To develop skill at reading the landscape and to understand Earth better we will use Google Earth and portable GPS to keep close track of where we go every day.  For most PCs and Macs it is now a simple thing to transfer GPS locations to Google Earth. This facilitates placing all your field experience on a geographic base map. Every outside researcher should use this. Everyone will find it useful for living on earth, and knowing where we are and where we have been. We must all watch what is happening on earth--it is vital info.  And knowing where this happened is critical info. Location of earth observations is critical for understanding and interpreting them. Map!

The most valuable aspect of using GPS and Google Earth is to find things of interest outside, easily and quickly.  We aim to do this as part of teaching every day.  EarthCache is a huge tool to help with this.  We should all use it!!

Earth is full of geological significant places. There are hundreds of them in the Keweenaw alone.  EarthCaches are a way of finding and sharing these places, which build an understanding of how the earth works. Similar to Geocaches, EarthCaches are outdoor hunts for places that help teach about the earth. You need to use the tools of GPS and Google Earth, which allow precise location.  While outside you can collect data for your work.  You need to identify a geological theme which is illustrated by the site or sites.  You then need to write a brief but cogent description to share with others and submit it to the geocaching site.  The earth cache submission will be reviewed by the Geological Society of America before it is accepted for listing on the web. Map what you do.