BEREA, Ky. — A GPS-based hobby that predates the Pokemon Go craze from last summer is offering some Kentucky residents a fun way to put their navigation skills to good use.

Residents of Berea — about two hours southeast of Louisville — have already spent countless hours exploring the area while completing the Berea Chamber of Commerce GeoTour — an official geocaching trail highlighting special locations and points of interest for both community members and tourists.

“Geocaching is a high-tech scavenger hunt and global sport,” Jennifer Napier, Berea Chamber of Commerce member and former president, explained. 

Today, people who play navigate to a specific set of GPS coordinates, often on their smartphone, and then try to find the hidden geocache (a small container). 

According to Geocaching.com, there are more than two million caches hidden in 180 countries, and more than three million geocachers worldwide.

The popular hobby sprang up 17 years ago, which makes it a precursor to Pokemon Go and painted-rock scavenger hunts, which are grabbing headlines today. Geocachers can join the hunt by downloading apps to their mobile devices.

According to Napier, the family-friendly sport, which utilizes GPS technology, gained popularity after the use of satellites went from strictly government to public use.

After participating in the city’s inaugural geocaching event, Berea resident Ahmad Reynolds hasn’t missed a GeoTour since — even getting his family involved over the years.

“We enjoy the challenge, the opportunity to be together with family and friends working together as a team,” he told CNHI News. The Reynolds’ geocaching love has even led them to geocache while on vacation.

On the Berea GeoTour, each cache container on the tour is different.

“I used what I would like to see on a tour, containers that were fun, challenging and of various different skill levels,” said Napier, noting the tour includes everything from large ammo cans to small gadget caches that require a few steps to open. 

After completing the tour, geocachers receive a prize. To receive the prize, individuals must turn in their completed expedition guide log to the chamber’s webpage or to GeoCaching.com. 

Napier said the tour takes about two to three days to complete, leading many tourist geocachers to visit local eateries and hotels, serving as a boost to the local economy.

“If you get out there and look, you will found places you would never have known existed otherwise,” Napier said of geocaching. 

King writes for the Richmond, Kentucky Register.