When I was young, my grandparents used to take my family on picnics to Kings Park in Perth. These were magical days filled with delicious food, infallibly fine weather and exciting activities direct from Grandpa’s prodigious imagination.

One of Grandpa’s favourite games was to hide coins in the sand and draw ‘treasure maps’ that would guide us to the hidden treasure trove. We would play this game over and over, our pockets quickly filling up with five cent pieces and the number of participants steadily growing as curious children from other families asked if they could play too.

These memories came flooding back today as I went out geocaching with my own children. Geocaching is much like Grandpa’s treasure hunt but with the a few modern twists.

One difference is that the ‘map’ for a geocaching hunt is provided in the form of GPS coordinates. All that is needed to find hidden treasure is a device (such as a mobile phone) with a GPS receiver built in. These were once quite rare but are rapidly becoming standard. Some phones even include special apps specifically designed for geocaching (I am quite fond of Geopher Lite for iPhone).

Here’s the other remarkable thing about geocaching. There are over 700,000 treasure troves (or ‘caches’) hidden around the world. These are absolutely everywhere! Without realising it, I had been walking past dozens of hidden treasure chests every day. I used to be such a muggle :)

Geocaching operates on a strict code of ethics. If you take something from a cache, you must deposit something of equal or greater value in return. Geocachers must protect the environment and are encouraged to collect rubbish as they explore. Finally, geocachers should record their finds --- both in a physical logbook and online so that others can benefit from their experiences.

Geocaching offers great opportunities for families and educators alike. First and foremost, it’s loads of fun! There is also considerable learning involved --- map reading, geography, literacy, environmental awareness ----  as well as the physical exercise involved in getting to the caches.

Many of the caches involve puzzles that must be solved before you can find the treasure. These can take a bit longer to solve, but do provide a great sense of satisfaction when completed. Adults and children alike must work together, thereby building a sense of community and purpose.

So my family and I headed off treasure-hunting today in a spirit of adventure, learning and fun. We collected a brand new geocoin and discovered a secluded park near our house that we never even knew existed. Grandpa would be ever so pleased.