On the topic of Great Lakes Natural Resources, the January/February 2011 issue of Coastal Services Magazine, published by NOAA, features insights from NYSG Recreation and Tourism Specialist Dave White on a new concept put forth by Great Lakes Seaway Trail.

Recently, coastal resource managers have installed a series of geocach devices along the 518-mile Trail, one of America’s National Scenic Byways and a National Recreation Trail, to attract a new group of technologically savvy visitors to their coastal areas. Geocaching is a treasure hunt where visitors find previously hidden caches with a Global Positioning System (GPS) device.

“I think as coastal managers we can look at geocaching as a really unique opportunity,” says White. “It’s bringing in a new and often younger audience who spend time learning about and understanding the environmental and cultural resources where the caches are hidden.”