Warrnambool Primary School and fourth-year education students at Deakin’s Warrnambool campus created the new geocaches — all with a theme related to courses at the uni.

Geocaching is a real-world, outdoor treasure hunting game where participants navigate to a specific set of GPS co-ordinates and then attempt to find the geocache (container) hidden at that location.

Some of the sites have geographic or historic connections to the campus, with geocaches hidden near the water towers, soccer pitch and football oval.

The sites will be incorporated into an expanded annual “amazing race” program that seeks to demystify higher education and raise the aspirations of local students by introducing them to life on the campus. 

Students from 13 schools across Warrnambool and the surrounding district are involved, as well as South West TAFE.

Deakin University Warrnambool Community Partnership Program project manager Rashmita Samrai said the visiting students used iPads and a GPS to find their way around the campus.

“The event showcases the role of technology in education and gives Deakin students an authentic way to work directly with schools,” she said.

“It will scope employment pathways for local young people in priority industries and raise aspirations for tertiary education.”

A log, school desk and drink container are some of the geocaches that have been hidden across the campus.