Childhood obesity is becoming an epidemic as children lead an ever increasing sedentary life of sitting online socializing or playing video games in front of a TV (sometimes both at the same time!). Meanwhile government health officials sit around scratching their heads on how to get today’s youth interested and active in the outdoors. Thanks to Mike Theune, a ranger with the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, a modified version of geocaching may soon be coming to National Park Service managed lands near you. The Santa Monica park recently started its own version of geocaching, called ParkCaching, where like the traditional game, it has hidden six boxes (caches) around the park and challenged park visitors to find them. Since its inception, children of all ages have enjoyed getting out and finding treasure in hidden geocaches across the country. ParkCaching is a great approach to expose children to our national parks, learn a little history and a get some sorely needed exercise at the same time. The program is being observed by National Park Service rule makers in Washington, D.C. If successful, it maybe expand it to other parks in the National Park system. With ParkCaching hopefully coming to more national park managed lands, adventurous RVing families will have one more physical activity to enjoy during their park visits. Even if your children have flown the coop, us empty nester RV enthusiasts could always use a little more exercise too!
Geocaching makes for healthy happy kids.
Dave Helgeson’s many roles in the RV industry started before he even had a driver’s license. His grandparents and father owned an RV dealership before the term “RV” had been coined, and Dave played a pivotal role in nearly every position of an RV dealership. He and his wife Cheri launched their own RV dealership in the Pacific Northwest. The duo also spent 29 years overseeing regional RV shows. Dave has also served as President of a local chapter of the Recreational Vehicle Dealers Association (RVDA), worked on the board of advisors for the RV Technician Program of a local technical college, and served as a board member of the Manufactured Home and RV Association. Dave’s reputation earned him the title of “The foremost expert on boondocking,” bestowed by RV industry icon, the late Gary Bunzer (The RV Doctor). When he’s not out boondocking, you’ll find Dave in the spotlight at RV shows across the country, giving seminars about all things RVing. He and Cheri currently roam in their fifth travel trailer, with Dave doing all the service, repair and modifications to his own unit.
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