Where to detect at a school? Front, playground, sidewalks, etc?

[nathan104]

Heading to the inlaws in a few days and planning on detecting the older elementary school nearby. Will only have a few hours to detect so wondered what the best strategy would be? Should I spend my time in front of the school around the sidewalks and entrances or would it be better to hit the back around the playground? There is also an attached baseball field. If this was somewhere Id be able to hit multiple times, Id do it all, but with a limited amount of time, want to hit the spots with the most potential. Ive never detected at a school before.

 

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[ks coyote]

All of the above. If a very old school, around the outhouses is also a good place to hunt.

 

[CincinnatiKid]

Good luck, but you ask many questions without much information.
How old is school? If 70s era, and no past history to site, you can find clad at best. No jewelry of consequence at elementary schools.
Stay off manicured lawn entrances. Especially if school is surrounded by homes. The "locals" may frown �� on this?
Is said school public? If not, stay away without written permission.
Will you detect alone, or with family. Alone is best, as it draws less attention ⚠.
What digging tools will you use? Leave no trace. Take all trash.
Stay out of "infields". Stick to sidelines.
Please realize, this site may be new to you, but has most likely been pounded by others.
Again, good luck.
Peace ✌

 

[Diggin-N-Dumps]

Yea man..hit it all

 

[nathan104]

Hard to hit it all in two hours. The school has been there since the 50's. Thanks for the general tips, Im not new to detecting, IVe just never messed with a school before. Its a public school and I have permission to detect it. As for being pounded already, I don't have any problems detecting behind others. MY AT PRO and I can sniff out some overlooked treasures. Doesn't sound like there are any opinions on what area to hit first.

 

[gollum]

I would detect the childrens' wrists and pockets.

Mike

 

[CMan1]

Just go with your gut feelings. Then go back again and check other areas.

 

[dirtlooter]

with places where kids are chasing kids, adults chasing kids and even other adults etc., anything is possible anywhere and those places often overlooked by others detecting can pay off, especially if prior detectors didn't fare so well close to the metal objects like steel posts etc. your Pro should do very well. good hunting

 

[NWMP]

Hard to hit it all in two hours. The school has been there since the 50's. Thanks for the general tips, Im not new to detecting, IVe just never messed with a school before. Its a public school and I have permission to detect it. As for being pounded already, I don't have any problems detecting behind others. MY AT PRO and I can sniff out some overlooked treasures. Doesn't sound like there are any opinions on what area to hit first.

One strategy that I use with my AT Pro is to ground balance in a "clean" spot, meaning no signals under the coil. Put it in Pro Zero mode, then notch out anything below 65. Now I listen for the weaker or softer than usual hits, which usually mean an old penny, 30"s and back around here. Silver quarters come up strongly and silver dimes still catch the ear. Double check your screen for additional info on a puzzling signal. But after a while it all becomes much simpler and you can almost call the finds. There are so many subtleties, tips, nuances that this brief jabber is next to nothing, but I hope that it helps. Yes you lose a bit of depth like this, a bit, but it is a strategy to cut through a lot of junk, for some good stuff, quickly......Google earth your town/school and you will see the worn areas of high traffic density. What entrances get the most use etc.

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Hello Nathan104,

Look for old trees, start at the base and slowly detect in a very tight spiral outward to about 20 feet (repeat if you find silver or goodies). If they are large trees chances are people sat under them to watch a ballgame or escape the hot sun. Children would also play around them during play time. I have found many “keepers” using this method. In fact, I found a Mercury Dime a few days ago in a park using this method.

Work the grass area surrounding a children’s play area. Interesting enough, many detectorists (not serious ones) only detect the easy places, around the play area. This leaves the grass area prime for detecting. From years of experience, I have found this to be the case (at least in my area).

Do not forget large bushes around the building and bushes close to wooded areas. Remember these bushes were much smaller at an earlier time.

Go "Low and Slow"

Regards,