on the Cuyahoga Scenic Valley Railroad. Want to be a real-life treasure hunter? Keep reading to learn all about geocaching in Geauga, Ohio — the article starts after Saturday’s events!
Events on Thursday, August 9th, 2018
– Kids Ride Free on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad at Peninsula Depot, 1630 Mill Street, Peninsula, OH — Offer Valid Tue – Fri Until the End of August
Events on Friday, August 10th, 2018
– Kids Ride Free on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad at Peninsula Depot, 1630 Mill Street, Peninsula, OH — Offer Valid Tue – Fri Until the End of August
Events on Saturday, August 11th, 2018
– Kids Ride Free on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad at Peninsula Depot, 1630 Mill Street, Peninsula, OH — Offer Valid Tue – Fri Until the End of August
Geocaching in Geauga, OH (Part One)
Geocaching — what is it? To those in the know, it’s an activity rife with suspense and intrigue. To the uninitiated, it’s simply an odd word. Simply put, geocaching is a world-wide scavenger hunt. Geocaching is a fun-filled activity designed to get you out of the house and searching for prizes. In this article, we’ll share what geocaching is, how to get started geocaching and where to find some geocaches in your area.
Brief History of Geocaching
Who doesn’t like an old-fashioned treasure hunt? Humans have always loved the idea of finding something hidden — and geocaching gives you just that. However, geocaching would never exist with an indirect “OK” for the United States Government.
In 2000, the US government removed selective availability of Global Positioning Systems, allowing GPS technology to be accurately used by all. Selective availability GPS systems were designed to embed intentional errors within 100 meters. The military hoped this would keep potential enemies from accurately pinpointing targets. But when accurate GPS technology widely available to consumers, geocaching became possible.
What is Geocaching?
Geocaching involves hiding something — the cache — and uploading the item’s GPS coordinates to a website. Then, people search for the object. Once they find it, they post their findings on the same website, and the cycle continues.
People who like to hunt for these buried treasures use an app available called Geocaching. The app is available for both Android or Apple users. Using this app and/or a GPS device, you can search for geocaches near you. There are currently 13 different types of caches available for you to search for.
The traditional caches are the most common. These caches are often accompanied by a logbook, where all who find the cache can leave a message to the next treasure hunter. Sometimes, traditional geocaches include little trinkets you can take as a souvenir. If you take something from a traditional geocache, it’s good etiquette to leave a new prize in its place.
Earth caches contain facts about the planet Earth. A similar cache is the Cache In Trash Out cache. This is an environmental cache designed to improve awareness and help clean up the planet.
Another kind of geocache is a mystery or puzzle cache. These have riddles or logic problems you need to solve in order to get the correct coordinates.
A multi-cache is the most like a scavenger hunt. Multi geocaches lead you from one location to another, until you find the final cache.
Caches range in difficulty from one star (the easiest) to five stars (the most difficult). Ratings can refer to the ease of finding the cache or to the difficulty of the terrain where the cache is hidden.
Are you ready to start geocaching? Read more about Geocaching in Geauga, including where to find caches in your area, after Wednesday’s events!
Events on Sunday, August 12th, 2018
– Kids Ride Free on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad at Peninsula Depot, 1630 Mill Street, Peninsula, OH — Offer Valid Tue – Fri Until the End of August
Events on Monday, August 13th, 2018
– Kids Ride Free on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad at Peninsula Depot, 1630 Mill Street, Peninsula, OH — Offer Valid Tue – Fri Until the End of August
Events on Tuesday, August 14th, 2018
– Kids Ride Free on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad at Peninsula Depot, 1630 Mill Street, Peninsula, OH — Offer Valid Tue – Fri Until the End of August
Events on Wednesday, August 15th, 2018
– Kids Ride Free on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad at Peninsula Depot, 1630 Mill Street, Peninsula, OH — Offer Valid Tue – Fri Until the End of August
– Resonanz Opera at The Wildwood Cultural Center, 7645 Little Mountain Road, Mentor, OH — 6:00 p.m.
Geocaching in Geauga, OH (Part Two)
Still not sure about geocaching? Check out these five reasons why you should try it. Then, learn about geocaches near you.
Five Benefits of Geocaching
- Geocaching gets you outside. It’s an excellent excuse to discover your local area. Searching for caches allows you to be in nature, appreciate your surroundings and maybe even meet other geocachers! Searching for geocaches in Ohio will get you around your neighborhood or into neighboring cities. Find out things you didn’t know about your community — and maybe find a cache or two!
- Geocaching is (mostly) free. What better perk is there? If you have a cellphone with global positioning services (aka Google Maps with location services turned on) you can start geocaching today.
- Geocaching is a fun way to exercise. You can’t find a geocache without getting out and moving around. You don’t even have to think of it as exercise — it’s a bonus to your fun!
- Geocaching is most fun in groups or teams. This is a different and active way to share time with your loved ones. Searching solo is fun, too, but doing it with your family can be a blast!
- Geocaching is as challenging as you want it to be. Start out with easy, one-star caches to get your feet wet. If you like it, take on harder cache, with tricky clues and/or difficult terrain.
Remember, when geocaching, it is imperative to remain alert of your surroundings. If you can’t comfortably obtain a geocache, or if it feels too dangerous, it’s okay to stop. Know your limits. There is no cache worth your life or limb.
Local Caches
Geauga County is full of caches to discover. Here’s just a few places where you can begin your search:
– Punderson State Park has a preponderance of caches to find. There are traditional, mystery, EarthCache and multi-caches to find.
– Burton has quite a few, as well as Middlefield.
– South Russell has virtual caches, EarthCaches and traditional caches.
– Bentleyville also have a few caches to discover.
– The West Woods has two EarthCaches and a virtual cache. A virtual cache does not have an actual physical item, but requires the player to log the visit, typically with a photo.
– There are quite a few caches, mainly the traditional type, located along Auburn Road.
– At Chickagami Park in Parkman,OH, there are many trails where traditional caches are hidden.
Geocaching: Treasure Hunting in Geauga, OH
If you have any further questions, check out this geocaching website. Get the rest of the information you need so you can start geocaching in Geauga county!
Search the world over, or just your own backyard, and you will find treasures, both charted and uncharted. Have fun, but above all, be safe.
Have you tried geocaching before? Will you try it now? Let us know about your geocaching searches and what you find! Write to drafts@geauganews.com and share your story!
Come Back Next Week for More Local Events in Northeast Ohio!
We hope you’ve enjoyed this week’s edition of The Geauga News Weekly Round Up! Be sure to check in next week for more local news and events in your area. Have a great weekend!
Have an event you want to see in next week’s edition? E-mail us your story: drafts@geauganews.com
