Geocaching is searching for hidden prizes using a GPS unit (like Garmin).  This is great fun, and my kids and I had a ball doing this in the past.  And while I still enjoy geocaching, the prizes in the cache wasn’t exactly a great find, in fact my kids were pretty disappointed!

So why not go old school and actually create a treasure map?  You could go big time and buy resume paper that has a yellowed marble look, this would make the paper look old-fashion (at least to the kids, especially if you burnt the edges after printing the map with the direction on it). 

Next go to the dollar store and find the cheapest container that looks wooden or like a treasure chest.  I would go with a toaster size container or smaller if I were you!!!

Now bury the mini-treasure chest in the woods with money or a valued toy in a ziplock bag, or some kind of weatherproofing (maybe it would be better to wrap it in plastic, just to keep it more authentic).  Kids most likely don’t know that pirates didn’t have plastic back then…

I’m going to make the map just like we see on TV, with landmarks (try to make them cool as possible),  and the number of steps to get to the landmarks…

I think it would be best if one child does this at a time, but if both do it and the prize is money, you should have them come to an agreement to split the money 50/50 before the treasure hunting starts!

Of course I personally wouldn’t wait too long before searching for the treasure after burying it!!!  Tell them the day before that you’ll have a surprise for them the following day, just to build up anticipation!

I’m sure your kids will get a treat out of this if it’s done well 🙂

Optional Step:  If you kids are a bit older, make the map so that part of the instructions are missing, then have a GPS coordinate as an X marks the spot kind-of-deal.

Bests,

MR