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Letterboxing
By Polly | June 16, 2008
Keeping kids from getting bored during the summer months is no small task, so to help we have kicked off an 8 week Summer Boredom Buster series. Over the next 8 weeks we will post a new summer boredom buster idea each week. This is Week One and our first summer boredom buster idea is letterboxing.
Keep kids active and busy this summer with a letterboxing (also called questing in some parts of the United States) adventure.
Letterboxing is a treasure hunt hike that families take in search of hidden letterboxes. Hidden letterboxes contain a log book, pens, an ink stamp, and sometimes an inkpad. Using clues found on the internet (most letterboxes are hidden in a park or central community location), families set out on a hiking adventure in search of the hidden letterbox. . Once the letterbox has been found, families then use the pen to leave a message in the logbook along with an image from their personal stamp. Families then use the stamp found inside the letterbox to record their adventure in their own personal journal. Once families have left their mark so to speak and recorded the letterbox’s image in their journal, they must re-hide the letterbox for the next letterboxing family. Be sure to be discreet and hide the letterbox well.
To get started on your letterboxing adventure you will need these things:
- A Rubber Stamp - Families need to choose a rubber stamp that symbolizes their family. This is the stamp that you will mark in the letterbox logbook. Simply head to your local craft store, and choose one from the many different styles. Rather than just one stamp for your family, families can also choose individual stamps for each family member or if they are really enthusiastic about letterboxing try making their own stamp.
- An Ink Pad - Not all letterboxes have ink pads in them, so be sure to buy one of your own and bring it along in your hiking backpack.
- A Personal Journal - To record your adventures and the images of the stamps found in the letterboxes, families will need some type of journal. A family journal is a great option for this or a nature notebook is another choice.
- A Backpack - Bring along a backpack with water, snacks, band aids, camera, sunscreen, and anything else you think you may need along your hike.
- Compass - A good compass is optional and most likely dependent on the degree of difficulty of the clues.
Finding Clues and Other Resources
There are many letterboxing resources online to help you get started. You can find clues to local hidden letterboxes as well as additional information at www.letterboxing.org and www.atlasquest.com . To talk with other people new to letterboxing as well as veteran letterboxers you can join the Newboxers chat group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/newboxers.
Good luck!
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Topics: Boredom Busters, Family Fun, Family Time, Local Family Activities |
June 24th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
[...] Letterboxing [...]