Geocaching Scout Interest Badge

Badge requirements

Geocaching

1. Have passed the Geocaching Scoutcraft Badge and be prepared to demonstrate any of those requirements. OR Complete all the requirements for the Geocaching Scoutcraft Badge.
2. Explain how the Global Positioning System (GPS) works. Then, demonstrate the use of a GPS unit or Smartphone enabled GPS, by marking and editing a waypoint, and changing the coordinate system in the unit.
3. Discuss first aid and prevention for the types of injuries or illnesses that could occur while participating in geocaching activities, including cuts, scrapes, snakebite, insect stings, tick bites, exposure to poisonous plants, sunburn, heatstroke, heat exhaustion, hypothermia, and dehydration.
4. With the help of an adult: Once you have logged at least 15 geocaches, plan, assemble and hide at least 3 caches, one of which should be a multi-cache. Make sure the location is suitable, that you have the landowner's permission where required, and that other geocachers have proper access to the land and terrain.

Note: When you go to hide a geocache, think of the reason you are bringing people to that spot. If the only reason is for the geocache, then find a better spot. Caches you place need to last and be maintained, not merely put there to earn the badge. They are there for other geocachers to find and enjoy.

1. Accompanied by either your Patrol or by an adult, find and log at least a further 25 geocaches. These new finds should include a combination of Multi-Caches, Mystery or Puzzle Caches, Letterbox Hybrid Caches, Virtual Caches and include either an Earth Cache or an Event Cache or a Cache in Trash Out Event (CITO).
2. Complete at least two of the following requirements.
   1. Plan a geocaching activity for your Patrol, Troop or a neighbouring Scout Group, school, or another youth group. Choose a theme, set up a course with at least 10 waypoints. (Note: There is no need to place any caches – for example plan a treasure hunt with questions to answer from signs, objects, or house colours etc at each waypoint). Teach the players how to use a GPS unit or Smartphone enabled GPS and play the game. Discuss your experiences with your Scouter and share the materials you used and developed for this event
   2. Using a 1:50 000 topographical map, or a platform like Google Earth, plan a route of at least 10km that contains a minimum of 10 waypoints. Explain the features and challenges along the route. Programme the route into a handheld GPS and undertake the journey with your Patrol. Evaluate the activity with your Scouter. (Note: that this requirement can also be used towards the Discover Advancement level Expedition requirements).
   3. Explain what Cache in Trash Out (CITO) means and describe how you have practiced CITO at public geocaches or at a CITO event. Then create and host a CITO event for your Scout Group or an event open to the geocaching community.
   4. Keep a logbook detailing your caching journey over a period of 6 months. At least 100 cache finds need to be logged over this period. The logbook should contain at least the date, GC code of the cache, and a short description of the location, conditions, and the caching experience. (Note: That the 15 cache finds for the Scoutcraft badge, plus the 25 cache finds for requirement 5 above, can be used with an additional 60 finds to complete this requirement if all are completed within the 6-month period).

Requirements in PDF

• Geocaching (PDF)

See also

• Scout Interest Badges
• Geocaching Scoutcraft Badge