Geocaching, an outdoor treasure hunting game in which participants use a Global Positioning System receiver to find containers called geocaches, has come to Southeast Missouri. Photo by Tim Jaynes

NEW MADRID -- Modern-day treasure hunting is being used to expand earthquake awareness to visitors and residents of a town nearly destroyed by one of the largest quakes ever recorded in the United States.

Through a joint venture by Central United States Earthquake Consortium in Memphis, Tenn., State Emergency Management Agency in Jefferson City and the New Madrid Historical Museum in New Madrid, two educational "geocaches" were recently installed near New Madrid.

Geocaching is an outdoor treasure hunting game in which participants use a Global Positioning System receiver or other navigational techniques to hide and seek containers called geocaches anywhere in the world.

"The opportunity to 'geocache' brings SEMA a new, fun, and innovative way to get earthquake information to our citizens. As we get closer to the 200th anniversary of the New Madrid earthquakes of 1811-1812, we will be looking at expanding our earthquake awareness efforts," said Ron M. Reynolds, SEMA director.

A typical "cache" is a waterproof container containing a logbook and a "treasure" usually a toy, trinket or educational item. For fans of the "National Treasure" films, geocaching is similar to letterboxing, which uses references in landmarks to find treasure.

Jim Wilkinson, executive director of Central United States Earthquake Consortium, said geocaching is a fun, family-oriented and safe game.

"I thought it would be a novel way of getting out earthquake information. We know these people are interested because they came looking for the site. We tried it in Memphis, where we're headquartered, and set up an educational geocaching site that provides information about earthquakes in the central United States," Wilkinson said. "We were really amazed at how well that caught on."

All comments were positive and people said it was a very neat way of getting information and way of doing it, Wilkinson said. After success in Memphis, CUSEC wanted to expand geocaching to its eight member-states, he said.

"Missouri stepped up and said, 'We're the epicenter of the 1811-1812 earthquakes. It seemed to all fit, and we were looking for a secure site. ... Within a day of standing up, we had our first visitor," Wilkinson said.

Locations of caches are found on the Internet, according to Geocaching - The Official Global GPS Cache Hunt Site. Users can then use the location coordinates to find the caches. Once found, a cache may provide the visitor with a wide variety of rewards. All the visitor is asked to do is if they get something, they should try to leave something for the cache.

But finding a cache isn't as easy as one may think, Wilkinson said.

"Even with the best of GPS receivers, you can still be within six to 10 feet of the actual spot of where it's hidden. And these can be inside holes in a log. It's amazing how creative they can get," said Wilkinson, who geocaches with his daughter.

The incentive is to install educational geocaches in all eight of CUSEC's states, Wilkinson said, adding Arkansas is next, and Kentucky has also shown some interest.

Susie Stonner, a spokesperson for SEMA, said the geocaches in New Madrid are the first for SEMA.

"It's kind of exciting for us and interesting. We're hoping to set up a few more in our Southeast Missouri counties," Stonner said.

Ella LaValle, part-time employee of the New Madrid museum, said geocaching has gone well in the area.

"It has amazed me. I didn't know anything about geocaching," LaValle said.

As of Tuesday, nine people had geocached since being established July 9.

Geocachers conduct searches at all hours of the day, LaValle said.

"We had one sign in at 8:24 p.m. and another at 2 a.m.," LaValle said. "This has become a tremendous hobby."

In a message dated July 9, a geocacher wrote: "This is an interesting location in New Madrid and a must-see museum. I've lived in Southeast Missouri for 18 years, and this is the first time I have been to downtown New Madrid. I will be back when I have more time and can bring the grandchildren. When you go to find the cache, plan on spending some time and see the town and the history."

Much to LaValle's surprise, geocachers have come from all over the United States. One of the items left in the cache was a coin from Delaware, LaValle noted.

"The coin has a number, and they tell me I can get on the Internet and it will tell me where this coin has been. They (Geocachers) have a lingo all of their own and leave all these initials behind. ...It's neat. I've just got to learn more about it," LaValle said.

Items inside the New Madrid cache include brochures about New Madrid and earthquakes along with pencils, key chains and other trinkets, LaValle said.

"We're actually in the process of getting a coin made from us (to put in the cache)," LaValle said.

As time goes on, items more specific to the threat of an earthquake in Missouri will be added, Wilkinson said.

"It is exciting, and you can really get a sense of a whole different world," Wilkinson said. about geocaching. "Families do it on vacations. It's a great little adventure."

To find a geocache, visit www.geocaching.com or www.mocache.net.