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How to Take Your Family Geocaching

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How to Take Your Family Geocaching

If it feels as if you’ve already explored every last nook and cranny of your cramped lockdown life know this: Right under your nose, there’s a hidden world operating entirely out of view.

That world is geocaching, a no-contact game of hide-and-seek between hundreds of thousands of strangers. Players hide caches — waterproof containers, usually small plastic boxes — in out-of-sight spots for others to discover using GPS technology.

How has this world remained totally hidden from you? The first rule of geocaching is to try to keep your searching a secret. If a runner jogs by, players may pretend to be deeply engrossed in plant identification. (Once you know about geocaching, you may realize just how many other folks are pretending to be fascinated by that patch of ivy.)

Geocaching began in earnest in 2000, when the U.S. military adjusted its GPS satellites to improve accuracy for recreational GPS users. An enthusiast in Oregon hid the first cache, said Bryan Roth, president and co-founder of Geocaching HQ, which runs Geocaching.com. Since then, the community has grown steadily, with the pandemic spurring a considerable increase in participation.

“At a time when people are looking for some distraction, getting outside really works well,” said Mr. Roth, who noted that sign-ups for the Geocaching app are up 70 percent compared with last year.

To get started, download an app on your phone, like Geocaching HQ (free download and some free caches, but the $30 annual membership unlocks more); Cachly ($4.99 and free caches, iPhone only); or c:geo (free download and free caches, Android only). You can also geocache with a hand-held GPS device, using online databases like NaviCache.com to find cache coordinates.

Caches are rated 1 to 5 by their difficulty; beginners may want to start with a 1 and work up from there. GPS will usually get you within 30 feet of the cache, and instructions like “look to the north of the roadway” can clue you in on exactly where you should be searching.

Then the real hunt begins.

When you find the cache — be it hidden under a tree, tucked into a log pile or taped to the back of a sign — you can check it off on the app. Most caches have a logbook tucked inside that shows everyone who was there before you, while others will contain a trinket as a treasure. (Putting a few tiny objects in your pocket before you head out gives you options if you think you might want to swap with the trinkets inside.)

One particularly nice benefit of geocaching is that it gets screen-addicted kids outside. And even though geocaching happens outdoors, you needn’t be outdoorsy.

When a friend first suggested that Katie Sweeney and her husband try geocaching in 2007, “I was like, I don’t really like hiking,” she remembered. Ms. Sweeney, a copywriter based in the Netherlands, soon found many caches within a few blocks of her home, in Philadelphia at the time. Today, she takes her 6-year-old daughter out to geocache on their way to or from the grocery store or other errands.

“We’re always discovering new places near where we live,” Ms. Sweeney said, adding that children can really be an asset. Their different vantage points often help them see things adults might overlook.

Nick Geidner, a University of Tennessee journalism professor, doesn’t mind if a hunt is a bust.

“We don’t always find them,” he said. “But if we fail, we can come back and we can try again.” Henry, his 7-year-old son, wasn’t quite so sure. When asked how he felt after giving up on a recent hunt, he said, “I’m not like angry, but I’m not like happy.”

The thrill of finding a tricky or unique cache, though, far outweighs those not-happy moments. In September, Ms. Sweeney and her daughter found a once-in-a-lifetime cache, which had a gamelike opening with a maze, magnetic ball and secret code.

“It was this little joy,” said Ms. Sweeney, recalling opening the cache. “We’re all just looking for little moments of joy.”

Free January 2021 Wallpaper & Instagram quote

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Free January 2021 Wallpaper & Instagram quote

Free January 2021 Wallpaper

Our free January 2021 wallpaper is here!

Can you believe is already 2021? We are starting this year with some delicate flowers and marble texture. I didn’t even know that I like the pink/grey color combination so much, but I fell in love with it when I was putting this month wallpaper together.

Blush is also a color we use for the 2021 Limited Edition of our Life Planner and the Blog Planner.

As always, our January’s free wallpaper comes with two different mobile phone layouts. They are great to use at once – the simple version for your phone background and the one with a quote for the lock screen.

This month quote

I wish you all the best in this new year. The quote I picked for this month will remind you that it is a fresh start and I believe that you will achieve anything you want.

This is your year to sparkle - Quote from Free January 2021 Wallpaper

This is your year to sparkle

P.S the square image is also included in the download package below! Feel free to post it on your Instagram.

What font is it?

Free January’s wallpaper features my all-time favorites – Opulent and Geometrica. I have used thousands of fonts but If I could use only two fonts for the rest of my life I would definitely pick this pair.

Free January 2021 Wallpaper with quote - This is your year to sparkle

Looking for more? Check our previous wallpapers!

In conclusion, the free download includes three desktop options – one with the calendar and one without the calendar and one with a quote. There is also a wallpaper for tablet and two options for the phone. We have also included an Instagram ready square with the weekly quote.

Your voice matters!

If you have your favorite quotes and would like them to appear on the next free wallpaper, make sure to post them in the comments below or send us your ideas via email.

Enjoy!

FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY.

Lastly, we would appreciate if you can share this freebie. It is really easy! Just click on the buttons below. It is completely free for you but helps us grow and produce even more content.

Share and help us grow. Thanks!

P.S This post includes affiliate links so by clicking them you are supporting us. Thanks!

Live Webinar: Teaching Informational Writing

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Live Webinar: Teaching Informational Writing

Informational writing is the style of writing that dominates The New York Times as well as any other traditional newspaper you might read, and in our writing unit, and this webinar, we hope to show students that it can be every bit as engaging and compelling to read and to write as other genres.

For this writing unit and contest, we are focusing on just one broad area of informational writing — that with a STEM theme. We invite students to take any STEM-related discovery, process or idea that interests them and write about it in a way that makes it understandable and engaging for a general audience.

In this webinar, The Learning Network, along with expert educators, will share ways to make informational writing engaging and fun for students, show you how the Trilobites column of the Science Times, and other mentor texts, can be used to write compellingly and informatively, and walk you through our STEM writing contest.

Together we will:

  • Explore writing prompts and resources that will inspire students to investigate topics that matter to them.

  • Analyze mentor texts from The Times and past contest winners to identify “writer’s moves” and key elements of informational writing, with a focus on STEM topics.

  • Gain advice and best practices from Times journalists on informational writing in the field of science.

  • Learn about the STEM Writing Contest and the resources that support it.

C.T.L.E. credit is available for New York educators. All participants will receive a certificate of completion.

Register now to join our live webinar or to receive a link to view the on-demand recording.

29 bite-sized goals for learning to code in 2021

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29 bite-sized goals for learning to code in 2021

It’s that time of year again — the time for making New Year’s resolutions! It can be tempting to set big, life-changing goals. But the loftiest resolutions are usually the first to be abandoned. This year, let’s resolve to make resolutions we can keep.

Every major accomplishment requires a smaller first step. You can’t run a marathon before you can run the first mile and the same goes for learning how to code. Before you can code a website you need to learn to write your first “Hello, World!” Before you can become a data scientist you need to learn how to acquire data. Resolving to take the first step is the easiest way to ensure you get started down the road to success this year.

Here’s an inspiring example from our community. In 2020, Ioannis set a small goal for himself. “My goal was to start learning a new language and get at least one certification.” By the end of the year, Ioannis earned not one, not two, but twenty certifications!

Starting small: Inspiration for your 2021 resolutions

To help you follow in Ioannis’s footsteps, Codecademy curriculum developers Alex K., Nick, Kenny, Cole, Mariel, and Sonny shared some ideas for bite-sized goals you can set for yourself this year. We’ve broken them out into a few categories — goals for getting started, building your portfolio, becoming an active community member, tracking your progress, and more.

Resolve to get started with coding

Brand new to coding? The best way to get started is to just dive in. So make a resolution to take the first step in the beginning of 2021. Here are a few ideas for resolutions you can choose to get started with coding this year:

  • I’m going to write my first program that prints “Hello, World!” This is one of the first things you’ll learn in our Code Foundations Path.
  • I’m going to learn how to install a language on my computer.
  • I’m going to learn how to use a text editor on my computer. We recommend Visual Studio Code (VSCode) if you’re not sure where to get started.
  • I’m going to create a GitHub account and create a repository to share my code. Learn more about getting set up with Git and GitHub.
  • I’m going to download a coding app on my phone. An app like Codecademy Go lets you get in a little bit of coding practice wherever you may be.
  • I’m going to start collecting a data set about myself. This can be a fun one if you’re interested in data science. It could be anything from how many steps you take each day to what time you wake up.

Resolve to tie your learning to something you enjoy

Curriculum developer Alex K. says, “A good goal is to get to the point where you are working on a project that you’re excited about.” When you’re just getting started, you’ll be spending time learning the fundamentals and building simple projects. Learning new things is always rewarding, but when you find that first project that really inspires you, you’ll really start having fun! Here are a few resolutions to get you working on something you enjoy:

  • I’m going to work on a project that inspires me.
  • I’m going to find a data set I’m interested in. Check out some of our favorite data sets for inspiration.
  • I’m going to build a small applet that’s useful for myself, my friends, or my family.

Being a part of a community is a great way to keep yourself accountable to your goals and to make your learning journey more enjoyable. You’ll be able to find help when you need it, share your experiences, learn from the experiences of others, and make new friends. Here are a few ideas for becoming a more active community member in 2021:

  • I’m going to attend a local hackathon and try to help out on a project. Looking for local hackathons? Check out Major League Hacking or Eventbrite.
  • I’m going to participate in a local coding club in my school or town. Codecademy Chapters are a great place to start.
  • I’m going to answer someone’s question in the Codecademy Forums.
  • I’m going to attend a programming-related meetup or conference.
  • I’m going to follow 10 developers on Twitter.
  • I’m going to submit my first post on Stackoverflow.

Resolve to make progress on your portfolio

If your end goal is a career in web development or data science then you’ll ultimately need to build a portfolio. Resolve to make progress on your portfolio in 2021 with one of the following ideas:

  • I’m going to build a simple portfolio website and host it.
  • I’m going to make a website version of my resume.
  • I’m going to build one project for my portfolio. In October of 2020, we revamped our Career Paths to now include portfolio-ready projects that you can use when you begin your job search.

Resolve to make progress on career goals

Whether you’ve been toying with the idea of changing careers, are already in the process, or are interested in learning technical skills to advance in your current job, the New Year is a good time to set some goals to help you make progress. Check out the following goals for inspiration:

  • I’m going to search for jobs and look over their requirements.
  • I’m going to complete the first module of a Career Path. We currently offer Career Paths in Data Science, Front-End, Back-End, and Full-Stack Web Development.
  • I’m going to speak with someone that works in a field I’m interested in.
  • I’m going to put my technical resume together.

Resolve to hone your coding skills

Here are a few ideas for goals that’ll help you become a better and more efficient programmer in 2021:

  • I’m going to Google my error and read documentation instead of clicking “Get a solution” right away.
  • I’m going to complete a series of code challenges.
  • I’m going to contribute to my first open-sourced project on GitHub.

Resolve to track your progress

This last batch of ideas is all about tracking your progress. Sometimes tracking and sharing your progress is just the boost you need to keep on going — plus you can look back and see how far you’ve come!

  • I’m going to create my own coding journey notebook.
  • I’m going to write a blog post about something I’ve learned.
  • I’m going to set a weekly target and stick to it. Check out our article on tips for staying accountable to your goals to learn more about weekly targets, streaks, and more.

We hope this list has helped you come up with a few bite-sized goals to start the year out on the right foot. Share your resolutions with us in the comments below!

5 ways to stay accountable to your learning goals in 2021

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5 ways to stay accountable to your learning goals in 2021

Planning to learn to code in 2021? We know it can feel overwhelming — especially if you’ve never coded before. But you’ve got this! And we’ve put together a list of 5 tips and resources to help you stay accountable to your coding goals this year.

Set bite-sized, achievable goals

Setting a big, lofty goal can be exciting in the moment, but can sometimes feel so overwhelming that it’s easy to just give up. That’s why we recommend starting small. If you’re not a runner, resolving to start running one morning a week for 20 minutes may feel less overwhelming than resolving to run a marathon. The same goes for learning to code.

Set bite-sized, achievable goals for yourself in 2021. This’ll ensure that you don’t get overwhelmed. Give yourself the opportunity to get your feet wet, make learning to code a part of your regular routine, and let the smaller goals be the catalyst for something even bigger.

In 2020, Codecademy community member Ioannis set a small goal for himself. “My goal was to start learning a new language and get at least one Certification,” he shared in a post in the Codecademy Forums. In the end, Ioannis earned 20 certificates before the end of the year.

Not sure what goals to set for this year? Check out our list of 29 bite-sized goals for learning to code in 2021.

Make your goals and progress public

Let the world know what you plan to do — and how you’re progressing towards your goals. When you tell others what you plan to accomplish it makes it harder to give up. Tell your friends, tell your family, or even share your goals on social media, like JP, who has been sharing daily progress and recently hit 100 days of code!

You may also decide to record your progress along the way in a blog. This can be a fun way to look back on your journey later to see how far you’ve come — plus, logging your own experiences may be useful to other people who are on learning journeys of their own!

Set weekly targets

You’ll find weekly targets when you log into your Codecademy account and click on “My Home.” Your progress will appear in the top right corner of the screen and you can click to update your weekly target. Decide how many days you want to learn each week and then track your progress.

We’ll keep track of how many days you’ve logged into Codecademy to learn in the current week. Plus, we’ll show you how many weeks in a row you’ve met your target.

Take the 30-day challenge

If you’re up for a bit of a bigger goal, start a 30-day challenge! Commit to learning how to code every day for 30 days. Even if you just spend a few minutes each day, logging in daily can help you turn learning to code into a habit that’ll continue even after the 30 days are over.

When you sign up for the 30-day challenge, we’ll help you stay motivated and keep track of your progress. Worried you’ll forget to log in? We’ll send you daily or weekly reminders via email at the time of day of your choosing.

Wondering what it’s like to code every day for 30 days? Check out Codecademy community member Ella’s forum post, Reflections on a 35-Day Streak.

Speaking of the Codecademy community, being a part of a community is a great way to stay accountable to your goals. Share your progress, ask questions when you’re stuck, get inspired by the stories of other learners, and make new friends that share your motivations and interests.

Looking for a community? Here are a few places to get started:

  • Codecademy Forums: Join the conversation right here in the Codecademy Forums. Chat with other learners, share projects and get feedback, get help, get inspired by success stories, and more!
  • Codecademy Chapters: Codecademy Chapters are community-led local groups designed to help you stay motivated, get support on your learning journey, and connect with other learners near you, in-person or virtually. Join a chapter in your local area — or start your own!
  • Twitter: Join the conversation and meet other people that are learning to code on Twitter with hashtags like #100DaysOfCode and #CodeNewbie.

Looking for more advice for sticking with your coding goals? We’ve compiled a list of 7 tips for staying motivated from our community members. Here’s to accomplishing all of your goals and more in 2021!

7 HTML interview questions to practice

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7 HTML interview questions to practice

This article was written by our friends at Career Karma. Check out their other interview questions roundups, including Python interview questions and JavaScript interview questions.

You may encounter some challenging questions regarding HTML during a job interview. Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) is the skeleton of many front end bases, and knowing how to articulate your knowledge and what you can accomplish with it will increase the chances of you landing a job as a UI developer, UX designer, or front end developer.

HTML interview questions to help you prep

Let’s go over technical HTML questions you can expect to be asked in an interview for a front-end facing role. Think of these questions situationally to help tell a story about a time you implemented your skills and techniques on a project.

1. What is Semantic HTML and why do we use it?

Semantic HTML codes meaning to web pages, making it not only useful for search engine optimization and other developers reading your code, but also to screen readers.

If you are being interviewed to help a product at a company, you want that product to produce value for every user, including those who visit the company’s site using screen readers. A screen reader is a tool used to render text,Accessible Rich Internet Applications (ARIA) roles, states, and properties, and “alt” attributes into speech.

An example of semantic HTML is using a

tag instead of a

to write a paragraph, or an

tag to highlight the most important heading on the webpage.

Semantic HTML is also used for native browser functionality. One reason we use the