Geocaching Outdoor Treasure Hunt
Use a free geocaching app to find hidden containers in parks and trails — a GPS-powered outdoor adventure that combines hiking with treasure hunting.
What You'll Need
- 1Smartphone with Geocaching app
- 2Comfortable walking shoes
- 3Pen for signing log books
- 4Small trade items (toys, stickers, coins)
- 5Water bottle
What You'll Need
A smartphone with the free Geocaching app (geocaching.com)
Comfortable walking shoes
A pen for signing log books
Small trade items — a toy car, some stickers, a pretty rock, a coin
A water bottle for the adventure
How to Play
Download the free Geocaching app and create a family account. The app shows thousands of hidden containers (geocaches) near your location.
Browse nearby caches together. Start with ones rated 1 or 1.5 for terrain and difficulty. These are accessible and findable without much frustration.
Navigate to the cache location. The app shows a compass arrow and distance. Walk together following the direction. "It says 200 meters this way!"
When the app says you're close (within 30 feet), switch from navigation to searching. Look in clever hiding spots — under rocks, inside fallen logs, behind park signs, stuck to the underside of benches with magnets.
Found it! Open the container. Inside you'll find a log book — sign it with your family team name and today's date. Your child just found real hidden treasure.
Many caches contain small trade items. The rule: if you take something, leave something of equal or greater value. Let your child choose their trade.
Tips
There are millions of geocaches worldwide. You probably have dozens within a mile of your home and don't know it.
After finding two or three easy ones, try a harder difficulty rating. Some require solving puzzles or climbing to elevated spots.
Let your child lead the navigation. Reading the compass and estimating distance builds spatial reasoning.
Make a family goal: find 10 geocaches in a month. It motivates regular outdoor adventures and gives every park visit a purpose.
Age Adaptation Tips
School-age kids can take more ownership. Let them lead the activity, experiment with variations, and explain what they learned.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does this activity take?
This activity takes about 60 min, with 5 min of preparation time beforehand.
What materials do I need?
You'll need: smartphone with geocaching app, comfortable walking shoes, pen for signing log books, small trade items (toys, stickers, coins), water bottle.
What age is this activity for?
This activity is designed for 5-8 years. You can adapt it for younger or older children by adjusting the complexity.
Does this need to be done outdoors?
This activity is best done outdoors where kids have space to move and explore.
How difficult is this activity?
This activity has a moderate difficulty level. It may require some preparation or guidance, but is manageable for most families.
Ratings & Reviews
Sign in to leave a rating or review.
Add to Your Weekly Plan
Schedule this activity into your family's week. It takes about 60 min.
Free account required to save plans
Explore More
Love this activity?
Create a free account and add it to your weekly planner. Discover hundreds more activities matched to your child's age.