“We found it!” Richelle and Nicole Karaszewski shouted with triumph. They glanced around and, convinced the coast was clear, pulled the metal box from under the bush and opened the lid.

The box, known as a geocache (gee-oh-cash), was filled with trinkets and treasures. The girls looked through the goodies and decided to trade a ball for a bead necklace. Their mother signed the logbook and helped them replace the box in its hiding spot under the bush.

The Karaszewski’s are geocachers. They play a high tech hide-and-seek treasure game with more than 33,000 others worldwide with the help of a Global Positioning System (GPS) device. There are more than a quarter of a million active geocaches in 222 countries. 

Not surprising, Christian caching enthusiasts are finding their own ways to leave a mark.

The adventure begins when someone fills a weatherproof container with trinkets and a logbook. They hide the container, obtain the coordinates of the hiding spot using their GPS, and post the information on the geocaching Web site. Others obtain the information about the cache via the Web site, enter the coordinates in their GPS and the scavenger hunt is on.

Sound easy? Finding a cache can be quite challenging even though the GPS leads you to within several feet of the hidden container. Caches can be as large as a five-gallon bucket or as small as a hide-a-key and are often ingeniously camouflaged or hidden to blend with their urban environment. Fortunately, the information page for most caches includes a hint—just in case the container is difficult to locate.

Geocaches are rated for their difficulty to reach and to find. The easiest caches must be wheelchair accessible and are usually in plain sight. The most difficult caches may require strenuous hikes, special equipment or solving a brain-bending puzzle.


Local spots
There is a geocache for everyone. Like to hike? Mound Springs Park River View cache provides a great view of the Minnesota River. The Mall of America III cache may interest those who combine caching and shopping.

Cachers can take the four-legged family members with them to find the K-9 Kache near the airport off Crosstown 62. History buffs will enjoy the Old Cahill School cache in northeast Edina or Historic Riverview Road in Eden Prairie. Or visit the Mendota Earthcache on Pike Island in Fort Snelling State Park, which takes cachers to the confluence of the Minnesota and Mississippi rivers.

Brian Stevens, pastor of The Journey in Maple Grove, discovered caching from a pastor in Iowa.

“I like the challenge, adventure and spending time with family,” Stevens said. “Plus, it’s a learning activity for our five children.”

Their most unique cache find to date is Crow’s Nest, a cache north east of Rockford.

“A few years back a big storm snapped a tree in half,” Stevens said. “The remaining trunk is 12 feet tall and the cache is at the top. I had to send my best climber up to make that find!”


Puzzling exploit
Dave Turner, who attends Solana Beach Presbyterian in Solana Beach, Calif., developed a Bible-based puzzle for a cache he placed in Carlsbad. Turner, who goes by the trail name of kawikaturn, took up geocaching four years ago. Since then, the desert motorcycle enthusiast has found more than 2,000 caches.

“I especially like the places geocaching takes me,” Turner said. “I like the exercise and the wonderful people I have met on the trails and at geocaching events.”

Dave Bohorquez hosts a yearly geocaching event at Cornerstone church in Wildomar, Calif.

“I wanted to introduce people in the church to this fun hobby,” he said.

Events like his attract hobbyist from all over Southern California. People come to put faces to trailnames and discuss their geocaching adventures. Bohorquez, who adopted the trailname cornerstone4 to represent his church and his family of four, also created “Caching for Christ,” an Internet forum for Christian geocachers.

Geocaching costs nothing beyond a GPS device, which can be purchased for as little as $100. The geocaching Web site contains a wealth of information on selecting the right unit and how to find your first cache.

“I like finding toys,” 5-year-old Richelle Karaszewski said, holding up her bracelet.

“I like seeing new places,” Nicole, whose favorite cache is “BINGO,” a clever multi-stage cache in Escondido.

Eleven-year-old Rickey Thomas’ favorite cache is “Indian Head,” a challenging level four cache.

“Climbing the mountain was an adventure,” she said.


Diverse hobby
The hobby offers something for everyone: children love visiting new parks and finding treasure chests full of toys, grandparents appreciate a hobby they can enjoy with their grandchildren, some love competing for the most finds, and everyone can have fun discovering interesting new places in their community.

For more information on geocaching visit geocaching.com.


FYI: Geocaching 101

1)  Obtain a GPS device.

2)  Create a free account on the geocaching.com Web site. Use a zip code to find a nearby cache.

3)  Print the cache information page, which includes the difficulty, size/type of container, location coordinates, information about the cache, hints and logs from previous finders.

4)  Print the map. There is a map link on the information page for each cache.

5)  Search for the cache. Don’t expect the cache to be at “zero.” Most GPS receivers have an error between 25 to 200 ft. 

6)  Investigate nearby stumps, trees, light post skirts and rock piles. Once you find the cache make sure you aren’t observed removing it.

7)  Sign the logbook. Take an item and leave an item.

8)  Seal the cache and place it back where and how you found it. Be sure you’re not observed.

10)  Log your find on the geocaching.com Web site.