NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release 2009ENV0021-000373 September 21, 2009

Ministry of Environment

 

B.C. LAUNCHES “GREEN” GEOCACHING EXPERIENCE

 

VICTORIA – The Ministry of Environment, the British Columbia Geocaching Association (BCGA) and Project Blue Sky are teaming up to launch a fun and environmentally friendly geocaching game to encourage provincial parks visits and celebrate the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

 

“This is an excellent opportunity to get outside and enjoy the adventure of geocaching, while experiencing our amazing network of BC Parks,” said Environment Minister Barry Penner. “It’s an exciting game that’s catching on all over the world and I am delighted to launch this geocaching innovation right here in B.C.”

 

GeoTrek 2009 is a fun way to reduce carbon emissions and discover B.C.’s parks at the same time. One hundred caches will be placed in secret locations across the province for geocachers to discover. Approximately 50 caches will be hidden in BC Parks locations, and the other half will be hidden in urban locations. The GeoTrek 2009 geocache containers will be filled with special tokens, such as pins and collectible coins. Tokens will be from BC Parks, Project Blue Sky and the BCGA.

 

Geocaching has become a popular outdoor treasure-hunting game enjoyed throughout the world by adventure seekers equipped with Global Positioning System (GPS) units. Geocachers search for and locate hidden containers called geocaches and then share their experiences online.

 

Participants are encouraged to enter their information on the Project Blue Sky website (www.projectbluesky.ca) to show how they reduced their carbon footprint by using green transportation methods to find the geocaches. Project Blue Sky, which was launched by Canada’s Olympic and Paralympic athletes and students from the Centre for Digital Media in Vancouver, uses the latest in online digital tools to motivate people to take steps to fight climate change through increased physical activity and sustainable travel. Project Blue Sky’s ultimate goal is to collect one billion kilometres worth of carbon-cutting contributions before March 2010.

 

“Geocaching is all about getting outside and exploring the world around you through a fun and healthy activity – all the more healthy if we have clean air to breathe,” said BCGA president Chris Edley. “We are proud to partner with BC Parks and Project Blue Sky to share the values of healthy living and clean air with British Columbians."

 

 

 

Geocachers can find co-ordinates for the caches from the BCGA’s website (www.bcgeocaching.com) or they can link up to the BCGA website through BC Parks website (www.bcparks.ca). Geocachers are encouraged to view the BC Parks geocaching policy to ensure their participation occurs in a manner that respects the natural values of B.C.’s provincial parks.

 

Since 2001 the B.C. government has established 57 new parks, 143 conservancies, one ecological reserve and nine protected areas, and expanded more than 50 parks and six ecological reserves – protecting more than 1.9 million hectares of additional land.

 

Today, more than 14 per cent (or 13.5 million hectares) of British Columbia is protected – more than any other province in Canada.

 

Over the past five years, the B.C. government has invested approximately $107 million to improve park infrastructure and acquire additional parkland.

 

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Contact:

Suntanu Dalal Media relations Ministry of Environment 250 387-9745

 

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