**updated original post from July 14th, 2022**

Geocaching in North Iowa

BY: RACHEL WUMKES

Geocaching is an outdoor recreational activity, in which participants use a Global Positioning System receiver or mobile device and other navigational techniques to hide and seek containers, called “geocaches” or “caches”, at specific locations marked by coordinates all over the world.

This family friendly game became a popular endeavor in the early 2000’s.  While some caches are traditional “stop and grab,” some are mystery caches where hiders provide online clues for seekers.

Just like a modern-day treasure hunt, geocaching can take you on some amazing treks.  It’s a fun hobby for the family that people play across the globe. Not only this, but it’s inexpensive and keeps you active.

The rules for geocaching are very simple:

  • Take something from the cache.
  • Leave something in the cache.
  • Write about it in the logbook.

And guess what??  Clear Lake Tourism has entered the realm of geocaching!   We’ve got a doozy of a mystery geocache right here in Clear Lake!

Download the geocaching.org app and start exploring. Our first cache, “Welcome to Lake Life!” is live and features a custom postcard beautifully designed by 2020 Creative that cachers can take as a memento.

There are many other caches around North Iowa as well, so we invite you to get out and explore!

This weekend, we are excited to welcome the Iowa Geocachers Association’s Hike & Seek fall event.  According to the Iowa Geochachers website, “Hike-N-Seek is an annual event in the state of Iowa. The Iowa Geocachers Organization sponsors this event each year, which travels around the state being hosted by geocachers who want to showcase their part of the state.”

And this year, they are coming to Ventura!

For this exciting week of geocaching fun, you’re invited to come early and stay late!  It’s all about the music, geocaching, and the many special friends we’ve made over the years in this wonderful activity.  There will not be any special contests, however, there will be a few special drawings made.

The fun starts on Friday with a lunch, Flash to the Crash, and the IGO’s Hide-N-Seek Annual Meeting and Dinner.  Saturday you can cache all day to your hearts desire, then head back to the Ventura Community Center for the Evening festivities.  For those who purchased meal tickets in advance, there is a dinner at 6pm followed by awards, drawings and announcements at 7:00.

Sunday caps off the incredible weekend with breakfast, more geocaching, and a final celebration to close out the event.

To learn more about the Iowa Geocachers Organization and what they do, go to https://www.iowageocachers.org/.