'OPERATION RECREATION GEOTOUR' REACHES 10,000 VISITORS

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Dec. 30, 2014

CONTACT: DEP Press Office, 850-245-2112, DEPNews@dep.state.fl.us 

'OPERATION RECREATION GEOTOUR' REACHES 10,000 VISITORS

~Geocaching craze takes over Florida State Parks~

Geocache

Geocache in 40 Florida State Parks for a chance to win an official 'Operation Recreation GeoTour Geocoin.'

TALLAHASSEE – The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Florida Park Service is proud to announce that the GeoTour has officially reached 10,000 visitors at Florida State Parks in just over six months. The Florida Park Service officially launched "Operation Recreation GeoTour" on June 15, 2014.

Stretching from Pensacola to Key West, the GeoTour covers nearly 8,000 acres, 100 miles of beaches and more than 1,600 miles of trails. Since the launch, geocachers have raved about their great experiences and finds.

The GeoTour encourages visitors to explore the outdoors together, while participating in a fun and inexpensive activity. The outdoor game of geocaching is played using a hand-held GPS device or smartphone and teaches geographical and recreational skills.

“Goecaching is one of the many ways in which people can explore Florida State Parks,” said Florida Park Service Director Donald Forgione. “Geocaching is a great adventure combining technology and the natural resources of Florida.”

In addition to the joy of finding a cache, geocachers who visit at least 40 Florida state parks and turn in the official tracking sheet can win an "Operation Recreation GeoTour Geocoin." Four trackable Geocoins have traveled to other countries including Germany, Canada and Brazil. The furthest coin left Gamble Plantation Historic State Park and traveled more than 11,501.7 miles on its journey to Germany.

The "Operation Recreation GeoTour" has become a great recreational opportunity in Florida State Parks and it’s just getting started. The Geotour has inspired residents and visitors to get outdoors and enjoy the beauty of Florida State Parks, while having fun and learning.

People interested in joining the GeoTour can visit the GeoTour webpage to view each of the 70 caches and download the official tracking sheet to begin their geocaching adventure. Geocachers can also visit the Florida State Parks Geocaching webpage to learn more about how to become a top-notch geocacher.