Letterboxing

My daughter Amber has taken on a very cool new hobby that is sure to be a hit this year for the family. It is called Letterboxing.

Letterboxing combines hand-carved stamps, treasure hunting and usually a scenic, outdoor place and a hike or walk. Each letterboxer has their own logbook and signature stamp. Each hidden letterbox also has a logbook and a stamp. Clues to the locations of the boxes are posted on the internet, and once you find the box, you stamp its logbook with your stamp and then stamp your logbook the stamp from the box. So you got to see a special location or go on a fun hike, and get a little art at the end of it!

A couple Sundays ago, several in our family set out I set out on a letterbox hunt. We stopped at the Flame of Hope monument in Virginia Beach, which I’ve driven by a zillion times but never stopped to look at the monument.

The box was hidden under a tree. We followed the clues much like a treasure map. It was really kind of exciting.

Everyone stamped in with their thumbprints and Amber used her hand carved stamp.

Then we headed over to Red Wing Park where three boxes were hidden on the nature trail.

It seems like it will be a great new hobby and a way to get the family out in the woods as well. I so enjoy spending time outside.

Amber and me on our first letterboxing outing.

If you’re interested in learning more about letterboxing, check out Atlasquest or Letterboxing.org. Any other letterboxers out there?

Comments

[J Lietze]

Hi Sheryl

Hey this is a great idea for having fun out in the sun :+D Thanks. I may end the term with an outing like this (especially since we have just done some orienteering and mapping skills).

Thanks!

P.S - The fingerprint animations will go down well with my students too.

[Angela (NZ)]

Wow - what a special activity to do as a family. You've already got me thinking about where and how I could set this up for myself. Sort of like a scavenger hunt, but even better as you come out with a special keepsake at the end of it. Great! :-)

[Charlie A. Roy]

Letterboxing sounds very cool. It definitely sounds like something my sons would love. Thanks for sharing and I will be looking into it.

[Acacia]

Letterboxing is awesome and has also been incorporated into the newer geocaching which takes advantage of GPS devices. For more information, visit geocaching.com and to see how some NC teachers are using it check out http://www.ncwiseowl.org/impact/ncgeocache/.

It was a pleasure to see you speak recently at NCaect.

[Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach]

jleitz,
I think that would be a perfect fit. Be sure and check out Acacia's comment.

Angela,
Let me know how it goes! Are they doing this in NZ?

Charlie,
We need to talk. Do you have Skype?

[KobyStars]

We just started letterboxing today and we had a great time! Enjoy your new hobby. I know we will.