TREENA MIELKE/Rimbey Review
An innovative program that encourages exercise, community involvement and simply having fun is now in the works in the community.
Geocaching will give residents a chance to exercise, keep their town clean and have an opportunity to pick up a prize in the process.
Geocaching is a real-world, outdoor treasure hunting game using GPS-enabled devices, explained recreation program co-ordinator Peter Stenstrom.
“Participants navigate to a specific set of GPS coordinates and then attempt to find the geocache (container) hidden at that location.”
Strenstrom said cache locations will be hidden around Rimbey and their GPS locations will be posted on www.rimbey.com
“It’s simple really,” he said. “You are sitting in your living room and you decide to go for a walk and you just have to check out the location on the website.”
Each location will have a weather proof container that will contain a ‘logbook’ and a gift item from the sponsor organization.
Once the cache has been found the person simply has to sign the logbook, take the prize from the sponsor organization and replace it with a gift of their own for the next person.
“Rimbey Recreation Services will supply the basic cache supplies and run the program,” said Stenstrom.
“And GPS units will be available to sign-out at the Rimbey Community Centre.”
The business community is invited to participate in the geocaching project by following a few simple guidelines.
The sponsor organization names the cache and decorates it to identify it to their organization and stock it with a gift once a month.
“Rimbey organizations that participate will benefit greatly,” said Stenstrom. “Being a sponsor will provide inexpensive, visible advertising. As the program is advertised, so will your organization. Participating organizations will also be contributing to Rimbey on a community level. This will generate good will towards the organizations.”
Anyone who would like to get involved or sponsor an organization contact Peter at the Rimbey Community Centre at 403-843-3151.
The program is scheduled to begin later this summer or in early fall.