Promoting Geodiversity Education by Using EarthCaching in National Geoparks

Abstract

Here are presented new data on the use of EarthCaching as an educational tool in German National Geoparks and its potential for influencing learning within the field of geodiversity. A questionnaire was sent to all national Geoparks within Germany in order to find out how important they rate geodiversity and which aspects of Earth Sciences they cover. The main focus of the study is the concepts of communicating and teaching geodiversity in the individual Geoparks, with a special focus on EarthCaching. The results show that geodiversity plays an important role in the national Geoparks and that all the important areas of Earth Sciences are covered, with a special emphasis on geology and geomorphology. Geoparks use mostly guided tours, natural trails, and presentation boards as communication tools. Newly developed teaching methods like apps, audio guides, or EarthCaching are of minor relevance. However, the Geopark Bayern-Bohmen uses EarthCaching more intensely. We therefore present one of its EarthCaches as a best practice example.