How Interpretive Geocaching Links Partners and Delivers Visitors to National Historic Trails. SORP Conference April 14, 2015

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1 Partners and Delivers Visitors to National SORP Conference April 14, 2015

2 What is Geocaching? Someone hides a container -- the cache -- and posts data about it to

3 What is Geocaching? Using a handheld GPS or smartphone, you travel to the posted location and search for the cache container

4 What is a GeoTrail? Multiple caches connected by theme or location. -- the War of 1812 in the Chesapeake -- Captain John Smith and early explorations of the Chesapeake

5 Cache the Trail Use the Passport Log the required number of sites Receive a GeoCoin

6 124,000,000 Annual visits to 477,000 Facebook Likes 67,000 Twitter Followers 36,000 YouTube Subscribers 29,000 Instagram Followers

7 Opportunities for I&E On the Passport On the geocaching webpage In the cache container On-site, as part of a multi-cache

8 How do you build a GeoTrail? Find your partners Identify sites Get permissions Write the stories Identify code words Order materials Develop a passport Design a Prize Have a Launch Party

9 Materials Containers Log books Stickers Pencils Trinkets Interpretive piece

10 Volunteer Geocachers Work with site managers to place caches Create and approve cache pages Spread the word in the community Help maintain the caches

11 1957: The Accokeek Foundation was founded to preserve and protect a historic vista - the view from George Washington s Mount Vernon from development. Initiated a large landscape conservation effort. 1961: JFK signs the executive order establishing Piscataway Park as a national park. 1967: Piscataway Park was formally created and dedicated. Piscataway Park covers approx. 5,000 acres, stretching 6 miles along the Potomac River in Maryland. Through a cooperative agreement with the NPS, the Accokeek Foundation stewards and manages 200 acres of the park while providing visitor services to more than 25,000 visitors annually.

12 The Accokeek Foundation Mission: to cultivate passion for the natural and cultural heritage of Piscataway Park and commitment to stewardship and sustainability.

13 Benefits of Targeting Geocaching Audience: Attracting new and more diverse audiences, Raise visibility of the site as a destination for recreation and tourism, New opportunities to deliver interpretive messages on screen an on site.

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15 Kicking off the Captain John Smith Geotrail! June 2011 at Piscataway Park

16 Enhancing Interpretation with a Multi-Cache! It was a perfect geocaching day. Loved walking out on the pier and taking in the great views of the river and the historic place across the way. The water was really moving this afternoon and it was neat to see the waves crashing against the shore.

17 Found [the cache] on a beautiful Thanksgiving Day. We never new this park was here and though we had placed a couple of CJS caches we have not made a point of taking the whole tour. The information in the park is great and walking around the trails is very interesting with great views. The three CJS caches in the park give a great introduction to the park. Thanks! source: Geocaching.com CJS National Colonial Farm Accokeek Foundation cache page

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19 The Chesapeake Bay: A Place of Endless Discovery

20 Questions? How to Contact Us. Cindy Chance, Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail National Park Service Chesapeake Anjela Barnes, Director of Marketing Accokeek Foundation