September 2014 - GEO CACHING AND ROPE COURSES

Remember the old game of Hot and Cold?...........Freezing, colder, cold, warm, hot, hot, steaming hot and then screaming you found it! Just like everything in the world today, the game of Hot and Cold has been electronically modernized into a treasure hunt called Geocaching. This outdoor treasure hunt can be played anywhere in the world using a GPS-enabled device and websites like www.geocaching.com. Participants navigate to a specific set of GPS coordinates and then attempt to find the geocache (container) hidden at that location. On the surface, it may sound a bit confusing and that’s why we decided to test our skills locally at the Lincoln Marsh Nature Area via a Geocaching program offered through the Wheaton Park District. Geocaching is offered during all seasons and is recommended for ages 8 and up. All the equipment and training is provided and costs about $10/person to participate.

It didn’t take longer than a few minutes for our group of gals to learn the GPS unit and hit the trails running to seek and find the hidden cache (container). It’s as simple as following an arrow (similar to a compass) and watching how near or far you are from your treasure. Once you discover the container, you can take a prize, and are encouraged to leave a prize for the next person. As we searched the nature area for containers, we passed many other awesome activities offered at Lincoln Marsh, such as the High Ropes Course which is the perfect quest for team building exercises, scouts, family reunions, youth groups, etc. Participants engage in a series of challenging activities that enable them to work together to accomplish a task. There are low and high rope courses, power poles, a 50-foot climbing tower, crate stacking, and more. The park also features additional outdoor adventures including cross country skiing, snowshoeing, canoeing, orienteering, hiking, and bird watching. Endless, outdoor, year-round fun for all ages! - Kristen Kucharski

OVERVIEW

The park features wetlands, grasslands, prairies, woodlands, and offers nature discovery programs, high ropes courses, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, canoeing (at Northside Park), geocaching, orienteering, scout badges, hiking, bird watching, and picnicking.

Lincoln Marsh Natural Area, Corner of Harrison and Pierce Avenue, Wheaton, IL

630-871-2810

www.lincolnmarsh.org

Hours: Dawn till Dusk

Prices: Entrance to the natural area is free, program cost vary depending on selection

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