Geocaching for exercise and activity research (GEAR): Exploring the physical activity aspects of a modern recreational activity

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.