Session offers geocaching lesson

“We didn’t know what geocaching was, and we wanted to try something new,” said Wanda Davila, of Harker Heights.

Geocaching is a game that provides its participants the opportunity to discover the outdoors and search for hidden containers holding treasures, tasks or clues.

Simply put, it is adventure treasure hunting for everyone.

Geocaching.com reports there are more than 6 million geocachers searching for more than 2.5 million cache sites in 184 countries, and one site on the International Space Station 230 miles above the Earth.

“I got started to get my grandkids into nature and enjoy the outdoors,” said Beverly Travis, geocaching instructor.

Travis has geocached in 15 states and in five European countries.

Using a GPS, participants get into nature and search for hidden containers that hold a number of items. One location may reward its discoverer with a coin, while another directs its finder to take an item and leave one in its place. Those looking for more extensive adventure can search for cache sites that provide directions to a second or third site and a possible prize.

Tony Young, an avid geocacher, has been hunting sites for 10 years, finding thousands of items.

“My family and I took a trip to a nephew’s wedding earlier this year, and we geocached in the 15 states we traveled through,” Young said.

There are about 1,000 geocaching sites in the greater Killeen area.

More information about geocaching can be found at Geocaching.com and the Bell County Outdoor Adventure Club on Meetup.com.