I am becoming increasingly disheartened over many of my boxes
turning up missing. Some, no doubt, are due to bad hiding
places on my part, some due to people not re-covering them
well, and some just bad luck (e.g. forces of nature). So far I
have been dutifully replacing and relocating the boxes but
I am getting tired of recarving stamps and revisiting places so
soon after planting my boxes. Also, some boxes are too far away
to replace and I may never visit the area again. As a solution,
I came up with the idea of providing a scanned image of the stamp
on my clue web page. That way, if you go to the place where
my box used to be, you can print my stamp and add it to your
logbook. Hopefully you would also send me an email with your name
and date that you visited the site so I would have a "virtual"
logbook for the box with everything except your stamp image.
Since I might never see the logbooks for some of my far off boxes,
a virtual logbook might even be better.
What I would like to know is: Would you still use my clues
to visit the site of a missing box if you could get an online
stamp image?
I guess it depends on why you letterbox. I personally like the
areas I visit as much as finding the box, so this idea appeals to
me, especially since I would never be disappointed by going to
a place and not finding the box. This would also help keep the
boxes "immortal", since there would be no physical box to lose
or be confiscated. You could even take it a step further and
have non-physical boxes in places where real boxes are not allowed,
like National Parks. These would not be like the current virtual
boxes which are pure mental. They would be more like physical-
virtual boxes, since you would still have to get outdoors and
hike to a spot to "earn" your stamp image, and the planter would
still have to carve an image and go to the place where a physical
box would have been planted. This would also help in the "Leave No
Trace" area.
I plan to still plant physical boxes for now, but was curious what
others think about these ideas.
What Do You Think - Virtual Stamp For Missing LB?
9 messages in this thread |
Started on 2003-05-27
What Do You Think - Virtual Stamp For Missing LB?
From: sileagle1 (sileagle@alltel.net) |
Date: 2003-05-27 18:54:09 UTC
RE: [LbNA] What Do You Think - Virtual Stamp For Missing LB?
From: Diana Vargas (divargas@webshore.net) |
Date: 2003-05-27 18:42:06 UTC-04:00
I'm interested in comments on this question, too.
I've been thinking of virtual boxes for this instance, especially in
light of recent discussions. I am thinking of a "Garden Walk" series,
but understandably could have difficulty getting local gardeners to
welcome an unpredictable number of people walking through the
neighborhood, let alone into their garden. (Most of us welcome
visitors, but prefer to be asked first, and that of course would be
included in the description of the box.) But I'm just thinking how much
safer a virtual box would be. I would provide clues to the garden, with
a question that only someone who'd been there would know the answer to.
Then I would email them a scanned image of my stamp. It would be
super-cool if the person had a scanned image of their stamp that they
could send us back, but of course that would be totally optional.
MommaDi
You could even take it a step further and
have non-physical boxes in places where real boxes are not allowed,
like National Parks. These would not be like the current virtual
boxes which are pure mental. They would be more like physical-
virtual boxes, since you would still have to get outdoors and
hike to a spot to "earn" your stamp image, and the planter would
still have to carve an image and go to the place where a physical
box would have been planted. This would also help in the "Leave No
Trace" area.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
I've been thinking of virtual boxes for this instance, especially in
light of recent discussions. I am thinking of a "Garden Walk" series,
but understandably could have difficulty getting local gardeners to
welcome an unpredictable number of people walking through the
neighborhood, let alone into their garden. (Most of us welcome
visitors, but prefer to be asked first, and that of course would be
included in the description of the box.) But I'm just thinking how much
safer a virtual box would be. I would provide clues to the garden, with
a question that only someone who'd been there would know the answer to.
Then I would email them a scanned image of my stamp. It would be
super-cool if the person had a scanned image of their stamp that they
could send us back, but of course that would be totally optional.
MommaDi
You could even take it a step further and
have non-physical boxes in places where real boxes are not allowed,
like National Parks. These would not be like the current virtual
boxes which are pure mental. They would be more like physical-
virtual boxes, since you would still have to get outdoors and
hike to a spot to "earn" your stamp image, and the planter would
still have to carve an image and go to the place where a physical
box would have been planted. This would also help in the "Leave No
Trace" area.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: [LbNA] What Do You Think - Virtual Stamp For Missing LB?
From: hoopoe4me (scribenbirder@msn.com) |
Date: 2003-05-27 23:38:04 UTC
I LIKE the idea of a vertual stamp for National Park venues ( or
other restricted venues such as historical or archological sites)
The image could be password locked so you need to give an answer that
you could only gain from having actually been to the location of
the "box" For instance, "What is the compass bearing to Old Faithful
from the juntion of the trails?"
The only thing I would miss is the ability to read the entries in the
log book and see the stamp images for the people who visited.
But it seems like a nice compromise on the restricted areas issue.
I for one would partake of such a box, but not likely to "place" one
as I am not computer savvey enough to carry it off.
Hoopoe
Federal Way WA
>
> MommaDi
>
> You could even take it a step further and
> have non-physical boxes in places where real boxes are not allowed,
> like National Parks. These would not be like the current virtual
> boxes which are pure mental. They would be more like physical-
> virtual boxes, since you would still have to get outdoors and
> hike to a spot to "earn" your stamp image, and the planter would
> still have to carve an image and go to the place where a physical
> box would have been planted. This would also help in the "Leave No
> Trace" area.
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
other restricted venues such as historical or archological sites)
The image could be password locked so you need to give an answer that
you could only gain from having actually been to the location of
the "box" For instance, "What is the compass bearing to Old Faithful
from the juntion of the trails?"
The only thing I would miss is the ability to read the entries in the
log book and see the stamp images for the people who visited.
But it seems like a nice compromise on the restricted areas issue.
I for one would partake of such a box, but not likely to "place" one
as I am not computer savvey enough to carry it off.
Hoopoe
Federal Way WA
>
> MommaDi
>
> You could even take it a step further and
> have non-physical boxes in places where real boxes are not allowed,
> like National Parks. These would not be like the current virtual
> boxes which are pure mental. They would be more like physical-
> virtual boxes, since you would still have to get outdoors and
> hike to a spot to "earn" your stamp image, and the planter would
> still have to carve an image and go to the place where a physical
> box would have been planted. This would also help in the "Leave No
> Trace" area.
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: [LbNA] What Do You Think - Virtual Stamp For Missing LB?
From: The Carringtons (cshouse@optonline.net) |
Date: 2003-05-27 19:50:34 UTC-04:00
I, too, like the idea. How about asking for a photo of the person at the lb site? With digital cameras and scanners so commonplace, it shouldn't be too much trouble.
Talking Turtle
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Talking Turtle
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
RE: [LbNA] What Do You Think - Virtual Stamp For Missing LB?
From: Diana Vargas (divargas@webshore.net) |
Date: 2003-05-27 20:56:11 UTC-04:00
Good point. Any possibility of adding this functionality to our website
(as the Geocachers do)? And maybe ONLY on the virtual LB's.
MommaDi
The image could be password locked so you need to give an answer that
you could only gain from having actually been to the location of
the "box" For instance, "What is the compass bearing to Old Faithful
from the juntion of the trails?"
The only thing I would miss is the ability to read the entries in the
log book and see the stamp images for the people who visited.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
(as the Geocachers do)? And maybe ONLY on the virtual LB's.
MommaDi
The image could be password locked so you need to give an answer that
you could only gain from having actually been to the location of
the "box" For instance, "What is the compass bearing to Old Faithful
from the juntion of the trails?"
The only thing I would miss is the ability to read the entries in the
log book and see the stamp images for the people who visited.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
RE: [LbNA] What Do You Think - Virtual Stamp For Missing LB?
From: Diana Vargas (divargas@webshore.net) |
Date: 2003-05-27 20:56:11 UTC-04:00
A photo would be cool, but I'd leave that as an option. I only recently
got a digital camera, and that was before reality set in about my new
financial status. One thing I really like about this hobby is that
anyone can take part, without much investment! A rubber stamp, and an
ink pad, some gas for the car and maybe a state park sticker. the rest
is gravy!
MommaDi
I, too, like the idea. How about asking for a photo of the person at
the lb site? With digital cameras and scanners so commonplace, it
shouldn't be too much trouble.
Talking Turtle
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
got a digital camera, and that was before reality set in about my new
financial status. One thing I really like about this hobby is that
anyone can take part, without much investment! A rubber stamp, and an
ink pad, some gas for the car and maybe a state park sticker. the rest
is gravy!
MommaDi
I, too, like the idea. How about asking for a photo of the person at
the lb site? With digital cameras and scanners so commonplace, it
shouldn't be too much trouble.
Talking Turtle
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: [LbNA] What Do You Think - Virtual Stamp For Missing LB?
From: Fudrick (fudrick@attbi.com) |
Date: 2003-05-27 20:32:08 UTC-07:00
A while back there was a message about just this, clues to go somewhere and
who to contact to verify that you were there so you could receive a card for
having been there.
It is called EcoScavenging, with a Yahoo group set up to discuss it and a
web site also. For more info, go to this Yahoo group:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ecoscavenger/
or this website:
http://www.ecoscavenger.com/
All the fun of 'boxing without the damage!
Fudrick
who to contact to verify that you were there so you could receive a card for
having been there.
It is called EcoScavenging, with a Yahoo group set up to discuss it and a
web site also. For more info, go to this Yahoo group:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ecoscavenger/
or this website:
http://www.ecoscavenger.com/
All the fun of 'boxing without the damage!
Fudrick
Re: [LbNA] What Do You Think - Virtual Stamp For Missing LB?
From: Steve (shol3039@yahoo.com) |
Date: 2003-05-28 10:26:27 UTC
One option is to create a link to a page similar to a guest book that
can be viewed once the virtual box is unlocked. I personally have my
stamps all scanned and available for email/posting. I could very
easily email the virtual box host with the image and in turn, that
could be placed online in the guest book page...which would serve as
an online logbook.
Just a thought!
-Steve (Heidi's home sleepin!)
> I, too, like the idea. How about asking for a photo of the person
at the lb site? With digital cameras and scanners so commonplace, it
shouldn't be too much trouble.
can be viewed once the virtual box is unlocked. I personally have my
stamps all scanned and available for email/posting. I could very
easily email the virtual box host with the image and in turn, that
could be placed online in the guest book page...which would serve as
an online logbook.
Just a thought!
-Steve (Heidi's home sleepin!)
> I, too, like the idea. How about asking for a photo of the person
at the lb site? With digital cameras and scanners so commonplace, it
shouldn't be too much trouble.
Re: [LbNA] What Do You Think - Virtual Stamp For Missing LB?
From: sileagle1 (sileagle@alltel.net) |
Date: 2003-05-28 21:59:32 UTC
Thanks, I went to the ecoscavenging web site and read about it.
Sounds like a letterboxer felt just like me and started this
new hobby! I like what they do, but I still like letterboxing, too.
Since I get more gratification from people communicating to me
via email that they found my boxes, rather than waiting to look
at the logbook (if ever), I'm leaning toward the ecoscavenging method.
I'm glad you told me about this!
--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "Fudrick" wrote:
> A while back there was a message about just this, clues to go
somewhere and
> who to contact to verify that you were there so you could receive a
card for
> having been there.
>
> It is called EcoScavenging, with a Yahoo group set up to discuss it
and a
> web site also. For more info, go to this Yahoo group:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ecoscavenger/
> or this website:
> http://www.ecoscavenger.com/
>
> All the fun of 'boxing without the damage!
>
> Fudrick
Sounds like a letterboxer felt just like me and started this
new hobby! I like what they do, but I still like letterboxing, too.
Since I get more gratification from people communicating to me
via email that they found my boxes, rather than waiting to look
at the logbook (if ever), I'm leaning toward the ecoscavenging method.
I'm glad you told me about this!
--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "Fudrick"
> A while back there was a message about just this, clues to go
somewhere and
> who to contact to verify that you were there so you could receive a
card for
> having been there.
>
> It is called EcoScavenging, with a Yahoo group set up to discuss it
and a
> web site also. For more info, go to this Yahoo group:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ecoscavenger/
> or this website:
> http://www.ecoscavenger.com/
>
> All the fun of 'boxing without the damage!
>
> Fudrick