I'm actually trying it for the first time at a Cub Scout Day Camp
this year. To make it more "scouty," I'll be hiding the boxes with
clues, including compass points. Then when they find it, there will
be hidden clues or knots or such to explain and show to the program
Director for a spacial bead. Proof that they found the box and a
way to get them to use their scouting skills. Then I'm giving them
a flyer that someone so graciously sent me and will be printing off
some clues to find boxes around the area so they can do on their own.


Shell in Wa, USA

--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "Bob Prager"
wrote:
> Has anyone planted boxes at a Girl Scout Camp for use in the camp
> program? If so, what age children? How old should a child be
before
> he/she can carve a first stamp?
>
> Bob Prager
> Long Beach, CA

: Has anyone planted boxes at a Girl Scout Camp for use in the camp
: program? If so, what age children? How old should a child be before
: he/she can carve a first stamp?

Ah ha! We are going to plant a dozen boxes or so at our Area Girl Guide
Camp. The girls range from ages 5 to 18 and we hope to include some
challenges in the boxes as well. It might be a lesson on the local flora
and fauna, or some bit of camp skill. Children can carve stamps out of
potatoes or soap for the camp if possible, but the girls can also bring in
stamps when the program is explained to them. Ten or twelve year olds can
sit still long enough to carve their own stamps, I should think.

This is going to be fun!

Cheers!

Tiger
goldentiger@shaw.ca
Edmonton, Alberta
Canada

I actually learned about letterboxing from a Girl Scout Training
session. A local girl scout had done her silver award project on
letterboxing which included planting several boxes at one of the Girl
Scout camps. (Only Girl Scouts have the clues as it is private
property). I have taken my troop to that camp to search as well as
to some letterboxes in our hometown. The girls made stamps out of
fun foam. They either used precut fun foam shapes by themselves or
in combination together to create a design. Or they cut their own.
We then glued the fun foam to wooden blocks. They made journals from
recylced cookie boxes with papers tied in. They had a great time. I
have told several other scout leaders (boy scouts as well) about the
pasttime which is great for teaching the kids orienteering. We have
also planted boxes when we have gone camping for a weekend so they
are in the immediate area for the girls to find.

Three years ago, Emma B (Elements of Hiking) planted a series boxes at
a Girl Scout Camp, and made up two different sets of clues, one
written for older girls, one for younger girls. The clue set for older
girls was more challenging, though they led to the same boxes. Those
"in the know" (you have to know to ask) can get copies of the clues
from the Council Office.

However, no one is allowed to just "show up" at Camp. Troops must
submit a form to Council stating the when & why, and they inform the
Resident Ranger to expect you & let you in.

I know of other Girl Scouts who have planted series, too, but have not
had the opportunity to search them out.

~ Aili

Great ideas for boxing for kids - as mentioned recently, I'm starting a 4-H
group this fall and 2 things I've wondered about are alternatives to
carving, since I'm working with kids as young as 9, and options for making
journals - can you tell me more about how you made these cookie box
journals? And what other ideas do folks have for making journals that
might give kids the opportunity to be creative?

Debbie T., "the Bee"

At 11:23 AM 07/07/2003 +0000, you wrote:
>I actually learned about letterboxing from a Girl Scout Training
>session. A local girl scout had done her silver award project on
>letterboxing which included planting several boxes at one of the Girl
>Scout camps. (Only Girl Scouts have the clues as it is private
>property). I have taken my troop to that camp to search as well as
>to some letterboxes in our hometown. The girls made stamps out of
>fun foam. They either used precut fun foam shapes by themselves or
>in combination together to create a design. Or they cut their own.
>We then glued the fun foam to wooden blocks. They made journals from
>recylced cookie boxes with papers tied in. They had a great time. I
>have told several other scout leaders (boy scouts as well) about the
>pasttime which is great for teaching the kids orienteering. We have
>also planted boxes when we have gone camping for a weekend so they
>are in the immediate area for the girls to find.
>
>
>
>Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
>ADVERTISEMENT
>
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>Yahoo! Terms of Service.

--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "Bob Prager"
wrote:
> Has anyone planted boxes at a Girl Scout Camp for use in the camp
> program? If so, what age children? How old should a child be
before
> he/she can carve a first stamp?
>
> Bob Prager
> Long Beach, CA

Gosh it has been a long time but I know you must earn the right to
use a pocket knife as a GS. So unless that is apart of your program
you'll have some that can use a knife and some that cannot

I would thing there is so much for a young girl scout to learn over a
short time
(meeting on a weekend at camp) that I would just buy a few stamps of
different subjects and let it go at that .They will have just as much
fun finding a store bought stamp I would think.
Maybe have a stamp carving class at a different time. But I don't think
I would turn a Girlscout loose with an Exacto knife with a # 11 blade
in it ! Yikes !
Maybe make little journals that they can keep for the future when they
letterbox ,or fancy logs to go in a letterbox.

Just have fun !
John


P172F210X39E2



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