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Hunting for Treasures Through Learning

As the National Middle School Association wrote, “No other age level is of more enduring importance because the determinants of one’s behavior as an adult, self concept, learning interests and skills, and values largely are formed in this period of life.” During this influential time in the lives of gifted adolescents, it is important to expose students to a variety of experiences and educational topics. Geocaching, a high-tech scavenger hunt, is one rewarding strategy that supports the growth of gifted students’ emotional, social, and intellectual being through the wide variety of topics addressed, the problem-solving skills involved, and the collaboration required with peers. This manuscript examines the incorporation of geocaching into the middle school classroom as a means to motivate gifted young adolescent learners.