Keep Them Learning All Summer Long (2 of 3)

Enrichment Activities for Families

It’s summer! In between the summer camps, pool parties, and lazy summer days, I encourage parents to add one more activity to their summer calendar: enrichment.

In part one of this three-part Virtual Voice blog series, I shared enrichment opportunities that could be found at your local public library.

For part two, I will be sharing another enriching activity that will keep students learning all summer long: geocaching.

Geocaching

Enrichment Areas: Critical and creative thinking, map and navigation skills, technology application, math, creative writing, and teamwork

Yes, I know what you are thinking! Geocaching was popular in the early 2000s, but remember many of our children lack basic map skills and this enrichment activity will interest both boys and girls!

For those parents out there who may not have had the opportunity to trek through lush Florida fields in search of a little metal box with trinkets inside, Geocaching.com defines this enriching activity perfectly, “Geocaching is a real-world outdoor treasure hunting game. Players try to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, using GPS-enabled devices and then share their experiences online.”

This is a free activity if you have a GPS, GPS enabled smartphone, or geocaching app. Remember to pack a notebook, camera, water, snacks, and a first aid kit (just in case). I would recommend this activity for ages 3 and up. You can even dress your little ones up like pirates or Indiana Jones so they‘ll get into the spirit! Remember to study up on geocaching to get all of the tips and insights from veteran geocachers.  In the Orlando area alone there are thousands of caches waiting to be discovered!

A great way to extend this activity with creative writing and technology is to create a family blog, special Facebook page, Twitter account, or Pinterest board (if you don’t already have one) that highlights your family’s geocaching  expeditions. For younger children, have them draw pictures of the family adventure or of the cache you discovered and upload these images into your special social media site.  The older children can type directly into the blog or Facebook page, happily sharing all of the fun details of their day.  Posting videos is another great way to share summer exploits with friends and family across the globe. So, remember to take video of your children finding the cache and maybe narrate the video with the story of your family’s adventure! Trust me; your friends and family will get the urge to start geocaching with their families once you start sharing your wonderful stories.

Grab your family and start your geocaching adventure today!