Geocaching
Today’s treasure hunts are open to people of all ages, and all you need is a cellphone or GPS tracking device (free Wi-Fi offered at a number of city parks). It’s called geocaching, and for those who haven’t tried it, it’s the search for a hidden container—a geocache. Participants navigate to a set of GPS coordinates, head to the location and scope it out. “The fun is just going out and finding it, so you never know what you’re going to get,” says Kathy Simmonds, who enjoys geocaching in Coquitlam with her two sons. A cache contains a log sheet to record the find. Larger caches may also contain items to keep, as long as you leave something of greater or equal value in its place. Some are tiny and hard to find, while others are large containers full of trinkets. Simmonds pointed out that geocaching is about being mindful of nature. “Cache in, trash out,” she said, meaning that participants even pick up litter. It’s all about community, nature and having fun outdoors. Maillardville is a great spot to do some geocaching as it has 12 geocaches, each with a historical connection to Maillardville in both English and French—including Maillardville’s origins, the wave of migration from the Prairies during the Depression, how the community works to preserve its culture and more. Try a fun geocaching activity at maillardville.com/en/geocaching-a-maillardville. Coquitlam is riddled with caches to find. Register for free at geocaching.com. and find more info at bcgeocaching.com.
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