High-tech treasure hunting

The search is on with the hide-and-seek game of geocaching - a high-tech version of treasure hunting where the payout is in the adventure.

And with more than 630,000 "treasures" to find and places to see, the worldwide hunt is becoming increasingly popular - even in Odessa.

A recent bomb scare near UTPB's CEED building in Midland County shed some light on the safe, family-friendly hobby, when an ammunition container - actually a cache - was discovered by someone unfamiliar with the game, and officials weren't sure of its contents.

But a network of West Texas geocachers is using the misunderstanding as opportunity to educate others and install a positive image of the game - made possible through Global Positioning System technology.

Geocaching involves a GPS user hiding "treasure" - an approved container and its contents - and then publishing the exact geographic coordinates of the cache on the Internet so others can find it.

On Saturday, a group of local geocachers in Floyd Gwin Park will teach others about the sport.

Steven J. DeFau from Abilene runs the West Texas Geocachers Association Forum and said he started geocaching in 2004 with his wife after they lost a young son in Germany to an illness.

"It was perfect for us to get through depression and spend time together," DeFau said. "We credit it with pretty much saving our marriage and our lives."

Now the couple takes their 2-year-old daughter on the technical scavenger hunts for a family-building experience. One of DeFau's T-shirts explains the hype behind the hobby: "Geocaching: We use multibillion dollar satellites to find Tupperware in the woods. What do you do?"

"Everybody really enjoys going out and doing it," he said. "You can be as nerdy as you want to be - or not. There are some people, they use a map and compass instead of a GPS - kind of old school."

DeFau said there are many different sizes and types of geocaches - camouflaged ammunition cans are popular because they're waterproof, durable and store a lot of stuff - but a common factor to each one is a log for finders to sign, similar to a guest book.

Some geocachers trade small items in the cache and pass along "Geo Coins" or "Travel Bugs" - a little tag with a tracking number so it can be identified through its journey.

"Geocachers pick them up, and they travel from geocache to geocache," DeFau said. "I've had some who have traveled to Europe, Spain, Germany and Japan."

Pam Hicks, coordinator for advanced academic services for Ector County Independent School District, used GPS technology and geocaching with the gifted and talented students this year.

"It's a wonderful educational tool - the children learn so much about geography and their place in the world," she said. "They have to do math and learn things, and there are some real puzzles that have to be figured out."

Not only did Hicks find almost 600 geocaches within the past year, but she also hid 57 of her own - an adventure for people of all ages.

"My mother is 84 years old, and she just loves it," Hicks said.

Midlander Justin Tate started geocaching two years ago after his friend Beau Dameron got him started.

"He took me to find some, and I got started and never stopped," Tate said. "I've introduced a lot of people to it ..."

"It's almost a competition against yourself to see how many you can find and how many different places you can go," he said. "It gets you out of the house on the weekends and getting to see places that you didn't even know existed."

Tate said geocachers mean no harm in placing, finding and replacing the thousands of geocaches hidden on public land, though they do their deed discreetly. Outsiders often take geocaches if they're found, which means one less prize for those who play the game.

"It just goes to show you that no matter where you're at, there's probably one of these geocaches somewhere close, and unless you knew about the sport, you'd never know," Tate said.

HIDE YOUR FIRST GEOCACHE
>> Step 1: Research a cache location.
>> Step 2: Prepare a cache with the proper container and contents.
>> Step 3: Place the cache and obtain GPS coordinates.
>> Step 4: Submit your cache information online.
>> Step 5: Maintain your cache and make any necessary changes.

WANT TO TRY IT?
>> A geocaching event will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday in Floyd Gwin Park, 1015 N. West County Road.
>> A picnic lunch will be served as well as instruction on using a handheld GPS for geocaching.
>> After some games in the park, participants will venture out to find a few nearby Odessa caches.
>> E-mail Pam Hicks at hhiker98@aol.com if interested.