WWF and Edmonton and Area Land Trust Go Wild with Geocaching

Edmonton, July 27, 2015 – This summer, WWF and Edmonton and Area Land Trust (EALT) present “Go Wild for Geocaching”, an innovative project to get Edmonton residents and visitors exploring and conserving nature. 

Geocaching is an outdoor treasure hunt where participants use their mobile phone or GPS devices to find hidden containers. With over 2.5 million geocaches hidden worldwide, EALT is now on the map for those looking to explore nature in their backyard in Edmonton.

“There is so much nature to explore and conserve, right in the backyards of our major cities,” says David Miller, president and CEO, WWF-Canada. “Geocaching is a fantastic way to promote these wild areas, and by including stewardship information, EALT is motivating people to take action for nature.”
 
Created and implemented by EALT and supported by WWF-Canada through the Go Wild program, this project uses interactive geocaches to both entice new visitors to experience EALT’s natural areas and to promote stewardship activities by local conservationists and citizen scientists. Each hidden geocache contains interesting facts about the local environment. “Geocachers” come away with a new experience engaging with nature, as well as practical applications and knowledge they can use to protect nature at home.
 
EALT staff have hidden a dozen containers across six conservation areas. The caches have been listed at geocaching.com or on EALT’s website. (After being found, geocaches are returned to their hiding place, so all are still ready for discovery for new explorers).

“We have been amazed by the response to the geocaches. People are discovering new natural areas close to home, learning new facts, and raving about it online,” says Stephanie Weizenbach, outreach coordinator at EALT. “It is really inspiring to see geocachers celebrating nature online, and even thanking us for encouraging stewardship, and providing DIY solutions to environmental issues!”
 
For more information on the “Go Wild for Geocaching” and to start your own adventure, visit: http://www.ealt.ca/go-wild-geocaching.

Initial response to the Go Wild for Geocaching project: 

“I can’t believe that I never knew about this place, or about EALT! … Thanks so much to EALT for placing these caches – encouraging nature exploration and education, promoting stewardship and conservation of our natural areas, and giving us extra incentive to get out and have fun! …” – jorura

“Thank you so much for bringing us to this awesome nature area! We had no idea this place existed, and fairly close to home. … It is really cool that you are ‘promoting’ visitors to local nature areas. If it was not for caching we would have never found this awesome place. …” – ChristopherRobin1431

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For further information contact
Rebecca Spring, Communications Specialist, WWF-Canada, [email protected], 647-338-6274

About WWF
WWF-Canada is part of WWF (World Wildlife Fund), one of the world’s largest and most respected conservation organizations. WWF-Canada has close to 50 years of experience implementing science-based knowledge and research into on-the-ground projects. WWF is creating solutions to the most serious conservation challenges facing our planet, helping people and nature thrive. Visit wwf.ca for more information.

About Edmonton and Area Land Trust
The Edmonton and Area Land Trust is a non-profit conservation organization dedicated to conserving the natural heritage of the region through private stewardship. We envision an Edmonton region where natural area systems are valued, preserved for future generations and play a key role in the social, economic and environmental life of the residents of the area.