Georgia State Parks Launches Geocaching Challenge in Support of the 'Get Outdoors Georgia' Initiative

ATLANTA, May 11 /PRNewswire/ -- The Georgia Department of Natural Resources celebrated the introduction of geocaching in state parks with a fun and family-friendly launch and learn last Saturday. The event was supported by the Georgia Geocachers Association, and was attended by more than 100 people, including GGA members, Atlanta Girl Scouts, newcomers to the joys of geocaching and assorted media. The kick-off event for the statewide program was held at the Fort Yargo State Park in Winder. The Georgia State Parks Geo-Challenge is designed to encourage participants to find all the caches hidden in 42 State Parks across Georgia and provides three bonus caches that are a little more challenging. The introduction of geocaching, the planet's largest treasure hunt, adds to the many events, programs and activities now available in Georgia's State Parks.

(Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100511/CL02836 )

The Business of Geocaching

Geocaching combines technology, the thrill of an outdoor adventure, and the fun of sharing your experience online. Participants find the cache coordinates online at www.geocaching.com, then set out to find the boxes, called caches, using GPS devices. Once a player locates the cache, the experience is shared with other geocachers. With over one million active caches around the world, and now more than 40 hidden in Georgia's parks, the entire state is waiting to be explored.

Georgia State Parks posted their geocaches at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday morning, and the first one was located by two geocachers camping at A.H. Stephens State Park at 5:45 a.m. To date, 40 of the 45 caches have been found, with the prestige of finding a brand new cache still available for the three bonus caches.

By tapping into the game of geocaching, the Georgia State Parks is focused on attracting more people to the parks and increasing revenue. While still relatively new, the program is proving highly attractive with 800 fans joining the Georgia State Parks Facebook page since the launch of the game.

Get Outdoors Georgia

The launch of geocaching in the Georgia State Parks is part of the organizations' initiative to get citizens to "Get Out. Get Dirty. Get Fit." in the great outdoors.  The initiative is supported by REI who donated GPS units for those wanting to try geocaching for the first time, as well as Girl Scouts who now have a new geocaching badge to start working for.

Editor's Notes:

Key Web Address: http://www.gastateparks.org/geocaching

SOURCE Georgia State Parks and Lodges