field trip
all about
“letterboxing”
beginning letterboxer
by MaryRose Lovgren
destination: Honey Run Covered Bridge
letterbox with stamp and pen
www.growingupchico.com
log for entries
Need a little encour agement t o ge t out in natur e t his summer? T r y Le tt erboxing! It starts with a handful of mysterious clues, which send the treasure-seekers to amble over trails, past creeks and old-growth oak trees. The goal: to find the prize, a secret box, hidden somewhere in nature. And unlike geocaching, which requires the use of an expensive GPS device, all that is needed for this treasure hunt is a set of clues, a sense of adventure and, at most, a simple compass.
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growing up chico magazine
What is it?
It’s called “letterboxing,” and according to www.LetterBoxing.org, it’s “an intriguing pastime combining navigational skills and rubber stamp artistry in a charming ‘treasure hunt’ style outdoor quest.” Rubber stamp artistry? That’s right! Part of this charm of this “sport” is to leave your mark in the form of a stamp once the letterbox is found. Many letterboxers make their own stamps, using cork or even rubber erasers (find out how online). It’s the perfect activity for families to do together, especially in an area as rich with publicly-accessible nature as Butte County.
So how do you begin ?
Clues to letterboxes in your area can be found online at www.letterboxing.org, or www.atlasquest.com. Once the clues have been followed and the letterbox (usually a plastic storage container) found, it should yield a few simple items: a log book, a stamp, and perhaps a pen or pencil. You use your own stamp (brought along with you) to stamp the
log book, and include your trail name and the date, proof that you have completed the journey. You may even want to leave a brief message. The stamp in the letterbox is used to stamp your own personal log book, for your own record. There may be an additional item inside, called a “hitchhiker,” to be taken and hidden by you! Make sure to put everything back, nice and neat. Seal all boxes and/or bags, replacing ripped bags if possible to keep out water. Make sure it is kept hidden!
S afe ty First
Some things to keep in mind if you decide to participate include having a respect for nature (no digging, harming plant or animal life), being safe (watching out for poisonous plants, snakes and spiders, and perhaps taking along a cell phone), and keeping the letterbox location secret (make sure to return it to its hiding place).
A few t o st ar t wit h
We here are Growing Up Chico Magazine created a few letterboxes to you to try and find. So what are you waiting for? Kids, grab an adult and get started! Just go to: www.growingupchico.com/letterboxing.html Do you have an idea for a letterbox? Create your own and we may post it online! Just e-mail your instructions to: maryrose@growingupchico.com.