If you've heard about the high-tech treasure hunt called geocaching but haven't tried it, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has launched a pilot project to show people that they need not abandon computers to have fun outdoors.
Participants in the Texas Geocache Challenge will use hand-held global positioning system computers to find boxes of "treasure" hidden in 12 state parks in the Hill Country and southeastern Central Texas.
Inside each box, geocachers will find information about the park, a logbook, small prizes and a paper punch for marking their Texas Geocache Passports to verify the visit.
The search continues through Jan. 31 and, after finding all 12 caches, a participant can mail a completed passport to TPWD to qualify for small prizes and a certificate of completion.
State-park treasure hunts have become popular in recent years. Arkansas launched a geocache program nearly three years ago and now places caches in all 52 state parks plus a final, 53rd, secret location. If park hunts catch on in Texas, TPWD officials say they may expand the program statewide next year.
If you don't own a GPS but want to join the search? Texas Parks and Wildlife is developing a non-GPS version of the game for people who want to follow clues the old-fashioned way. Clues are provided on the TPWD Web site.
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