Amanda's+Narrative

__ My First Cache __ After watching videos and reviewing documents on geocaching in class, I was slightly confused as to what all the hype was about. Sure it seemed pretty fun, but I didn’t understand why people were so crazy over it. However, regardless of my personal opinions on the subject, I was anxious to actually get my hands dirty and start the geocaching process for our class project.

Since I am a commuter student, I decided early on to do this task individually. Nonetheless, I still needed someone to document my experience and simply keep me company. For this important duty I chose my boyfriend, Zack Johnson. Out of anyone I thought he would thoroughly enjoy going along with me on this new adventure. On my smart phone, I downloaded the Geocaching App and could see three hidden caches within 2.5 miles from Zack’s house in Benson. One particular cache was titled “My First Cache” and was only located 0.86 miles from Zack’s home. Reading the description, it said this cache was well hidden but not impossible to find; perfect for beginners. With my GPS directing me and Zack towards the hidden cache, we got in his truck and began our journey.

We drove less than a mile from our starting point before we came to an old abandoned barn on the side of the road. The barn was extremely aged and worn. Not only that, but it would be getting dark soon, so I was apprehensive that I wouldn’t reach my goal before the sun went down. The actual barn was locked, yet I doubt I would have gone in anyway, seeing that it was both creepy and trespassing. With Zack armed with his camera, I searched high and low around the tattered barn. After about fifteen minutes of searching, my hopes started to squander. I was worried that I would not only fail in my attempt of locating the geocache, but that I would also be left standing in front of an eerie barn in the dark.

Finally, after my sixth or seventh walk around the building, I noticed one cinderblock in the foundation that was slightly different from the others. This particular cinderblock was loose and a vaguely different color than its surrounding ones. In an attempt to wiggle the block from its hole, I was tremendously delighted to see that it was in fact removable! Just behind the loose cinder block were both a medium-sized, plastic tub and an overwhelming odor of musty dirt. Written on the tub in black Sharpie were the words “Geocache, Please do not remove”. I was so excited for my first find that I could hardly contain myself! The feeling of both triumph and accomplishment washed over me. Zack snapped a picture of me smiling from ear to ear! I had never done anything in my life quite like this. When I opened the container there was a small stuffed animal, plastic baseball hat, plastic ruler, lanyard, notepad, and a pen all inside. I decided not to take anything out but did place a small rubber ball inside and signed the notepad. There were at least seven or eight other entries in the notepad besides me. After everything was neatly placed back into the container I returned the geocache and the cinderblock to their original homes.



I am very thankful for this geocaching project and for this Social Studies Methods course. Not only am I learning fun ways to promote active learning strategies into my future classroom but I also think I found a new hobby as well. While I probably won’t have the time or energy to find ten geocaches in one day (such as the man on the video), I do plan on trying to find as many geocaches as I can in my spare time. Zack and I even made a date of it this upcoming weekend!



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