Letterboxing Puts a New Spin on Geography
Learn About Local Places on a Fun Geographic Treasure Hunt
Geography is never boring, but with letterboxing any community or park can become a great adventure. Letterboxes are small, publically-accessible boxes hidden in places like parks or community centers. Enthusiasts post clues to find the letterbox on a web site, in an email, or through a network of friends. Each box contains a rubber stamp that is usually handmade and unique. It may also contain an ink pad. As a treasure hunter finds the letterbox, he makes a mark in the letterbox's logbook and takes an imprint of the stamp from the letterbox.
What is Letterboxing, and How did it Begin?
There are at least 20,000 letterboxes hidden in North America. Letterboxing began in England in 1854. A local guide placed a container out and hikers left letters along the trail. It was not until over 100 years later, in 1998, that letterboxing began to become popular in North America. Although it is similar to the popular sport of geocaching, letterboxing requires less equipment and involves artistic creations in the form of individualized rubber stamps.
How to Become a Letterboxer
Any sport worth its merit requires that the participants choose a fun nickname. Choose away! This is the letterboxing identity. Once adorned witha fancy name, choose a rubber stamp. This might mean finding a special stamp at a store or perhaps learning how to make a stamp. Also choose an inkpad to bring along in case the ink in the box has run out. Bring along a pencil to date finds and to leave comments at any letterboxes. Finally, choose a waterproof logbook with durable pages as a personal letterbox.
How To Find a Letterbox
First, find some clues! It is good to begin with publically-available clues such as those on letterboxing web sites. Letterboxing North America is one web site that links letterboxers and clues. Atlas Quest is another.
Gather the materials above, then head out with a good trail map. The most important rule of letterboxing is to respect the box and the environment it is hidden in. Before moving things to get to a potential site for a box, make sure that nothing in the environmental will be overly disturbed.
Letterboxing is About Knowing a Community
The most important part of the letterboxing experience is to enjoy the journey. Those who hid the box wanted others to experience the place where the box is hidden. Respect and enjoy that place and learn a little bit about it before moving on. It is the ultimate exercise in understanding local geography. Use a map to find and follow the clues, and use the clues to get to know a local place.
Letterboxing is a fantastic way to get to know local places or places far away. Taking clues on vacation or on a road trip add wonderful roadside hikes and great discussion points along the route. Enjoy this new hobby - it requires very little equipment and is accessible for the entire family.
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