Roseburg geocaching kick-off event Feb. 7

ROSEBURG, Ore. – Calling all treasure seekers: Roseburg’s next geocaching series launches on Saturday, Feb. 7.

Hosted by Roseburg Parks and Recreation, the Discover Roseburg 15 Land of Umpqua Geocache Series kick-off is a free, family-friendly event designed to draw people of all ages outside to experience more of the city and its businesses. The kick-off will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Roseburg Public Library, where Parks staff will give out verbal instructions and coordinate-containing “passports” for a geocaching treasure hunt.

The event will be held rain, shine or despite a thick fog.

“Geocaching is a great activity for families. It is like a game you can take with you wherever you go! Whether you are out running errands in town or on a vacation in another country, there are always geocaches waiting to be found,” said Roseburg Parks and Recreation Coordinator Tracy David.

An Oregon resident reportedly stashed the first documented GPS-located cache near Beavercreek, Ore., in 2000. The popularity of the sport, which is a high-tech spinoff from orienteering, quickly grew. Roseburg Parks and Rec has been sponsoring the “Discover Roseburg” geocache series for 15 years.

Participants should bring a smart phone or other device with a Global Positioning System, or satellite-based radio navigation system. Using a GPS to follow coordinates printed on passports, they will hunt for five real-world geocaches, or small containers, hidden around town, plus 15 virtual geocaches at special locations. Geocachers will navigate to all the spots and fill out their passports along the way. Download a geocaching app such as Geocaching.com, Cachly, C:geo or geogo. Bring a pen or pencil to sign geocache logs.

The kick-off will feature an “Ask the Expert” table staffed by Mike Baker, a former Roseburg City Councilor and Parks and Recreation Commission chairperson who first suggested a geocaching event begin here to draw visitors.

He will help participants troubleshoot geocaching apps or learn how to use their GPS devices.

Those who find all 20 geocaches in the Discover Roseburg 15 challenge can redeem passports for a limited-edition collector’s geocoin, or metal token, with a trackable ID number. Only 200 are available. The challenge continues until all geocoins are awarded. Participants can share search experiences online at geocaching.com. Participants don’t have to turn in passports that day. They can complete passports on their own time.

After the kick-off, passports can be picked up or dropped off at Roseburg City Hall’s front lobby at 900 S.E. Douglas Ave. from 8 a.m. to noon or 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. After-hours pickup/drop-off is at Hampton Inn and Suites, 1620 N.W. Mulholland Drive. For more information, call 541-492-6899 or tdavid@roseburgor.gov.