SDG COUNTIES, Ontario - With the summer weather at its height, the Raisin Region Conservation Authority (RRCA) is challenging residents to explore local environmentally significant sites by participating in the Raisin Region GeoAdventure, a geocaching treasure hunt. With a goal of finding 20 hidden geocaches, participants will be brought on an adventure throughout the RRCA’s watershed jurisdiction in Cornwall and the surrounding areas of SDG Counties.
Geocaching, a world-wide, outdoor activity, lets participants use smartphones or other GPS devices to find secret containers hidden by other geocachers.
“The Raisin Region GeoAdventure is a great way for residents to explore and learn about some of the natural features and environmental projects in the RRCA’s jurisdiction, all while challenging themselves to find hidden geocaches,” said Claudia Munafo, RRCA’s Public Information Coordinator. “Some of the cache locations include watershed management infrastructure, public greenspaces, an edible forest, and habitat restoration projects.”
All 20 caches contain a unique QR code, that when scanned with a smartphone, lead to hidden digital content that contains information about each location. Twelve of the 20 caches, each numbered in gold, contain a special GeoAdventure code, which when combined, allows the final cache site to be unlocked. All code-containing caches are accessible in the Cornwall area by walking, cycling, or using Cornwall Transit. Cache sites were selected in consultation with municipal, community, and Indigenous partners.
“The Raisin Region GeoAdventure has accumulated over 1,900 finds to date,” said Munafo. “We love to see families spending time outdoors together while hunting for caches and learning about our local environment.”
Those who crack the final cache will earn a special limited-edition Raisin Region Geocoin. Each coin is engraved with a unique tracking number and can either be kept as a trophy or placed inside a cache to then travel as other geocachers move the coin from cache to cache. The coin’s travels can be tracked online at geocaching.com.
Detailed GeoAdventure instructions and a downloadable map can be found at rrca.on.ca/GeoAdventure. Printed maps are also available at the RRCA office at 18045 County Road 2 in Cornwall and at other select locations. Funding support for the Raisin Region GeoAdventure was provided by the City of Cornwall.