It's an excuse to take a walk ... with a big ol' twist of adventure. It's part treasure hunt, part stamp collecting, and a whole lot of fun! Letterboxes are hidden and clues are posted online. Your goal is to find the box, and stamp the log book. Doesn't this sound like the perfect activity to try with your kids? Spend a weekend afternoon as a family, tracking down clues and discovering treasure! You may also want to read Part 1 and Part 2 and Part 3 in this series.
This is a hobby that can only be perpetuated by its participants. Once you've successfully found several Letterboxes, you may consider hiding one of your own. Before we get to the hiding, you'll also want to become a member of a letterboxing website where you can post your clues for others in the community. AtlasQuest.com is a great site for this and allows you to keep a virtual logbook and track members who are finding your box.
To create your own letterbox, you'll need three basic items: a stamp, a small notebook, and a waterproof container.
The stamp can represent something specific to the location or set of clues. For example, if you write Seuss-inspired rhyming clues, the stamp could be the Cat in the Hat. Or you could opt for something more sentimental.
Visitors to your letterbox will stamp into the small notebook. Get a good quality, acid-free sketch book if you want it to last a lifetime. Size is important - you don't want it too big for the container. It is probably a good idea to include a label with the Letterbox name, and the date installed.
And finally, the waterproof container. It does not need to be fancy but it must be waterproof and large enough to hold the stamp and notebook. If you've already found a box or two, you've got an idea of size and shape. A plastic "leftover" container works just fine. Make a label for the cover, again, with the Letterbox name, and where to contact you if it has been disrupted. And, a PLEA for the finder to respect its contents. Keep in mind, the odds are high that a chance finder won't know a thing about letterboxing.
Wishing you many letterboxing adventures in the very near future! We'd love to hear about your experiences, tell us all about it on our Facebook Fan page.
