LEARN & EXPLORE

  • Geocaching with Texas A&M Forest Service

    We have a series of geocaches throughout Texas to showcase various aspects of our agency and properties we manage. Find TAMFS Geocaches below and sign up for free at geocaching.com. Then grab your GPS unit or download a geocaching app on your smartphone and head outdoors to begin your search.

    Smokey’s 70th Birthday Geocoins

    To celebrate Smokey Bear's 70th birthday in 2014, Texas A&M Forest Service created a commemorative geocoin to help spread Smokey's wildfire prevention message across the country, and the world. Have you been able to find one of Smokey Bear’s 70th Birthday Geocoins?

    Prescribed Fire Geocoins

    Prescribed fire is a useful management tool and provides numerous benefits to our ecosystem. Find Prescribed Fire Geocoins all over Texas and around the world.

    Smokey’s 75th Birthday Geocoins

    Smokey Bear's 75th birthday in 2019 was a nationwide celebration. To help celebrate and to wish Smokey a Happy 75th Birthday, Texas A&M Forest Service created a 75th birthday cake geocoin to help spread Smokey's wildfire prevention message. If you're lucky, you might run across one of Smokey Bear’s 75th Birthday Geocoins.

    Texas Eclipse Geocoins

    One solar eclipse is rare, but two eclipses in the same area within 6 months of one another is truly remarkable. That is what happened in Texas, with an annular eclipse crossing the state on October 14, 2023 followed by a total eclipse crossing the state again on April 8, 2024. To commemorate this occasion, the Texas Two-Step Solar Eclipse coin was released. Hopefully you will be able to find one of the Texas Eclipse Geocoins.

    Jones State Forest Geocaches

    Visit the Jones State Forest in Conroe to find the Texas A&M Forest Service TB Hotel where trackables are often found. You can also find several caches hidden on the forest by fellow geocachers at geocaching.com

     + TAMFS Geocaches
     
     
     + What is geocaching?
    Geocaching (pronounced "geo-cashing") is an outdoor treasure hunt using GPS-enabled devices. Participants, called geocachers, navigate to a specific set of GPS coordinates and then attempt to find the geocache (container) hidden at that location.
     + How do I start?
    Visit geocaching.com to set up your free account and to learn more.
     + What does it look like?
    Geocaches are typically weatherproof containers that often include a pencil, small notebook to serve as a logbook for finders, and several trinkets like key chains, small toys and buttons. Geocaches can range in size from smaller than a pencil eraser to larger than a 5-gallon bucket. Many are camouflaged or disguised to be hidden in plain sight.
     + What happens when I find a cache?
    Once the cache is found, the finders enter their names and date into the logbook in the cache. The finders can then take an object from the cache while leaving something of equal or higher value for the next finder. The finders replace the geocache in the same place where they found it so future geocachers can find it. Finally, they visit the geocache page and log their find to share their experience with others.
     + Where can I go?
    With over 3 million geocaches worldwide, there is a good chance one is hidden near you. Visit geocaching.com to find out.
     + What should I know about geocaching with TAMFS?
    Guidelines for Geocaching on Texas State Forests