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Morgan Gozzo,Jenna Acheson, G&T specialist Mrs. Krsyten Bryant, Jacob Crawford, Matt Caldwell and Ben Johnson are Journeys 5th graders at Eagle Rock Elementary School

Geocaching has been a project for the Journey students in the Gifted and Talented programs in the Botetourt County elementary schools. "The concept of survival is the year long plan for the Journey's students," said G&T specialist Krysten Bryant. "They are becoming geographically aware," said Mike Scott the IT specialist at Eagle Rock Elementary School. The journeys students have already studied planets and constellations in the night sky as well as a means of location.

"Each elementary school has enough hand held GPS units for one classroom to use," Scott noted. Bryant worked with group on a few tips before the five fifth grade Journeys students began their geocache a couple of weeks ago. Scott's wife is a geocaching afficianado, he said. "It is an excellent hobby." They put together a cache for the Eagle Rock Elementary site in September and already visitors have come. One from Quatar which is on the side of Saudi Arabia. Some locals have been as well.

Geocaching requires the use of coordinates. ERE coordinates are 37' north and 39.371 west, which student Ben Johnson said had to be plugged into the GPS unit. Morgan Gozzo explained the use of the latitude and longitude in the use of finding the Geocache. Jenna Acheson said that the use of overhead satellttes coordinates the find.

Wow! All of that goes on all over the earth as millions of Geocachers look for that curious nature of man--hidden treasure. In Eagle Rock, it is hidden on the school site. When found, items are removed to go in other caches around the area and yes even the world, and new items are left for discovery.

Matt Caldwell one of the students said, "Yes, we found the Geocache here-- a box filled with things like a Panda Bear, a toy VW bug bus among other things." Treasure no doubt worth looking for! Finders log on to the computer and record the visit to the ERE Geocache. So far 7 responses have logged on. Items like the Panda have been removed to go to another cache a visitor may find in some other locale. Something new was left in its place and is ready for discovery. It is an never ending treasure trove!