How to go on a geocaching adventure on Long Island

Geocaching is a great outdoors activity that people should do together, not alone, said Lisa Donigian. Above, a team in Tennessee discovered a camouflaged box filled with toys. Credit: AP/Carey O'Neil
Looking for a new outdoor adventure? Geocaching, a modern-day treasure hunt using GPS coordinates, might be just the thing. With more than 3 million active hidden caches worldwide — including 5,908 on Long Island — it combines exploration, problem-solving and a growing global community.
The game begins with players hiding small containers with a logbook and sometimes a toy or prize, which others find using GPS coordinates. Beginners can’t hide caches; they must reach a certain level first.
“Geocaching is about more than just finding hidden containers,” said Bryan Roth, 55, co-founder and CEO of the Seattle-based website and app Geocaching.com. “It’s about adventure, discovery and connecting with people.”
To begin geocaching, you need a smartphone or handheld GPS device. The app offers a free version that allows users to locate beginner-friendly caches nearby. “Start by researching caches in your area,” suggested Lisa Donigian, 60, a Levittown resident and Boy Scouts of America geocaching merit badge counselor. “Look at the map, read the descriptions and choose an easy one close to home.”
Caches vary in type and scale.
“Caches are never buried,” Donigian explained. “They can be hidden in trees, under benches or in places with unique natural features.”
Jeremy Jacobowitz, 60, a geocaching reviewer and former NYPD detective from Flushing, advises newcomers to “expand where you’re looking. People are often too busy staring at their phones instead of their surroundings.”
Safety is key in geocaching. Donigian recommends always taking a buddy, carrying a first-aid kit and being aware of the surroundings. “Know your limits,” she said. “One geocache . . . requires walking over a fallen tree to reach an island. I’d do it if I were 30!”
Geocaching has fostered a global community over the past 25 years. Roth, a Woodmere native, credits the game’s ongoing popularity to its power to bring players together.
“In a time when people are more divided than ever, geocaching remains an inclusive space,” Roth said. “It’s a game that welcomes everyone, encouraging exploration, adventure and meaningful outdoor experiences.”
Geocaching by the Numbers
There’re currently 5,908 active geocaches on Long Island
There are more than 3 million geocaches worldwide
Geocaches are hidden in 191 countries on 7 continents
More than 642 million "Found it" and "Attended" logs recorded since the game started
Source: Geocaching.com
Steps in the Game
Open the app
Navigate to the cache
Look for the geocache
Take or leave something for the geocache
Log your find in the accompanying logbook
More Info
Long Island Player Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/23899074693
Unique Caches on Long Island
Coded GC928RV, an ATM-themed geocache in Plainview, featuring a tricky five-step puzzle to unlock the logbook.
Coded GC8R8CM, a treasure hidden by the famous Big Duck of Long Island in Flanders, asking players to solve a puzzle to get the coordinates.
Coded GC59GA6, a nano geocache (requiring tweezers to unroll the logbook), leading people to a cemetery in Elmont where many famous (and infamous) people are buried.
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'I have never been to New York' Jim Vennard, 61, an electrical engineer from Missouri, received a $250 ticket for passing a stopped school bus in Stony Brook, a place he said he has never visited. NewsdayTV's Shari Einhorn reports.
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'I have never been to New York' Jim Vennard, 61, an electrical engineer from Missouri, received a $250 ticket for passing a stopped school bus in Stony Brook, a place he said he has never visited. NewsdayTV's Shari Einhorn reports.
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