New Germany State Park Hosts A Geocaching 101

Grantsville, Md. (September 21, 2011) — New Germany State Park will host a free, geocaching ‘how-to,’ taught by members of the Maryland Geocaching Society, from 9 to 10 a.m. on October 8 at the New Germany Lake House.

“There are a number of approved geocaches hidden in the park,” said Ranger Erin Thomas of New Germany State Park. “If you’re new to the game, this is a great place to get started.”

Geocaching is a world-wide treasure-hunting game in which participants use GPS units to locate ‘geocaches,’ which are containers that usually hold a logbook and other items. Upon locating a geocache, participants are encouraged to take an item from the container and replace it with something of equal or greater value.

A limited number of GPS units will be available for loan during the class. For more information, contact 301-895-5453 or park-new-germany@dnr.state.md.us.

Maryland’s State Parks not only provide great outdoor recreation for Marylanders and visitors, they are also a great asset to State and local economies. According to a recent study, conducted in partnership with the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development, the Maryland Office of Tourism Development and the Maryland Association of Destination Marketing Organizations, Maryland State Parks have an estimated annual economic benefit of more than $650 million. In 2010, visitors directly spent more than $567 million locally — $25.56 locally for every dollar the State invests in State Parks —during their visits. And almost 95 percent of visitors had their expectations met or exceeded during visits.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages nearly a half-million acres of public lands and 17,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland's forests, fisheries and wildlife for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural, historic and cultural resources attract 11 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland's effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state's number one environmental priority. Learn more at www.dnr.maryland.gov