RUSTBURG, VA - Campbell County Departments of Parks & Recreation and Economic Development proudly announce the launch of a new tourism opportunity: the Campbell Caches GeoTrail, a geocaching mini-adventure. The Parks & Recreation Department placed twenty “geocaches” in every corner of the county and is currently offering a special edition challenge coin to the first 100 finishers of the entire trail. The passport to complete the challenge can be downloaded from the website at campbellvirginia.com/get-outside or picked up from one of the Campbell County Public Library branches or Parks & Recreation office. The twenty geocaches in the Campbell Caches GeoTrail are visible using a free account on geocaching.com and on the Geocaching mobile app.
Geocaching is an outdoor treasure-hunting activity that uses the GPS on mobile phones to guide participants to a nearby “geocache.” Geocaching attracts a wide range of participants including outdoor enthusiasts, couples, families, and anyone who just loves playing hide-and-seek. Campbell Caches GeoTrail is designed to offer routine trail walkers an entertaining bonus activity while also introducing new local visitors to the wide array of beautiful public spaces and fun, authentic Campbell County experiences available. Campbell Caches GeoTrail is the result of a months-long collaboration between the Campbell County Departments of Economic Development and Parks and Recreation to increase tourism visitation to the County as well as familiarize visitors with the range of outdoor opportunities available in Campbell County.
“Geocaching provides a great framework to showcase all of the beautiful trails and outdoor spaces we have that may have been overlooked in the past by adding the ‘gaming’ element,” said Molly Eden, Economic Development Specialist. “We are hoping everyone who participates will discover at least one new place in Campbell County they have never visited before.”
Each geocache includes a logbook to sign and date when you find the cache, a six-digit code for those participating in the GeoTrail, and a variety of small items. Traditionally, if you take an item from a geocache, you should leave an item for the next person to find. Another item in the geocache is a reminder to return the cache to its location for the next player to find.
“We have designed this to be beginner-friendly,” said MacKenzie Dodds, Parks and Recreation Manager. “Players should be able to stick to the designated trails to find the caches.” Dodds also reminds players to return the caches to where they find them and to “remember to follow the principles of Leave No Trace.”
More information on the Campbell Caches GeoTrail is available on campbellvirginia.com/get-outside.