WEST BOWDOIN – Members of the Maine Geocaching Association and Androscoggin Land Trust will lead a snowshoe and geocaching expedition at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 28, at the land trust’s Purinton Homestead Conservation Area.

Geocaching is a game in which participants search for hidden objects using a hand held global positioning system unit.

“There are variations like letterboxing, where the object is found using hints published on the Internet, and we hide items in urban areas too, always with permission,” said Kathy Williamson of the Maine Geocaching Association.

Maine geocachers have been active partners with the trust for the past two years. Geocachers use the trust’s preserves to hide caches, and in return remove trash and report any stewardship issues.

“As volunteer stewards, the group has been invaluable,” said Jonathan LaBonte, trust executive director. The association was awarded the Elliott Bates Stewardship Award at the recent annual meeting of the trust.

The 154-acre Purinton Homestead Conservation Area conserves a 19th century New England landscape. The red brick house and connected barn, built in 1820 by Nathaniel Purinton, sit next to the West Bowdoin Cemetery and West Bowdoin Baptist Church, built in 1836. Purinton built much of the church and served as its minister for 30 years.

The now privately owned house is protected as part of an easement that conserves nine acres of the homestead on West Road.

The land, under ownership by the trust, includes a 40-acre working agricultural field and more than 100 acres of forest that also serve to protect Gillespie Brook as it winds its way toward the Little River, a tributary of the Androscoggin.

Experience with geocaching is not a requirement and all are welcome. Participants should bring snowshoes and dress for the weather. Parking will be available at the West Bowdoin Baptist Church. The trailhead is across the street.

For more information, call the trust at 782-2302, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.androscogginlandtrust.org.