Having trouble getting motivated to move? Try geocaching, a high-tech spin on the old-fashioned treasure hunt. All you need is a thirst for the out of doors and a hand-held global positioning system (GPS).
Geocaching – "geo" for geography and "cache" for hidden container – has become enormously popular with walkers, hikers and families because it's a non-competitive outdoor activity that turns ordinary walking into an adventure.
"Being in nature helps to relieve stress and makes me feel calm," says Janet Ham, of St. Catherines, Ontario, who geocaches with her husband and four young daughters. "And it's taken us to so many places we never would have seen."
Like many parents, the Hams try to limit their kids' TV time and are always looking for activities they can all enjoy as a group. "I love the long hikes that get us all some exercise and out of the house," says Ham. "We always see something interesting, like a different bug, deer, funny shaped tree or a neat little bridge."
But locating a cache isn't always simple. "Tangled saplings, a stream or a thick forest can present challenges," says Scott Hewitt of the Manitoba Geocaching Association. "Despite the genius of the GPS, it will only get you within about 20 feet of your destination."
Ham says that the highlight of all successful hunts is the last frenetic minutes. "When we get to the coordinates and the girls start checking under rocks and logs and then find the cache, I swear the whole world knows!"
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