Activity A4L: GPS Treasure Hunt

Note: the procedures described below are for use with the blue Garmin eTrex Legend
GPS receivers (the model supplied in the Advanced Virginia 4-H GPS Educational Kits).
The instructions can easily be altered for use with other GPS receiver models.

Introduction:
This is a basic field exercise that can be used in the early stages of your GPS class since it
is simply a series of GO TO operations. Using their GPS receivers, student teams race to
find the hidden treasure chests, which have been entered as waypoints. Depending on the
terrain and hiding places that you select, a Treasure Hunt can be as easy or as challenging
as you wish to make it.

Time Involved: approximately 50 minutes

Materials Needed:
• GPS receivers
• “Treasure Chests” – squirrel-resistant containers (such as large coffee cans).
• Treasure – popcorn, granola bars, other small prizes

Getting Started:
See “Preparing GPS Receivers for Group Activities”

Prior to your class, stash several small "treasure chests" in scattered locations. Make the
same number of treasure stashes as your number of teams. Place enough goodies inside
each for an entire team. Mark the waypoint of each treasure chest on all of the GPS
receivers. Use a simple identifying name like T-1, T-2, etc. If you have access to an
electronic mapping or waypoint management program, the easiest way to accomplish this
is to mark the waypoints on one receiver and later use your computer to quickly transfer
the data to the other receivers.

Two additional variations that may save you preparation time are described below.

Do the Activity:
Form teams of "treasure hunters". Explain that a pre-determined number of treasure
chests await them, and the locations are marked as waypoints in their GPS receivers.
Their challenge is to race against the other teams to find the hidden treasure ... or, the
teams may choose to collaborate instead, assigning a different treasure to each team,
since there is enough to go around.

Encourage each team to develop an operational plan for their treasure search, something
that will involve all team members. Give them a specific time to return, with or without

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their treasure, and then turn 'em loose. At the end of the search, gather all teams together.
Review any problems or questions that arose during the field exercise. Eat any remaining
treasure.

Variation #1: This one takes less preparation time on your part, but requires a certain
amount of trust in your students. Instead of you stashing the treasure ahead of time, let
each team hide a treasure chest and mark its location in their GPS receivers. Ask each
team to roam and pick a location that is neither too easy nor too difficult. Also ask them
not to eat the contents before they hide it! After hiding their treasure, they then return
and switch receivers with another team that has done the same thing.

Variation #2: For a more advanced class, you may prefer to provide the set of waypoint
coordinates for the students themselves to enter into their GPS receivers. The easiest way
to do this is to Mark a nearby waypoint, then highlight the Location field and change the
coordinates to those of the treasure. Usually only a few tail-end numbers need to be
changed if the treasure location is nearby. The name and symbol can be changed at this
time as well.

Background Information:
Finding a waypoint, in this case a “treasure chest”, is the most basic of GPS receiver
functions. Review the owner’s manual for directions specific to your make and model.
Generally, it is simply a matter of locating the desired waypoint stored in the receiver.
Then highlight and activate the GOTO option. The compass page will pop up with a
directional arrow ready to guide you to the selected waypoint. The arrow will likely be
pointing in a wrong direction at first, since you must be moving for it to work properly.
When you activate a GOTO, your receiver will provide a compass bearing from your
current position to the destination. Unlike the arrow, this bearing will be correct whether
or not you are moving.

“Geocaching” is the ultimate world-wide GPS treasure hunt. See the intermediate and
advanced levels of this Virginia 4-H GPS Curriculum series for more information about
these exciting opportunities for your group.

Note: Comments and suggestions regarding this activity and other components of the Virginia
4-H GPS curriculum are appreciated. Please contact Mike Clifford at:
mjc4h@vt.edu / 804-561-5411 / 11131 Amelia Springs Rd., Jetersville, VA 23083

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Mike Clifford
03-05-07 rev.
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