MOUNT VERNON – The Knox County Park District has launched a new trail for enthusiasts of high-tech digital scavenger hunting — known as “geocaching” — in which participants use their mobile phones to locate designated sites.
The new trail is on the Mohican and Kokosing rivers, Katie Hux, park district administrative assistant, told the Mount Vernon News.
“The Knox County Park district operates 11 landings for launching kayaks or canoes or fishing,” she said. “We thought that would be a neat place to place the geocaches.”
The goal is to use the geocaches not only as a game but also for education.
“We make it educational by way of a QR code,” Hux said. “When they locate the geocache on each of the locations, there is a QR code in the container. Once they scan that, it takes them to a site that I created that includes information about that location, the history of the river, various things. Each QR code is like a tour guide.”
There are 10 geocaches on the trail. If visitors find all 10, they are given a digital quiz on what they’ve learned and become eligible to receive a metal “geo coin” that the park district will mail to them.
“The coin is like a gold medal,” Hux said. “Some geocachers won’t even come to your trail if you’re not giving them a coin. And it has to be a metal coin. We learned early on that if you are going to call it a coin, it better be made of metal.”
It’s a way to learn about, exercise in and enjoy the wilderness and the outdoors all while playing a game, Hux said.
The park district launched geocaching on the multi-use trails last year.
“The multi-use trails are on what was once the Pennsylvania Railroad bed,” Hux said. “The history behind those was about the railroad. They scanned the QR code, took the quiz and learned information about the railroad. Part of the Knox County Park District’s mission statement is to provide historical information. With this recreational concept, we are doing that.”
The park district has ordered 400 coins for this year’s trail, which was launched on June 4.
“So far, we have had 42 people go through the trail,” Hux said. “It’s satisfying to see people enjoying the nature we have in Knox County.”
Local businesses also benefit from geocaching.
“We have 29 businesses that have offered to be ‘hospitality stops,’” Hux said. “They are willing to give these geo-travelers some type of coupon or discount. We’ve got lodging, restaurants, shopping.”
When travelers scan the QR code, they can click on an icon to learn more about the nearby hospitality stops.
“The coupon pops up on their phone, and they take their phone to the business to show that they were a geocacher on the trail, and they are given the discount,” Hux said.
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