Designing 3D Printed Waterproof Geocache Containers
May 8, 2025 2025-11-24 22:55Designing 3D Printed Waterproof Geocache Containers
Kennesaw, GA – An exciting project is underway at Kennesaw State University (KSU), where Professor Uli Ingram, a senior lecturer in the Department of Geography and Anthropology, is collaborating with Jonas Freck, a recent graduate from Innovation Academy (IA), as well as other students. This project, which began in October 2024 and will continue until May 2025, focuses on designing and 3D printing waterproof geocache containers.
Jonas Freck, who was an engineering pathway student at IA and graduated in May of 2024, is now an electrical engineering major at KSU. He is participating in the KSU First Year Scholar program, which provides students with hands-on research opportunities early in their academic careers.
Geocaching is a popular outdoor activity where participants use GPS devices to hide and seek containers, known as “geocaches,” at specific locations marked by coordinates. The containers need to be durable and waterproof to protect the logbooks and treasures inside from the elements.
Mrs. Ingram and Jonas are using 3D printing technology and programs to create these containers. The project not only aims to produce high-quality geocache containers but also offers Jonas valuable practical experience in applying his engineering and 3D modeling skills.
In February of 2025, Mrs. Ingram, along with three KSU students, led a Flex Friday workshop at Innovation Academy to collaborate with IA students on the design of a geocache container. The other KSU students involved in this project are Zoe Gleason, another KSU First Year Scholar and anthropology major, and Andy Kenmoe, a computer science major, as well as David Kirkley and Christian Sousa, geospatial sciences majors at KSU.
Jonas and Zoe presented the findings of their project at the KSU Spring Symposium of Student Scholars on April 17th, 2025. This event showcased the innovative work being done by students and provided a platform for them to share their research with the broader academic community. Throughout the year, we hid nine new geocaches on the KSU Kennesaw campus. We had a geography club meeting in April 2025 to share the geocaches with our students are introduce geocaching and GPS technologies to them.
As the project draws to a close, we were able to create and modify several geocaching containers that are waterproof or least water resistant. The students documented the project in two ArcGIS storymaps: Waterproof Geocaching Containers and Student Engagement Through Geocaching.
“We’re thrilled to be working on this project,” said Professor Ingram. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for the students to apply what they have learned in a real-world setting, and it’s exciting to contribute to the geocaching community.”
