BSA Geocaching Merit Badge. This was designed to be a 5 day virtual and instructor lead presentation used during the COVID-19 pandemic for scouts. Normally a Merit Badge presentation would not be so detailed nor would it cover and complete many of the actual requirements . Due to the pandemic i opted to make this and opportunity of edutainment (educate and entertain). Day 5 of 5

1. GEOCACHING
Merit Badge
Merit Badge Counselor – JB Murphy – “MURF”

2. GEOCACHING
Merit Badge
Session 5

3. SCOUTS BSA – GEOCACHING MERIT BADGE SLIDE SUB-TITLE
REVIEW OF REQUIREMENT #8
• To be completed by the scout
We will review each of the 4 options of Merit Badge
Requirement # 8.
All Scout will be required to complete 1 of the 4 options

4. SCOUTS BSA – GEOCACHING MERIT BADGE
CONT’D
REQUIRMENTS REVIEW
8.
Do ONE of the following:
(a) If a Cache to Eagle® series exists in your council, visit at least three of the
locations in the series. Describe the projects that each cache you visit highlights,
and explain how the Cache to Eagle® program helps share our Scouting service
with the public.
(b) Create a Scouting-related Travel Bug® that promotes one of the values of
Scouting. “Release” your Travel Bug into a public geocache and, with your parent’s
permission, monitor its progress at www.geocaching.com for 30 days. Keep
a log, and share this with your counselor at the end of the 30-day period.
SLIDE SUB-TITLE

5. SCOUTS BSA – GEOCACHING MERIT BADGE SLIDE SUB-TITLE
CACHE TO EAGLE
• A partnership of Geocaching.com and Boy Scouts of America
during the 2010 National Jamboree in Virginia.
• Intended to introduce Scouting to Geocahing and Geocachers to Scouting.
• The 100th anniversary of scouting in America.
• Eagle Scout Mike Rowe was in attendance.
In the Google class room there
are several references discussing
the Cache To Eagle program.

6. SCOUTS BSA – GEOCACHING MERIT BADGE SLIDE SUB-TITLE
CACHE TO EAGLE
What is Cache to Eagle? The first Cache to Eagle series began in Marin County, as a series
of 12 public geocaches hidden at the sites of eagle projects.
Each cache location has a clue in addition to the normal cache contents – each clue is
a point of the Scout Law. When a person finds all 12, and sends in the clues
(they are in random order) they can win a patch as a prize.
This way, our Eagle service projects will be seen by thousands of geocaching members
of the community. The Scouts get their work highlighted and can visit sites for ideas
if they haven’t done a project yet.!

7. SCOUTS BSA – GEOCACHING MERIT BADGE SLIDE SUB-TITLE
Cache to Eagle in the Hudson Valley Council
• Rockland District

8. SCOUTS BSA – GEOCACHING MERIT BADGE SLIDE SUB-TITLE
CACHE TO EAGLE
• If anyone is interested in setting up a Cache to Eagle in their own district with in the
Hudson Valley Council, please reach out to Mr. Murphy.
• If any one outside our Council wishes to setup a Cache to Eagle please reach out to the
local council office.
Mr. Murphy is looking for a few
scouts to work on this project for
Heritage District

9. SCOUTS BSA – GEOCACHING MERIT BADGE
CONT’D
REQUIRMENTS REVIEW
8.
Do ONE of the following:
(a) If a Cache to Eagle® series exists in your council, visit at least three of the
locations in the series. Describe the projects that each cache you visit highlights,
and explain how the Cache to Eagle® program helps share our Scouting service
with the public.
(b) Create a Scouting-related Travel Bug® that promotes one of the values of
Scouting. “Release” your Travel Bug into a public geocache and, with your parent’s
permission, monitor its progress at www.geocaching.com for 30 days. Keep
a log, and share this with your counselor at the end of the 30-day period.
SLIDE SUB-TITLE

10. SCOUTS BSA – GEOCACHING MERIT BADGE SLIDE SUB-TITLE
What is a Trackable
• A Geocaching Trackable is a tag with a geocaching code that you attach to an item and placed
in a cache or taken with you from cache to cache. This allows you to track your geocaching
trackable through your Geocaching profile. The item becomes a hitchhiker that is carried from
cache to cache (or person to person) in the real world and you can follow its progress online.
To look up or log a trackable on Geocaching.com enter the tracking code into the tracking box.
Find out how to search for a trackable on the Geocaching® app.

11. SCOUTS BSA – GEOCACHING MERIT BADGE SLIDE SUB-TITLE
Types of Trackables
• Travel Bug
• A Travel Bug is the standard for trackables. Travel Bugs are metal dog tags,
typically they are attached to another object.
• Geocoins
• A Geocoin is a special trackable invented by Moun10Bike. Geocoins are often
created by geocachers to commemorate special events or as a signature item to
leave in geocaches. Geocoins come in all shapes and sizes. Geocoins are often
kept in personal collections
• Other Trackable Items
• Other than the traditional Travel Bugs and Geocoins there are all sorts of items
that have unique tracking codes associated with them such as tags, t-shirts,
stickers, legos and tattoos!

12. SCOUTS BSA – GEOCACHING MERIT BADGE SLIDE SUB-TITLE
REQUIRMENT # 8(b)
• Scout Related Travel Bug.
Mr. Murphy has this
one at Camp Bullowa

13. SCOUTS BSA – GEOCACHING MERIT BADGE SLIDE SUB-TITLE
REQUIRMENT # 8(b)
• Travel Bug Log.

14. SCOUTS BSA – GEOCACHING MERIT BADGE
CONT’D
REQUIRMENTS REVIEW
8. CONT’D
Do ONE of the following:
(c) Set up and hide a public geocache, following the guidelines in the Geocaching
merit badge pamphlet. Before doing so, share with your counselor a three-month
maintenance plan for the geocache where you are personally responsible for those
three months. After setting up the geocache, with your parent’s permission, follow
the logs online for 30 days and share them with your counselor. You must archive
the geocache when you are no longer maintaining it.
(d) Explain what Cache In Trash Out (CITO) means, and describe how you
have practiced CITO at public geocaches or at a CITO event. Then, either create
CITO containers to leave at public caches, or host a CITO event for your unit or
for the public.
SLIDE SUB-TITLE

15. SCOUTS BSA – GEOCACHING MERIT BADGE SLIDE SUB-TITLE
You are encourage to find at least 20 geocaches before hiding one.
The more variety of geocaches you find, the better you will understand
how to create an enjoyable experience for other geocachers.
Find additional guidance about hiding caches in our Help Center.

16. SCOUTS BSA – GEOCACHING MERIT BADGE SLIDE SUB-TITLE
HIDING A CACHE
• There are many steps involved in planning, designing, submitting and then maintaining
your cache hide.
• The Geocaching.com Help Center will guide you through the process.

17. SCOUTS BSA – GEOCACHING MERIT BADGE SLIDE SUB-TITLE
DESIGNING A MYSTERY CACHE
Discussion of design, building and the hide.

18. SCOUTS BSA – GEOCACHING MERIT BADGE SLIDE SUB-TITLE
DESIGNING A TRADITIONAL CACHE with FLAIR!
Discussion of design, building and the hide.
• What Happened to Clumsy Smurf

19. SCOUTS BSA – GEOCACHING MERIT BADGE SLIDE SUB-TITLE
WEST VIRGINIA TIM
• Gadgetcaches – YouTube Channel
• He is an amazing ambassador to the Geocaching community
• He encourages others to build and share his hide and cache ideas in an effort to promote and
better the game for all.

20. SCOUTS BSA – GEOCACHING MERIT BADGE
CONT’D
REQUIRMENTS REVIEW
8. CONT’D
Do ONE of the following:
(c) Set up and hide a public geocache, following the guidelines in the Geocaching
merit badge pamphlet. Before doing so, share with your counselor a three-month
maintenance plan for the geocache where you are personally responsible for those
three months. After setting up the geocache, with your parent’s permission, follow
the logs online for 30 days and share them with your counselor. You must archive
the geocache when you are no longer maintaining it.
(d) Explain what Cache In Trash Out (CITO) means, and describe how you
have practiced CITO at public geocaches or at a CITO event. Then, either create
CITO containers to leave at public caches, or host a CITO event for your unit or
for the public.
SLIDE SUB-TITLE

21. SCOUTS BSA – GEOCACHING MERIT BADGE SLIDE SUB-TITLE
REQUIRMENT # 8
Cache In Trash Out® (CITO) is an environmental initiative
supported by the geocaching community.
Since 2002, CITO has helped preserve the natural beauty of cache-
friendly spaces. In that time, more than 363,000 people have
volunteered at 18,000 CITO events.
Twice per year, geocachers can earn virtual souvenirs by hosting
and attending events during CITO seasons.
Visit the Help Center for information on the next CITO season.
You Scouts know all about CITO as you all
practice Leave No Trace!
Hey you scouts should host a District CITO
event an earn a virtual souvenirs

22. SCOUTS BSA – GEOCACHING MERIT BADGE SLIDE SUB-TITLE
If anyone is interested in setting up a CITO which could also
serve as a Eagle Project, please review the information in the
Google Classroom and also in the Geocaching.com Help
Center.