Once your little ones are perfectly outfitted in some of our great boys and girls outdoor apparel, you are ready for your first Letterboxing hike! Not sure what to wear? Don’t worry. Head on over to our How to Hike With the Whole Family article to make sure you have the right gear. Now, what is letterboxing and what makes it so fun?
Letterboxing is a free, fun activity that has been connecting people since 1854. Especially in times like today, this is a great way to spread positivity, show your children new ways to engage with people, all while getting in that exercise. This treasure hunt style outdoor activity is sure to bring smiles. There are currently around 90,000 active letterboxes hidden around North America that contain log books, often a hand-carved rubber stamp and ink pad. By using the hand-carved rubber stamp, you and your kids can keep your own logbook to track all the different letter boxes you can find.
Let's get started. Look online for letterboxing in your area and head out to the trail. Once on your trail, the first rule is to make sure you are in stealth mode. Oftentimes other people might be around who may be searching for the same box. You do not want to jeopardize anyone seeing you, as some people may not know what this box is and place it somewhere else. You can always keep on walking and loop back when the coast is clear. Make sure to respect the environment and leave the area as you found it, if not better. Be sure nothing falls out of the box or is left on the trail as you sign the logbook. Put the box back in its place securely. This one is important and also fun for the kids. Making sure to hide the box just as you found it well covered will make this fun to find for the next person. Most importantly, have a blast! This new activity will bring you to new places and you will explore new hikes that you will certainly want to repeat. Don’t forget to make sure you check for all of the boxes on a trail as some hikes might have multiple letterboxes hiding making this a day full of treasure hunting.
Keep a journal and log to keep track of the boxes you find, your travels and hikes that you and the family plan to do in the future! Now get outside and explore the wonderful nature around us.
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