Geocaching

The Bruce Grey Trail Network (BGTN) has partnered with the scouting and guide movements in Bruce and Grey counties and with Grey Bruce Partners In Health to launch a youth-oriented geocaching project in Bruce and Grey.

A committee headed by BGTN, with members representing Port Elgin, Owen Sound and Chesley Scouts, and Port Elgin Girl Guides, has been formed to develop and implement the project.

Some funding is provided by the Scouts, Guides and BGTN, but the major funding for the project is being supplied by Grey Bruce Partners in Health. To date, eight hand-held Global Positioning System units have been purchased and have been assigned to Scout and Guide leaders for training purposes. Additional units will be purchased and, eventually, units will be available to a wide variety of youth groups on a loan basis.

As the project develops, coordinates of caches placed by the Scouts and Guides will be added to our website. No caches will be hidden by project partners on private or public lands without permission first being obtained. Please check often for updates.

The following general information on geocaching is supplied with permission from the Ontario Geocaching Association. Please visit the OGA website at www.ontgeocaching.com or for more global information visit www.geocaching.com.

See our Geocaching FAQ page for more information. 

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Geocaching Kits

Geocaching kits are now available to be borrowed at 15 library branches in Bruce and Grey Counties, with plans calling for kits to be in every library in the two counties by year-end. Kits are  in Grey County at Markdale, Hanover, Meaford, Durham, Thornbury, Dundalk and the North Grey Union Public Library in Owen Sound. In Bruce County, kits may be borrowed from the   Tobermory, Lion's Head, Wiarton, Sauble Beach, Southampton, Walkerton, Kincardine and Ripley libraries.

The geocaching kits have been placed in the libraries by the Bruce Grey Trail Network in partnership with Grey Bruce Partners in Health, Grey Bruce Health Unit, the Bruce County Library system and individual libraries in Grey County. Each kit contains a hand-held Global Positioning System (GPS) unit, The Complete Guide to Geocaching DVD and the book Geocaching for Dummies book.

Summary / Stats

As the urban sprawl continues to grow and lands become developed the need to protect key environmental areas grows with it.  Geocaching helps to add awareness and generate positive public perception of the importance of protecting our green spaces.  It also re-enforces many positive ideals in our society….those being the enjoyment of the outdoors, keeping our natural habitats secure and the recreation of the general population whether they are families or individuals.

As of mid-August, 2008, there  were more than 10,000 active geocaches in Ontario and more than 630,000 caches worldwide.