There's a new modern-age digital-network twist to the hike with some possibilities for our drawing folks back to the joys of exploring the nature trails. It's called "Geocaching" and y'know, on the surface of it, it looks like our local trail associations could roll this out anywhere, any season -- all they need do is to supply is a few seeded cache-boxes and then net-cast the invites ...

"Combining hiking with treasure hunting, all you need is a map, computer and a GPS (global positioning) unit which you can get for under $100. The longitude and latitude coordinates for each cache are shared on the internet. You use your GPS device to search for these caches (waterproof boxes containing a logbook, paper and assorted trinkets) hidden at various points along trails or in other locations.
"The general rule of thumb is, 'If you take a trinket, leave a trinket, and write in the logbook.'
[ Northumberland Tourism - Geocaching ]

Who says the techno-folks don't know how to enjoy life? They call it "The sport where you are the search engine" and the sky's the limit for how you could hook the box into all sorts of family fun opportunities.

Just for some top of my head examples, boxes could contain geo-coordinates of additional 'secret' boxes, boxes could be stashed in graded locations for the kids, the tenderfoots and for the hard-core extreme rock-climbers. Taking a tip from that old Coca-Cola GPS-can campaign, the boxes could 'phone home' when opened and log to a publicity map, maybe a cell number where you send your photo live on-location hooking to a mashup with flickr and google maps!

Of course, in this neighbourhood I suppose there's equally the chance you'd open the box to discover it home to some flying squirrels.

or worse.

but that's ok too. It's all part of the adventure with nature, isn't it?