Put outdoor treasure hunting and GPS tracking together and you have geocaching. It has been a little over 20 years since the activity was invented and it has gone a long way.
Every year, more people get into it. It has become so widespread that there have been different takes on the game.
People are not just tweaking the rules but are also infusing modern technologies to make it more fun. One that is worth taking note is QR codes. They are currently making rounds in commercial use because of their flexibility. Who is to say that they are not the best thing to use in geocaching?
QR codes are capable of functioning in almost every way a user can think of. So, it really isn’t impossible to give it a role in your geocaching activities.
How to Employ the Use of QR Codes into Your Geocaching Activities?
QR Codes Tell the Next Location
The traditional way of geocaching is that when you find the geocache, you proceed to find the next one. So, the location of where you should proceed to is specified on the geocache you just found.
The problem with this system is that it is prone to error and whether or not a participant knows where a particular place is.
However, you can infuse the use of QR codes to make it fair to all the players. Instead of manually navigating to find the next location, have a Google Maps QR code that will tell the coordinates of the next geocache.
It is easier, faster, and much more accurate. This will allow your participants to concentrate more on the activity rather than on technicality.
Ensure Geocaches Stay Where They Are
You can’t deny that some players can get a little bit competitive. Sometimes, they would try to make it more difficult for other participants by hiding or relocating a geocache.
However, the other players don’t have to follow this kind of attitude. They can always return the geocache in its rightful place.
One way is for them to scan a QR code that will tell the original location of the geocache. So, they can return it and make sure that the game continues fairly for the rest of the participants.
Log Your Find Fast and Conveniently
One of the guidelines of geocaching is to write your name on a log sheet to know who has and hasn’t found the geocache. However, it is inconvenient and prone to paper damage.The last ones would be left with a barely recognizable piece of paper.
Fortunately, this can be substituted by a QR code. The image can be scanned and participants will be directed to a form where they can log their find.
The best part about this is that after scanning, a person can simply fill the form while on the move. It is faster and more convenient, allowing participants to concentrate more on the fun part of the game.
Rewards and Bonus Geocache
Put in a little twist to your geocaching activity by attaching a QR code on your geocaches that have random surprises.
You can set the QR code to only show the location of the surprise geocache if they are the first three people to scan it. Make it more interesting by not basing it on order. Randomize, for example, the participants after the fifth scanner get to be shown the coordinates.
This will leave them anticipating and looking forward to what each geocache holds. It keeps the participants on their toes hoping that the surprise geocache will work in their favor.
Tips to Remember When Using Your QR Codes
To successfully have a QR code powered geocache activity, there are three important tips that event organizers should always remember when using the tech.
1. Protect Your QR Codes
Geocaching is an outdoor activity. So, your QR codes can get wet, covered with dirt, and damaged. When at least one happens, it can render a QR code useless, leaving the entire game unplayable. Remember to provide protection, either laminate it or put a layer of scotch tape over it.
2. Color Code/Personalize Each
As there are a lot of ways you can infuse QR codes with your geocaches, color coding them can provide the participants on what to scan to solve and move on to the next one. With the right QR code generator with logo online, you can further personalize the image to be more discernible and intuitive.
3. Test Your QR Code
Your QR code has the potential to malfunction; it can be caused by the generation process, the printed surface, or the quality of the print. So, it is important to make sure that the image functions as it should before the activity.
Conclusion
For an outdoor activity to infuse the use of technology, there is no better way to make it more interesting but with the help of QR codes. As the use of them can successfully unpack information from a scan, the fun in searching for clues intensifies.
With the help of a QR code generator like QRTiger to start a QR code-powered outdoor activity like geocaching, the possibilities to infuse learning with technology increases.
