Fairmont State Geotrail and GeoCaching workshop announced

On Saturday, July 21, expert geocachers and those new to the sport will come together on the campus of Fairmont State University for the area’s first geocaching workshop and the long-awaited release of the Fairmont State University Geotrail. The trail will include 15 caches hidden around campus and will includes many different varieties at varying difficulties. 

East Fairmont High School student, Mark Webb, has been geocaching for nearly 10 years. As a Fairmont native, he wanted to improve the sport in his local community by adding a geotrail on the campus of Fairmont State. 

“At the heart of geocaching is the community; the people that play the game,” said Webb. “Without people hiding geocaches, there would be nothing to go look for. The Fairmont State Fighting Falcon Geotrail is my chance to give back to the community, and since Fairmont State is involved in community driven activities, if only seemed fitting to hide geocaches on the campus. These caches will be available all the time, for anyone to find, so grab your GPS or smart phone and get searching!”

Geocaching is a real-world, outdoor treasure hunting game using GPS-enabled devices. Participants navigate to a specific set of GPS coordinates and then attempt to find the geocache (container) hidden at that location. Geocaching promotes getting outdoors and exploring your surroundings.

One of the most unique parts of this geotrail will be the virtual cache hidden somewhere on campus. 

“The Victory Bell virtual cache is one of only 2,000 new virtual caches to be released since the archival of the type in 2005. Unlike most geocaches, you aren’t looking for a container, but rather a place. To claim a ‘find’ on this unique and coveted cache, you will need to take a picture with your GPS in hand of the bell. What makes this cache so unique is that no two geocachers will have the same experience!”

More than 50 and up to 200 participants are expected for the event. Six workshops will be held during two breakout sessions. Topics will include Geocaching 101, Creative Gadget Caches, Geocaching Too Box and Project GC, Solving Geocache Puzzles, Cache Placement and Maintenance, and Geocache Types. 

After the closing session, Webb will activate the geotrail and attendees will be among the first to hunt the caches. 

“This trail will have caches for all levels of hunters,” said Webb. “It is a great place to try geocaching for the first time and a new spot for experienced cachers to test their skills. We hope everyone in the local community and the geocaching community come out for this great event.”

For more information on the event and to register, please visit www.fairmontstate.edu/geotrail. 

 

GeotrailMark Webb