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Geocaching for exercise and activity research (GEAR): Exploring the physical activity aspects of a modern recreational activity
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Whitney Garney, MPH,
Center for Community Health Development, Texas A&M School of Rural Public Health, College Station, TX
Marcia G. Ory, PhD, MPH,
Social & Behavioral Health, Texas A&M HSC School of Rural Public Health, College Station, TX
Monique Ingram, M.P.H.,
Center for Community Health Development, Texas A&M School of Rural Public Health, College Station, TX
Billie Castle,
Center for Community Health Development, Texas A&M School of Rural Public Health, College Station, TX
Background: Promoting increased physical activity is a central strategy to affecting energy balance and combating obesity. An activity known as geocaching is growing in popularity, but no research yet exists regarding the physical activity aspects of this activity. Simply put, geocaching is a high-tech treasure hunt, in which the geocacher uses a GPS application (typically on a smart phone or using a handheld GPS) to locate caches typically consisting of a small container with a trinket and a paper log to sign. Caches are located all over the world, and hundreds of thousands of people engage in geocaching each week. This study seeks to document the extent to which geocaching can be promoted as a form of physical activity. Methods: This exploratory study partnered with Texas Parks and Wildlife, who host a geocaching challenge in their numerous state parks, and Geocaching.com, a free website that catalogues millions of available caches and their coordinates. Geocachers across the US were recruited through these partners' social media (n=1,000) and were given a pedometer and a logbook to record information about their geocaching experiences. They are currently being surveyed monthly about their geocaching activity, including time spent, number of steps, with whom they geocache, and how vigorous their activity is while geocaching. Results: We have just begun data collection (January 2013), but will have eight months of data to present by the annual meeting. Conclusion: The findings will elucidate the extent to which practitioners can promote geocaching as a form of low-cost physical activity.
Learning Areas:
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Learning Objectives:
Describe what the activity of geocaching entails;
Differentiate among different types of populations that engage in geocaching and variations in their levels of physical activity; and
Discuss the extent to which geocaching can be promoted as a form of physical activity.
Keyword(s): Physical Activity, Technology
Presenting author's disclosure statement:Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the co-principal investigator for the Geocaching for Exercise and Activity Research (GEAR) Study. I have directed GEAR through its planning, implementation, and evaluation processes and have worked firsthand in data collection and analysis.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines,
and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed
in my presentation.