Information about Letterboxing

Letterboxing combines artistic ability with "treasure-hunts" in parks, forests, and cities around the world. Participants seek out hidden letterboxes by cracking codes and following clues. The prize: an image from a miniature piece of art known as a rubber stamp—usually a unique, hand-carved creation.

Letterboxers stamp their discoveries in a personal journal, then use their own rubber stamp, called a signature stamp, to stamp into the letterbox's logbook.

~ explanation of Letterboxing from AtlasQuest.com

The websites AtlasQuest.com and Letterboxing.org are extensive clue databases, and both websites also have a wealth of information on this hobby ranging from the history of letterboxing, how to get started and what supplies are needed, instructions on how to carve stamps, and letterboxing etiquette.  We highly recommend that beginners read Atlas Quest's Letterboxing Code of Conduct before heading out, to help keep this hobby enjoyable for all who participate!

Letterboxing.org has a wonderfully through (yet still very clear) article on how to get started with letterboxing here.

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As a letterboxing family, our biggest guidelines are:

* Be stealthy - don't let "Muggles" (non-letterboxers) see you find or replace a box!

* Be respectful - don't trample vegetation, pull apart stone walls, or otherwise damage the area in your search for a box.  Stay off of private property.

* Be careful - learn to recognize poison ivy, and watch out for thorns, nettles, and other hazards.
Always bring along a trail map, stick with your group, bring provisions on longer hikes, and brush up on safe hiking guidelines.

* Be considerate - double check that boxes and ziplock bags are sealed tightly, to prevent contents from becoming damp or even waterlogged.  Rehide box exactly where you found it.  Try to reach out to the box's planter if anything is wrong (missing box, wet or full logbook, missing stamp, etc).

* HAVE FUN!