NNJC President John Neale (Old Navy) was one of the featured persons in a recent article on Geocaching in The Express-Times. See below for the article content.
Geocaching attracts enthusiasts from and to the Lehigh Valley and northwestern New Jersey
Thursday, February 05, 2009
By DUSTIN SCHOOF
The Express-Times
It is the latest global phenomenon, and it's taking place right in your own backyard.
But chances are you don't even know it.
The name of the game is geocaching, and it has attracted followers from Allentown to Antarctica.
"I enjoy the outdoors. But I think, as with most people, unless I have a motivation to go somewhere, I don't go," says Howard Dack, a cache enthusiast from Ontario, Canada, who frequents the Lehigh Valley for caches."But I've found through geocaching local sites and historical things I never knew existed."
The object of the game is simple: using their ZIP codes and coordinates provided by geocaching.com, players work with hand-held GPS devices to locate tiny, inexpensive trinkets called caches that are strategically placed around the globe.
The trinkets are typically kept in waterproof containers of varying sizes; often barely noticeable to the untrained eye. Those seeking their treasure are often taken on a scenic journey through woods, forests, parks and sprawling mountainsides.
"I've cached all through Easton, across the border in New Jersey. You get hooked very quickly," says Kevin DeVizia, (CaptainMath) of the Tri-State Area Geocachers organization. "It's a good physical activity. You're getting out and getting to see some really amazing spots. Geocachers have a tendency to hide caches in cool, really interesting places."
Once an item is found, the player must sign a tiny logbook kept with the cache and register the findings online -- using the serial number scrawled on the cache. Players are encouraged to discuss their findings and experiences with fellow gamers via the Internet.
"It gives you a little bit of something to do: go hiking, get exercise and take the family out," says John Neale, (Old Navy) President of the Northern New Jersey Cachers group.
According to the game's official site, more than 700,000 caches are hidden around the world, most of which are kept a lot closer than you think.
Some are placed right under your nose -- be it on the back of stop signs, along walking trails or underneath a park bench. Cache containers range in size from a baby's fingertip to a 35-mm film container to Tupperware containers. "The idea is to get people off their duff and be active," Dack says with a laugh. "I like the challenge of the hunt."
Since its inception in 2000, the game has attracted 2 million to 3 million followers, from children to college students and retirees.
Many say one of the reasons they play the game is the reward of finding historical landmarks and other hidden nooks and crannies they otherwise would have never found -- or even noticed.
"It takes you places you never even knew existed 30 minutes from your house," Neale says. "Parks and historic areas; people bring you places, like a nice hike up a mountain with a beautiful view. It's the attraction of meeting new people and going new places."
The Northern New Jersey Cachers group is one of several Pennsylvania and New Jersey-based geocaching groups.
DeVizia says group meetings allow members to have a chance to meet in person rather than interface to interface. "In my experience, geocachers are terrific people to get to know. It's a great way for people to meet up with other cachers, and if you're fairly new to it, it's a great way to get introduced to (the game)."
Members have used geocaching not only as a means of exploring their surroundings but as way to connect with friends, family and neighbors.
"It starts as a meet-and-greet kind of thing and it just grows and grows and grows," Neale says. "I've been involved since 2005. I've had some family members involved. I'm an outdoorsy person. Take the GPS with you and it becomes a treasure hunt."
Staff writer Dustin Schoof can be reached at 610-258-7171 or dschoof@express-times.com.
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