Letterboxing As An Educational Tool

Families looking to get out and spend some time together, look no further than letterboxing!

I’ve never been an outdoor person, but after spending a day in the woods with an old friend a few months ago, I found the bug.  It was far more intriguing than walking on a treadmill and much cheaper.  I could feel my senses engaging as we walked through woods, explored trails and admired the views that only nature can offer.

To get more of the outdoors, we started “letterboxing” locally in Connecticut parks and trails. 

Letterboxing is a scavenger hunt for small boxes that people plant in trails, museums and other natural settings.  Each box has a logbook and a personalized stamp for all who find it.  The clues are found on a web site which compiles the locations of known boxes across the United States.  Letterboxes can be found locally in Trumbull, Shelton and Monroe.

The reward is challenging oneself to find the boxes based on nature related clues, such as rocks, trees and fence lines.  The terrains vary from easy paved walking trails to medium/advanced terrain pathways.  Along the way, walkers can view fantastic streams, rivers and waterfalls.  Animals are also a very common sight if one is moderately quiet and respectful of the environment.

Letterboxing is a very educational hobby for children and adults.  Children are given a very practical exposure to nature and hiking in a safe way.  Letterboxing teaches them how to identify trees, plants and other observations of nature.  With progressive terrain available, kids can learn how to hike at different skill levels and respect the environments around them.  For adults, the exposure is calming.  I’ve found that weekends are very enjoyable as I anticipate what the next quest will be.  I am ecstatic when we find a flowing stream with its endless ebb and flow in my ears.  When I can put another stamp in my journal, it’s a great moment.

As a very inexpensive hobby, invest in the following basic items:

1.  Journal: It can be any make, color, size or type.  Choose one that fits your budget and personality from Target, Walgreens, or any other store that sells journals.
2. Stamp: Again, it can be cheap or custom made.
3. Inkpad

Register your unique trail name on www.atlasquest.com.  It is free and easy to set up.  Once you’ve set up a trail name, use the search function to find a location near you.  The searches can be as simple as a particular city, state or name of a park you want to visit.

Each quest contains a clue sheet with directions to the trail, where to park, how to start and detailed hints to finding the letterbox (or boxes, as it may be).  The clue sheet can also set the safety level if you are taking children.  Always read the clues carefully to decide of the quest is safe for your children.

When a box is found, remove it quietly (preferably with very few people around) and stamp your journal with the stamp in the box.  Stamp the log book with your personal stamp and write your trail name and the date for the box owner.  In the letterbox journal you keep, write down the box # (if it is a series), the name of the box (i.e. “Peanut Butter and Jelly”), and the location (park name, city, state).  Put the logbook and stamp back together in the box gently and re-hide it in the original location for the next person. 

At the end of your day, log onto Atlas Quest and record the boxes you found.  This is the chance to report if the boxes are missing, defaced or in need of maintenance.  The box owners read these forums regularly.  Do not reveal exact locations in public postings, as it takes away the fun for other letter boxers.  Choose a private message of you need to reveal an exact location.

In final note, here are some basic rules to follow when letter boxing:

1. Do not confuse geocaching, a similar hobby, with letterboxing.  The terms are often used together, but geocaching requires a specialized GPS unit and uses coordinates to find caches.  Letterboxing sometimes references simple compass directions and degrees, but does not require a GPS unit.  (Compasses can be downloaded to any smart phone, or you can purchase a manual compass for a bit more.)
2. While looking for boxes, do not announce it.  If you find one, wait for the traffic to pass before retrieving it.  The same goes for hiding a box.
3. Always hide boxes well.  They should never be in plain sight.  If it is found in plain sight, hide it when you are done.
4. Respect the environment.  Do not take apart rock walls, trample foliage and upset habitats.
5. Use discretion in letting children find letterboxes.  Evaluate if the conditions are safe before letting them seek one out or hide it.
6. Always use safety hiking protocols.  Children should be in your line of sight at all times and supervised if separated from the group. 
7. Always carry a bag with light snacks, water, first aid kit and a charged cellular phone for emergencies.  (If you don’t normally carry a phone, get a cheap non-contract phone with pre-paid minutes.)

For further information, visit www.atlasquest.com or e-mail me directly at amandaleo10@gmail.com.  Happy letterboxing!