Geocaching Spring Fling on Island April 25-26

The second annual Spring Fling geocaching hunt will take place on Mackinac Island Saturday, April 26, and Sunday, April 27. The outdoor, family hiking adventure of finding caches with Global Positioning Systems (GPS) devices is open to the public, free of charge.

Participants will meet in the Grand Hotel lobby at 10:30 a.m. to go over the day's agenda, then break into small groups and begin scouring the interior of the island for hidden treasures.

The targets are strategically placed caches filled with small trinkets and notes left by previous hunters.

Registered geocachers locate each hidden cache by entering coordinates into their GPS devices, then following the navigation screen. Coordinates are gathered from the international geocaching Web site, www.geocaching.com, where people can register for the event.

Geocaching is an increasingly popular activity that combines outdoor exploration with technology, providing fun for the whole family, said Madelyn LePage, Spring Fling coordinator.

Geocaching is an international sport, and caches are hidden across Michigan. Geocaching has been enjoyed on the Island since 2004, Mrs. LePage said.

Last year's inaugural Spring Fling attracted more than 100 people, said Mrs. LePage. Another event was held this past October at Stonecliffe Resort, drawing 70 people.

The Spring Fling coincides with the opening of Grand Hotel.

There are close to 60 caches hidden on Mackinac Island State Park land. All caches have been approved by the State Park Commission.

"There is no sequence as to which ones you search first," said Mrs. LePage about the caches hidden on the Island. "Some are simple to find, and some are more challenging. It is impossible to be able to find all of them in one day."

The Michigan Geocaching Organization has an agreement with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to allow geocaching on more than 11 million acres of state land.