High Tech Way to Explore the NY-NJ Harbor Estuary

Online, October 12, 2011 (Newswire.com) - Two earthcache trails have been launched in two parks in two states to celebrate the NY-NJ
Harbor Estuary. The Discovery trail is similar to the increasingly popular pastime of
geocaching, where people use their smart phones and GPS to locate treasures.

The Estuary Discovery Trails provide fun for the whole family and excitement for explorers
discovering the Harbor Estuary in a whole new way. Ten earthcache waypoints in Liberty State
Park in Jersey City, NJ and ten waypoints in Inwood Hill Park in Manhattan. mark unique
geological processes and aspects of the Estuaryô€€s ecology and natural history. The hands-on
high-tech (but not intimidating) treasure hunt reveals the harborô€€s vast resources, how it was
shaped, how we manage our resources, and how it affects our lives. Not bad for a day
dedicated to a healthy, active lifestyle.

Outdoor field experience and technology are combined to engage students and youth groups
in the wonders of the Harbor Estuary. Everything needed to explore the trail is provided
through the Inwood Hill Park Nature Center and Liberty State Park Nature Interpretive Center:
a sturdy Geomate Jr. GPS unit, trail field guide and logbook, and pencils. A Certificate of
Completion is presented to students who finish all the logging tasks. Explorers and cachers of
all ages can enjoy the environment in safe and active ways while learning.

You donô€€t need to be super tech savvy to participate. Older students and adults will enjoy the
easy to use online component. Hosted by the Geological Society of America at earthcache.org,
detailed cache descriptions are provided, including photographs and links to additional
information. Cachers explore with their own GPS device or smart phone with the free GPS app.
Once an earthcache is discovered, cachers can read information about the history, geology
and ecology on the spot and then "log their find" by e-mailing Going Coastal the answers to the
logging tasks, testing their observations and ensuring they visited the actual waypoint. You can
join the previous explorers who have uploaded photographs and left comments on the website.

Going Coastal, Inc. is a non-profit dedicated to connecting people to coastal resources by
raising awareness of the coastô€€s immense value, promoting clean, safe and accessible
waterways and fostering stewardship and community. Learn more about Going Coastalô€€s
Earthcache Trail and other programs at www.goingcoastal.org.

Inwood Hill Nature Center located at W 218 Street & Seaman Avenue, Manhattan is operated
by the Urban Park Rangers, open Wednesday to Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
For more information, call (212) 304-2365.

Liberty State Park Nature Interpretive Center at 200 Morris Pesin Drive, Jersey City is open
year round, Monday-Saturday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sundays from Memorial Day through Labor
Day. For more information, call (201) 915-3409.

The NY-NJ Harbor Estuary Earthcache Discovery Trails are created by Going Coastal, Inc. in
affiliation with Liberty State Park and the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation with
support from the NY-NJ Harbor Estuary Program and the New England Interstate Water
Pollution Control Commission.