| While Geocaching enthusiasts ramp up for an | | | | activity are built to survive environmental |
| active season, an intriguing extension of that | | | | extremes. And the remarkably realistic |
| sport has recently surfaced. It is called | | | | polyurethane rock (or log) housings that shield |
| Geocapsuling, and it's based on the discreet | | | | these small, confined treasures are virtually |
| placement of wilderness time capsules for young | | | | indiscernible from any other natural feature, even |
| family members to retrieve, months or years into | | | | on close inspection. |
| the future. | | | | Protecting capsule contents for an extended stay |
| Sheltered inside hollow, polyurethane replicas of | | | | and choosing a remote drop-site are critical |
| actual rocks or logs, small stainless steel time | | | | factors to consider. And since fostering an |
| capsules are protected from the harsh extremes | | | | appreciation for the wilderness experience is a |
| of environment. As in Geocaching, they are | | | | goal of the sport, the region of placement should |
| purposely left behind. But this new adventure | | | | be given high priority. These issues are fully |
| beckons a future generation of explorers into our | | | | discussed at the sponsoring website called |
| American wilderness. | | | | What should you include inside your time capsule? |
| Geocapsuling has markings of the higher profile | | | | Well, the stainless containers are deliberately small, |
| sport of Geocaching, but it differs in a few distinct | | | | slightly larger than a soft drink can. So you will find |
| areas. Geocapsuling caches are prepared for just | | | | room for private notes, a few photos, a personal |
| one special person, not groups of recurring | | | | item or two. Discovering a gift, keepsake or |
| visitors, as in Geocaching. They are left in an | | | | remembrance in the cache would no doubt add to |
| environmentally disguised housing, not exposed in | | | | the surprise of your explorer descendants. But |
| plastic Tupperware or metal ammo cans that are | | | | the excitement for a future generation to locate |
| typical of Geocaching. And unlike Geocaching, | | | | a spectacular wilderness spot visited by parents |
| these personal time capsules provide a dual family | | | | or grandparents in previous years could be |
| event for both those who leave the cache and | | | | priceless. |
| those who retrieve it. | | | | Is either Geocapsuling or Geocaching "littering" as |
| The family orientation is purposeful. It's an | | | | some have claimed? That will be a hard sell to |
| opportunity for older family members to plant not | | | | hundreds of thousands of current and responsible |
| only a small generational gift for future retrieval, | | | | wilderness devotees around the world. And |
| but also to spark a new incentive for exploration | | | | Geocapsuling incorporates so many alluring |
| among younger family members. Having all the | | | | elements of a treasure hunt that the camouflaged |
| elements of a GPS based wilderness treasure | | | | gems left by an earlier generation are not likely to |
| hunt, the eventual rediscovery trek can occur | | | | be abandoned by any intended recipient. |
| days or years after the original placement. And | | | | As with Geocaching, some public lands are off |
| because this is a two-sided adventure, the fun is | | | | limits to Geocapsuling. Find help in identifying both |
| shared by those who plan and by those who | | | | public and private land alternatives at the Time In |
| retrieve. | | | | A Capsule website. |
| Special stainless steel time capsules meant for the | | | | |