Letterboxing

Letterboxing is a great activity to do solo, as a couple, or with the family. It is an activity that gets people outside and offers the excitement of an adventure. A letterbox is a waterproof box hidden somewhere (usually on public land) that contains a logbook and rubber stamp. Clues are given to aid in finding the box. These clues may be very straightforward or take some deciphering. Typically once a person has found a letterbox they will stamp their own log book with the stamp in the letterbox. To show that you found the letterbox you also stamp the logbook with your own stamp. The stamp in the letterbox and the personal one are traditionally supposed to be hand-made rather than bought. Often times erasers are used. Once a box is found remember to seal it carefully and re-hide it for someone else to discover.

Letterboxes are often hidden in scenic or remote areas of a park. Choose a sunny day to better enjoy the experience. Remember not to get too focused on the search, part of the fun of letterboxing is discovery the beauty of the area it was hidden in. Also be respectful of the area where searching. A letterbox should be easy to retrieve without damaging the plants or property nearby.

To search for a letterbox all one needs is a sense of adventure and the clues. Occasionally a compass, map or other tools are necessary. The clues will often specify if you need any special items. Not all letterboxes contain ink pads, or they may have become dry so it is usually a good idea to bring your own.

Letterboxing is a great activity for the whole family, just remember to monitor children when handling letterboxes to ensure that they are properly resealed when re-hiding. Since letterboxes are hidden outside be careful of poison ivy, oak, snakes, spiders and other outside irritants.

Letterboxing is seen by many to be an art and like art you can choose how involved you wish to be. Will you admire it and only find the boxes, dabble in it by making your own stamp, or become totally immersed and hide your own box and hunt for boxes nation wide. What ever the level of involvement that you choose there are a couple websites with loads of information and resources to help you out along the way.

Letterboxing in America has a list of clues by region, facts, getting started, links, and more.

Letterboxing.info gives the background info on where Letterboxing got its start, tools, links, making your own and more.