By Amanda Jess
Although the participation numbers for the Kings County Museum’s geocaching event were low, it had no effect on the experience.
Summer student employee Lydia Ritcey said the 11 people who came out for the Aug. 18 event loved it.
Geocaching enthusiast and board of directors volunteer for the museum Heather Preston had some insight into why people enjoy it so much.
“It’s like a treasure hunt,” she said.
Preston has been geocaching for six years and is addicted.
She said she doesn’t get out to do it as much as she would like, but she has managed to find 50 caches in the area. Geocaching has also allowed her to see more of the Annapolis Valley.
“I’ve found waterfalls I never knew existed,” she said.
When places like the Kings County Museum aren’t holding geocaching events, Preston and other hobbyists don’t have any trouble taking part.
They just visit geocaching.com, type in their postal code and they’ll find a list of every cache in the area.
Preston said some caches are big boxes where you get to take a keepsake and replace it with something of your own, while others are as small as a film canister and the only thing you would leave is your name.
The caches are well hidden from “muggles,” the term Preston said is used for those who don’t participate in the activity.
“You hide them so that someone who doesn’t know what geocaching is doesn’t take it,” she said.
Preston said she thinks it’s a popular activity everywhere, including here in Kings County. She added that there is a small group that meets for coffee and discusses geocaching, although she’s not part of it.
“You can do it anywhere in the world,” Preston said, adding that it’s something you can do by yourself, with your family or use it to meet people.
