Geauga Park District's Adventures in Geocaching

Geocaching is an outdoor treasure-hunting game in which the participants use a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver or other navigational techniques to hide and seek containers (called "geocaches" or "caches") anywhere in the world. A typical cache is a small waterproof container (usually a tupperware or ammo box) containing a logbook and "treasure," usually toys or trinkets of little value.

Geocaches are currently placed in over 100 countries around the world and on all seven continents, including Antarctica. This great free family friendly high-tech version of hide & seek, continues in Geauga Park District in 2013, with different types of caches. Learn more at Geocaching.com.

Geocache Day: Summer

Information coming soon. Registration is required by phone only at 440-279-0894.

Seasonal Caches

Spring 2013

Headwaters Park
N 41° 30.440'
W 081° 05.895'

Found on the headwaters of the Cuyahoga River,
The East Branch Reservoir is sure to deliver.
Owned by Akron for drinking water supplies,
The Park District runs this place where good times arise.
The 2-mile Buckeye Trail is a hearty hike;
A boat ramp gives access for boating and fishing alike.
While camping is enjoyed in this popular park,
It’s at an old boathouse where your quest will start.
Go past an old beach to the Kingfisher Trail.
Stay on track to the end, and you should not fail.
Skirt the shoreline, and off to the right,
Until a dead beech log comes into sight.
Take some time to watch waterfowl on the water
Before taking off on your next caching adventure.

This cache expires January 1, 2014.

Winter 2013

Bass Lake Preserve
N 41° 33.052'
W 081° 13.756'

Bass Lake, once known as Munson Pond,
Was where vacationing Clevelanders could be found.
A hotel and cabins were built across the lake.
A dance hall was “floated” for a club house to make.
Once used by club members, now sporting a new face,
The Bass Lake Shelter is a public place.
A pair of Bald Eagles have found room to nest
Along these shores where fishing is best.
The lake is open to fish from your own boat.
Just get a boat permit, but please make note
That boats on the shore are privately owned
And there are currently no trails in this park to roam.
Now down the shelter drive is how you proceed,
Where a fence post contains the treasure you seek.

This cache expires January 1, 2014.

Fall 2012

Observatory Park
N 41° 21.299'
W 081° 17.757' (coordinates of the plaza)

You'll need to visit the planetary pods along the Planetary Trail to compile the coordinates you need to find this miniature cache.

At the plaza by the observatory you’ll start your quest.
Follow the Planetary Trail and do your best.
Not happy with your current girth?
Assume you weigh 100 pounds on Earth.
Turn the weight dial when you stop at each planet
and record your new planetary weight.
To compile your final coordinate, use this formula to substitute numbers for letters,
then plug them into your GPS unit.

41° AB.CDE
81° FG.HIJ

A = (on Mercury) the first digit from your weight as calculated
B = (on Mars) subtract the first digit from the second digit
C = (on Earth) the first digit
D = (on Neptune) add the first 2 digits
E = (on Venus) last digit
F = (on Venus) last digit
G = (on Neptune) add last 2 digits
H = (on Saturn) subtract the second digit from the first digit
I = (on Uranus) first digit
J = (on Jupiter) add last 2 digits

No GPS? What to do?
The back of Neptune provides a
written clue.

This cache expires January 1, 2013.