2022-10-06 First GEOFOXING Demo Event

Scroll down for pictures from the event!

On October 6, 2022, Roger (VA3EGY), Rob(VE3RXH), and Martin (VA3EIC) hosted a group of 26 high school students from Kanata Academy in the west end of Ottawa for an afternoon of fox hunting, geocaching, radio communication and all around fun. We call this combined orienteering activity “Geofoxing”.

The trio spent the morning hiding five radio transmitters and five geocaches at Walter Baker Park, carefully noting their position on a map. When the students arrived, they were briefed on the use of the transmitter finding equipment, gps receivers, as well as proper radio etiquette when talking to “Net Control”. Some examples were discussed about where we see these same technologies used to track wildlife, commercial assets and during search and rescue activities.

Their mission was simple (or so they thought). Use the directional antennas and receivers to find their designated radio transmitters (foxes) and the gps receivers to find the geocaches. Use the radios to communicate with Net Control to get hints and answers to their questions. All groups left looking for different items in an area measuring approximately 44 hectares.

To find a geocache, the teams had to first solve a mathematical question. Once solved, the groups had to radio Net Control to confirm their solution. Then, if correct, Net Control provided them with the waypoint associated with their next geocache location.

Each successful find was carefully documented on their blank map by the group’s communications officer. The groups were also treated to radio trivia questions from Net Control, giving them the opportunity to accumulate bonus points.

In parallel, Rob (VE3RXH) set up a portable Amateur Radio station and demonstrated making contacts with other Amateur Radio operators hundreds of miles away using only a 5 watt radio with a wire antenna powered by 4 AA batteries. This was to emphasize the importance of knowing how to use a radio for emergency communications when all else fails as we have seen happen when storms knock out power, cellphones and the internet – not only for just a few hours, but also for days and weeks in some cases.

Although the students unknowingly spent the afternoon mastering orienteering, mathematical skills, map reading, team work, and radio communication skills, all learnt these new activities in a fun and exciting way, away from the classroom. One thing was clear, although some groups had more difficulty than others, they all left smiling from ear to ear.

Pictures

Participants arriving at the welcome area - checking in with Martin

A pre-activity briefing on using a Fox Hunting Receiver by Roger

A pre-activity briefing on using a Garmin GPS for GeoCaching by Rob

A pre-activity briefing on using a Bridgecom Buddy FRS Radio by Martin

Handing out the equipment to the teams

I can hear the fox over this way...

I think we are getting close...do you see the control flag with the Q-code?

Who wants to risk a burr on their socks to wander in and find the fox?

I told you this would be fun...am I right?

OK we found this one...but let's pretend we're still looking!

This is a competition! Should we really be pointing to where the fox is? LOL

When you are this focused, you don't even notice the weeds!

We see the transmitter (fox) on a branch in upper right of picture - can you?

Somebody gets "Best in picture" for hamming it up on the course.

And other members of the team seem to agree...thumbs up!

Rob set up his 5 watt (QRP) ham radio to demo making distant contacts