Passport to Texas

This is Passport to Texas

State park visitors hunt for containers filled with trinkets when they’re geocaching. Yet, in time, they discover the real treasure is spending time in nature.

03—I guess maybe that’s the secret cache; the unknown one.

Cassie Cox, with the Texas Outdoor Family Program, aims to change that. The staffs of the Texas Outdoor Family program and state parks teach visitors geocaching as a way to connect them with the natural world.

17—It’s bridges nature and technology. It uses that technology to encourage children, and families and other people to get outdoors, and to get on the trail. You have a mission [to locate a cache], and you’re using that technology to help you find it. And along the way you may discover things that you haven’t ever seen before.

Like wildlife, plant life, or unusual geologic features.

Using coordinates from geocaching.com and a hand-held GPS or smart phone, visitors hit the trail…and ideally… don’t stray far from it.

08—It’s best to stay on the trail – that’s a Leave No Trace principle. It helps you be safe, and it helps protect the resources in the park.

September is the time to learn about geocaching; it’s the outdoor activity of the month at Texas State Parks.

09—Just go on the [TPW] webpage, look at a park near you to see if they’re offering geocaching workshops. Trust me, you’ll have a
great time; it’s addicting. It’s so much fun.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.