Geocaching - SERC

Online Learning Activities for Kids Over the Holiday

November 20, 2012 by serchomeschool

Happy Thanksgiving to all our Home School families!

I know many of you will be busy cooking your turkey or to-furkey and needing to keep the kids busy. Here are some fun educational activities to consider. If you’re like me you grew up reading (and still reading) Ranger Rick. Ranger Rick has come come into the modern age with great web pages and a new cousin for younger readers, called Ranger Ricky, or Ranger Rick Jr.

Here are some great online learning games:http://www.nwf.org/Kids/Games.aspx

You can learn about what different sharks are named and what bats eat. There are so many good things to learn and play!

Here you can read about all sorts of animals:http://www.nwf.org/Kids/Ranger-Rick/Animals.aspx

Here are some fun games from the Discovery Channel, from chasing tornadoes to finding whales. This site is probably better for older kids, ages 12+  http://dsc.discovery.com/games/games.html

GEOCACHING and Ranger Rick at SERC

Geocaching is using your GPS, either on your phone or GPS unit, and finding hidden “caches” or treasures at given coordinates. There are hidden boxes all over MD, and probably near you. You can find the coordinates at Geocache.com and type in the location you’re interested in. It’s a great way to combine being outdoors and technology. Just be sure the areas you go into are safe this time of year, and wear bright colors!

Here at SERC we have geocaching boxes in partnership with NWF and Ranger Rick Geocaching. Several of our home school families help maintain 10 boxes on our 3 trails . There will be some new boxes and micro-caches soon! AFTER DECEMBER 8TH (hunting season will be over) you too can come in to geocache the “treasure” boxes (or even before or after class!).

Name	Coordinates
JAVA TRAIL
That A Way Piscataway	N 38° 53.232 W 076° 32.738
Java Cash Crop	N 38° 53.367 W 076° 32.934
Vernal Stream	N 38° 53.134 W 076° 32.922
DISCOVERY TRAIL	Coordinates
Beeched in Frog Canyon	N 38° 53.043 W 076° 33.259
Discover Log	N 38° 52.960 W 076° 33.174
Hoggin’ All the Cache	N 38° 52.726 W 076° 33.092
Contee Watershed Trail	Coordinates
Ruins, I see Ruins	N 38° 53.505 W 076° 32.769
Treasure of the Watershed	N 38° 53.561 W 076° 32.860
All Fall Down	N 38° 53.632 W 076° 32.758
Contee Cache	N 38° 53.676 W 076° 32.500