Trail association, recreation department mark Earth Day Geocaching event hosted in Stonewall Park

SHERBROOKE — The St. Mary’s Trail Association (SMTA) and Municipality of the District of St. Mary’s recreation department recently partnered to host an introduction to geocaching.

The Cache In, Trash Out (CITO) event, which included collecting garbage and clearing debris, took place in Stonewall Park on April 27.

“CITO events are a way for the geocaching community to give back,” event organizer Charlene Porter, who is a SMTA executive member and board member of the Association of Nova Scotia Geocachers, told The Journal in an email.

Geocachers from Truro and Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM), as well as a couple from the local area, participated. Everyone received gifts, along with a tree seedling from St. Mary’s active living coordinator Tyler MacLaughlin, in honour of Earth Day.

Geocaching involves the hiding and locating of small containers using only global positioning system (GPS) coordinates. Essentially, it is a worldwide treasure hunt for all ages and abilities, using GPS devices or smart phones to discover geocaches that are often hidden on local trails, at scenic or historic places, beside waterfalls or other geologically significant locations. The goal is to get people outside and introduce them to the world around them.

For more information, contact stmarystrailassociation@gmail.com

Joanne Jordan, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Guysborough Journal