The cache Treasure hunting with technology. That’s what geocaching is.

It is a hobby that is growing in popularity around the world and around the Staples and Motley areas. According to the official Geocaching website, there are 103 caches within 25 miles of the 56479 zip code.

Participants search for hidden containers that hold a variety of things, along with a “logbook” to document a successful search.

“I like being able to look everywhere and having something to search for,” said eleven-year-old Katie Benson, who’s done caching all over the state as well as in Staples. Participants downl oad the coordinates of a specific cache from the website, enter those in a GPS (Global Positioning System) unit and head out hunting. At first it may seem too easy to be a challenge, but it’s harder than it looks.

Every cache is unique in where it is placed and they can be found everywhere from gardens and parks to underwater caves and mountain tops.

This is an example of a cache. The top photo shows what the cache looked like when first opened. The bottom shows the log to be signed by each person who finds it. “Just this past weekend I was geocaching with my grandson,” said Lisa Kajer, Staples. “We couldn’t find it, the clues had said that it would be up high and we were leaving when my grandson said that he thought he’d found it. It was a little shiny thing about a half inch in diameter. I had never seen one that small and told him I thought it was a bolt, but sure enough it was a cache.”

Lisa started geocaching as something to do with her grandson. “We had never done it before but we went and bought a GPS, and started with the easy ones. It’s been really fun!”

Just like the location of caches are unique, so are the contents, types and sizes. They can range in size from film canister size or even smaller to large boxes.

“One of our friends is making one out of an old computer monitor,” said Katie Benson.

They are generally camouflaged in some way to make things more challenging. Some contain trinkets or collectable cards, track able “Travel Bugs” or Geocoins, or a variety of other items.

Lakewood Health System in Staples has multiple caches hidden on the property, which Lisa says are “very family friendly. It’s so much fun to find them, and open them up and see all the wonderful things hidden inside.”

All caches have one thing in common; they all contain either a log sheet (smaller caches) or a logbook (larger ones) to document the fact that a person has found it. Some caches contain a special stamp, with which personal log books can be stamped.

Some caches are called a multi-cache, and instead of containing a logbook and items, they have a clue or coordinates to find the next cache, which will eventually lead you to the “ultimate cache”.

Julie Benson, Katie’s mother, and her kids started geocaching a few years ago when the state parks started a “Wildlife Safari” in honor of an anniversary.

“It was a fun experience, you could go to any of the 72 state parks in Minnesota. At many you could borrow a GPS and go treasure hunting,” Julie said. “It got your kids moving and grooving, finding out about the parks and history and having fun.”

This Safari is going on until 2012 and 25 of the parks have “demo units” to borrow. Many of the caches are hidden near some great view or historical monument,

so that not only do

participants get to find the “treasure,” they also get

to experience something more.

Some nearby parks that loan GPS to get people started include Mille Lacs Kathio, Lake Carlos, Glendalough, Father Hennepin and Savanna Portage.

Katie said, “I liked doing the ones in the state parks. I remember my brother brought a golf tee, and at one cache he traded it for a slinky and at the next one he traded the slinky for a marble.” The rule is if you take something, leave something of equal or greater value.

After that summer Katie, and her brother Jack did more caching in the Staples area. On the official geocaching website (www. geocaching.com) people can do a search for caches in their area or an area they plan to visit by entering your zip code.

Katie and Jack found multiple ones around town, but some were harder than they thought. “We looked for one at the Dairy Queen, and one at the golf course that we couldn’t find,” said Katie.

The level of difficulty is shown on the website, but Lisa says that sometimes easy ones aren’t as easy as they say, “There was supposed to be one in the BN (Northern Pacific) Park, that we weren’t able to find.”

Anyone can hide a cache, but the experts at the official Global GPS Cache Hunt site say to research before placing one. Get familiar with the activity before attempting to make and hide a cache. After deciding on a site, preparing the cache and the things inside it, and placing it, the coordinates and details are submitted for review on the website. A volunteer reviews and

confirms it, then posts it to the log of caches in the area making it available to anyone who wants to seek it.

This summer Katie and Jack, would like to hide a cache. “I think I’d probably hide one in town because when you cache out in the country it gets you out in the country, but if you hide it in town like at your favorite restaurant, it could recommend that place to people.”

Katie said that she’d like to fill her cache with trinkets that people can trade and take to other caches. The contents are up to the placer, but since geo caching is an activity for many different people, it’s recommended to keep in mind that anyone may find a cache and to not hide things that could be dangerous or inappropriate.

Other than a Global Positioning System, a map and a compass, not much is needed to start the hobby. After the cost of a GPS geocaching is a low cost activity.

According to geocachingonline. com and other geocachers, spend time when considering a GPS to use. Cheaper units can work, but can also make caching much less fun, and more work. Consider the unit size, auto routing capabilities, weather proofing, memory size, color display/ screen size, battery life and channels.

Although a GPS is used constantly in geocaching, the advice is to not rely too much on it. After all, it’s people who finds the cache. Coordinates may be slightly off or the cache might be well hidden and it’s up to the hunter to finish out the adventure.

Steve Wood, of the

REI Outdoor School says, “Once you get to the area

you’ve got to go back to using your brain. Take your eyes off the GPS and start looking around.”

Lisa and her husband Tom had never tried caching until a few years ago when they bought a GPS for something to do when their grandson came to visit. She said they have greatly enjoyed it. “It’s really a fun thing to do and I’d recommend it to anyone, with or without kids or grandkids.”