Geocaching Merit Badge

Workbook
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This workbook can help you, but you still need to read the merit badge pamphlet.
No one can add or subtract from the Boy Scout Requirements #33216. Each Scout must do each requirement.

These requirements are effective: April 9, 2010 • This workbook was updated: June 15, 2010.

Scout’s Name: ____________________________ Unit: __________________

Counselor’s Name: ________________________ Counselor’s Ph #: __________________

REQUIREMENTS:

1. Do the following:

a. Explain to your counselor the most likely hazards you may encounter while participating
in geo-caching activities and what you should do to anticipate, help prevent, mitigate, and
respond to these hazards.
Hazard Prevent Mitigate Respond

b. Discuss first aid and prevention for the types of injuries or illnesses that could occur while
participating in geocaching activities, including cuts, scrapes, snakebite, insect stings, tick
bites, exposure to poisonous plants, heat and cold reactions (sunburn, heatstroke, heat
exhaustion, hypothermia), and dehydration.
First Aid Prevention
Cuts & Scrapes
Snakebite
Insect & Tick bites
Poisonous plants
Heat & Cold
Reactions
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Geocaching Merit Badge Workbook Scout's Name: _____________________________________

c. Discuss how to properly plan an activity that uses GPS, including using the buddy
system, sharing your plan with others, and considering the weather, route, and proper
attire.

Buddy System
Trek Plan
Weather, Route
Proper Attire

2. Discuss the following with your counselor:

a. Why you should never bury a cache?

_______________________________________________________________________

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b. How to use proper geocaching etiquette when hiding or seeking a cache, and how to
properly hide a geocache.

Etiquette:_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

Hiding:_________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

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c. The principles of Leave No Trace as they apply to geocaching.

_______________________________________________________________________

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Geocaching Merit Badge Workbook Scout's Name: _____________________________________

3. Explain the following terms used in geocaching: waypoint, log, cache, accuracy, difficulty and
terrain ratings, attributes, trackable.

Waypoint:__________________________________________________________________

Log:______________________________________________________________________

Cache:____________________________________________________________________

Accuracy:__________________________________________________________________

Difficulty:__________________________________________________________________

Terrain:___________________________________________________________________

Attributes:_________________________________________________________________

Trackable:_________________________________________________________________

Choose five additional terms to explain to your counselor.

1. _______________________________________________________________________

2. _______________________________________________________________________

3. _______________________________________________________________________

4. _______________________________________________________________________

5. _______________________________________________________________________

4. Explain how the Global Positioning System (GPS) works.

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

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Geocaching Merit Badge Workbook Scout's Name: _____________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

Then, using Scouting’s Teaching EDGE, demonstrate the use of a GPS unit to your
counselor. Include marking and editing a waypoint, changing field functions, and changing
the coordinate system in the unit.

5. Do the following:

a. Show that you know how to use a map and compass and explain why this is important for
geocaching.

Notes:__________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

b. Explain the similarities and differences between GPS navigation and standard map
reading skills and describe the benefits of each.

Notes:__________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

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c. Explain the UTM (Universal Transverse Mercator) system and how it differs from the
latitude/longitude system used for public geocaches.

Notes:__________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

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Geocaching Merit Badge Workbook Scout's Name: _____________________________________

d. Show how to plot a UTM waypoint on a map. Compare the accuracy to that found with a
GPS unit.

Notes:__________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

e. Describe the four steps to finding your first cache to your counselor. Then mark and edit a
waypoint.

Notes:__________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

6. With your parent’s permission*, go to Geocaching.com. Type in your ZIP code to locate
public geocaches in your area. Print out information about three of those geocaches and
share this with your counselor.
*To fulfill this requirement, you will need to set up a free user account with Geocaching.com.
Ask your parent for permission and help before you do so.

One:__________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

Two:__________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

Three:__________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

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Geocaching Merit Badge Workbook Scout's Name: _____________________________________

7. Do ONE of the following:

a. If a Cache to Eagle series exists in your council, visit at least three of the 12 locations.
Describe the projects that each cache you visit highlights, and explain how the Cache to
Eagle program helps share our Scouting service with the public.

One:___________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

Two:___________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

Three:__________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

Explain:________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

b. Create a Scouting-related travel bug that promotes one of the values of Scouting.
"Release" your travel bug into a public geocache and, with your parent’s permission,
monitor its progress at www.geocaching.com for 30 days. Keep a log and share this with
your counselor at the end of the 30-day period.

(See attachment for sample log.)

c. Set up and hide a public geocache, following all the www.geocaching.com guidelines.
With your parent’s permission, follow the logs online for 30 days and share them with
your counselor.

(See attachment for sample log.)

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Geocaching Merit Badge Workbook Scout's Name: _____________________________________

d. Explain what Cache In Trash Out (CITO) means, and describe how you have practiced
CITO at public geocaches or at a CITO event. Then, either create CITO containers to
leave at public caches, or host a CITO event for your unit or for the public.

Notes:__________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

8. Plan a geohunt for a youth group such as your troop or a neighboring pack, at school, or
your place of worship. Choose a theme, set up a course with at least four waypoints, teach
the players how to use a GPS unit, and play the game. Tell your counselor about your
experience, and share the materials you used and developed for this event.

Notes:____________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

Online Resources: (Use any Internet resource with caution and only with your parent’s or guardian’s permission.)
Boy Scouts of America: ►Scouting.org ►Guide to Safe Scouting ►Age-Appropriate Guidelines
►Safe Swim Defense ►Safety Afloat
►Scout ►Tenderfoot ►Second Class ►First Class

Rank Videos ►Safety Afloat
Merit Badge Phamplets: www.scoutstuff.org

Requirement Resources

Boy Scout Merit Badge Workbooks: meritbadge.org -or- usscouts.org

General Resources

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Geocaching Merit Badge Workbook Scout's Name: _____________________________________

Attachment 1

Travel Bug or Geocache 30-day Logsheet

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