Travis Jensen, 12, Anthony Jensen, 13, and their dad, Matt Teeuwen, track a geocahe Nov. 24 in Richfield. (MARIE FOSS SUN NEWSPAPERS)

If you hide it, they will come.

With the advent of geocaching, a "game" where modern-day treasure hunters place and find hidden items with the use of Global Positioning System (GPS), a wealth of treasures have popped up on the radar in the past six years, including an estimated 1,000 within a 10-mile radius of Richfield.

The pastime, or sport, depending on whom you ask, was started in May 2000 in Beaver Creek, Ore., and has exploded into a worldwide activity every year since.

"It's developing pretty quick," said Robert Sime, a former Northwest Airlines pilot who has found caches in many states and Canada.

GPS handheld devices are used to pinpoint the longitude and latitude of locations all over the world through satellite technology. These GPS devices are a key element needed for geocaching (pronounced geo-cashing).

Caches can be found in more than 200 countries around the world. In Richfield, there are only a few known geocachers.

Matt Teeuwen of Richfield wouldn't call himself an avid geocacher, but he finds time every now and then to get together with his sons and go out for a find.

"It's a great way to get outdoors, get a little exercise," Teeuwen said. "There's always the thrill of the hunt, to some extent."

In order to start geocaching, it is recommended that those interested purchase a GPS and sign up for a free account at www.geocaching.com. While models vary, a basic GPS can be purchased at just about any electronics store beginning at $100.

For many, the game is a lot like a treasure hunt, with participants tracking hidden waterproof containers with their GPS. The reward is often a container full of trinkets and knickknacks, provided by another geocaching participant. But if someone discovers a cache, they are allowed to take it, as long as they replace it - generally - with something of equal value.

The containers, commonly referred to as caches, can be found all over the Twin Cities, and throughout the state.

While benefits to geocaching include a cardiovascular workout and getting to know nature, geocachers will oftentimes pick up trash during their hunts, and it is said to be a great family activity.

"It is a lot of fun," Teeuwen said. An assistant troop master for Boy Scout Troop 192 out of Eden Prairie, he is even thinking about incorporating the geocaching into his troop's spring activities.

He has found items at Veterans Memorial Park, and recently trekked the trails of Wood Lake Nature Center in Richfield, where he and other family members gathered to track down a cache located just off the beaten path.

Wood Lake Nature Center has encouraged responsible geocaching ever since one of their former board members, Rob Sime, took up the activity.

The nature center usually sees anywhere from six to eight people on the weekends looking to hunt or place caches. The center's policy asks that geocachers plant caches close to the path, and not too far into the woods.

Richfield Parks Operations Superintendent Randy Hughes had never heard of any problems associated with geocaching. While the city doesn't have a formed stance on the activity, officials would strongly discourage people from "damaging or digging in parks," he said.

But geocaching doesn't involve burying the "treasure." Instead, creativity in hiding small trinkets such as key chains and figurines in the caches is strongly encouraged.

But that doesn't mean that all parks or all people have been receptive of the outdoor activity.

"I worked with the nature center, and their goal is to preserve nature," Sime said. "And at the time we were working with the parks to develop policy to encourage this activity."

Sime said that the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and many park agencies initially had a false impression of what geocachers do.

The DNR saw that geocachers were placing caches in state parks, and were afraid that it was becoming a "control issue," according to Matt Werner, president of the Minnesota Geocaching Association (MnGCA), a group of Minnesota geocachers who are committed to promoting safe, responsible, and environmentally friendly geocaching.

In response, state parks banned geocaching in spring 2002.

Sime, who helped found the MnGCA, worked with state parks to form a policy for geocaching, and in 2005 the statewide ban was lifted.

Today, certain parks regulate geocaching, while others do not. Overall, members of the group say it is advantageous for parks to allow geocaching because the geocachers are nature-minded, and are willing to sometimes even pay to get into parks to place or find caches.

Werner said that searching for geocaches can make for an interesting hike, and sometimes a spectacular view.

Werner, better known as "Pear Head" in geocaching circles, has more than 1,000 finds to his credit in the past three years.

Werner lists his favorite geocache as a "double cache," where two steps are necessary to find the cache, at Ellie's Peak in Duluth.

Sime agreed that there are many inventive places to find geocaches, some even without the use of a GPS.

One of Sime's caches can be found behind a counter at the Mall of America. Those interested can sign up for a free membership with Geocaching.com and search for Mall of America. They will have to follow clues that will, hopefully, lead them to a counter in a certain store where the cache will be waiting for them.

Community Editor Mike Hanks also contributed to this report.

"It is a lot of fun," Teeuwen said. An assistant troop master for Boy Scout Troop 192 out of Eden Prairie, he is even thinking about incorporating the geocaching into his troop's spring activities.

He has found items at Veterans Memorial Park, and recently trekked the trails of Wood Lake Nature Center in Richfield, where he and other family members gathered to track down a cache located just off the beaten path.

Wood Lake Nature Center has encouraged responsible geocaching ever since one of their former board members, Rob Sime, took up the activity.

The nature center usually sees anywhere from six to eight people on the weekends looking to hunt or place caches. The center's policy asks that geocachers plant caches close to the path, and not too far into the woods.

Richfield Parks Operations Superintendent Randy Hughes had never heard of any problems associated with geocaching. While the city doesn't have a formed stance on the activity, officials would strongly discourage people from "damaging or digging in parks," he said.

But geocaching doesn't involve burying the "treasure." Instead, creativity in hiding small trinkets such as key chains and figurines in the caches is strongly encouraged.

But that doesn't mean that all parks or all people have been receptive of the outdoor activity.

"I worked with the nature center, and their goal is to preserve nature," Sime said. "And at the time we were working with the parks to develop policy to encourage this activity."

Sime said that the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and many park agencies initially had a false impression of what geocachers do.

The DNR saw that geocachers were placing caches in state parks, and were afraid that it was becoming a "control issue," according to Matt Werner, president of the Minnesota Geocaching Association (MnGCA), a group of Minnesota geocachers who are committed to promoting safe, responsible, and environmentally friendly geocaching.

In response, state parks banned geocaching in spring 2002.

Sime, who helped found the MnGCA, worked with state parks to form a policy for geocaching, and in 2005 the statewide ban was lifted.

Today, certain parks regulate geocaching, while others do not. Overall, members of the group say it is advantageous for parks to allow geocaching because the geocachers are nature-minded, and are willing to sometimes even pay to get into parks to place or find caches.

Werner said that searching for geocaches can make for an interesting hike, and sometimes a spectacular view.

Werner, better known as "Pear Head" in geocaching circles, has more than 1,000 finds to his credit in the past three years.

Werner lists his favorite geocache as a "double cache," where two steps are necessary to find the cache, at Ellie's Peak in Duluth.

Sime agreed that there are many inventive places to find geocaches, some even without the use of a GPS.

One of Sime's caches can be found behind a counter at the Mall of America. Those interested can sign up for a free membership with Geocaching.com and search for Mall of America. They will have to follow clues that will, hopefully, lead them to a counter in a certain store where the cache will be waiting for them.

Community Editor Mike Hanks also contributed to this report.