Hi, I'm a new member to this group. I'm looking forward to learning
more about this exciting hobby. Me and my children are heading out
this morning with my sister to hunt for our first box and help her
plant one of her own. My son is in boy scouts and this seems a great
activity to incorporate into scouting activities. My sister tells me
that others have posted here about combining scouting with
letterboxing. I'd appreciate any ideas from other members on how to
approach the scouts about this. Thanks.
Regina (Mother Nature)
Letterboxing with Scouts
9 messages in this thread |
Started on 2001-01-14
Letterboxing with Scouts
From: Regina (riani8@hotmail.com) |
Date: 2001-01-14 16:25:25 UTC
Re: Letterboxing with Scouts
From: (defygravity@snet.net) |
Date: 2001-01-15 04:14:02 UTC
Welcome Regina,
There are a lot of Girl Scouts in CT who letterbox. In our own
service unit, it has reached enough popularity/curiosity that we are
planning a LB activity at our camporee this spring. The committee
will be making and planting 4 or so boxes at camp for the weekend,
and we will be making stamps as a craft project. The scouts will be
bringing their own log books, and each leader will have a stamp pad
for her troop. Then, we'll just pass out clues and set them off to
discover the joys of LBing at their leisure.
For ideas on stamp carving, take a look at the archives.
Enjoy!
Aili
--- In letterbox-usa@egroups.com, "Regina " wrote:
> Hi, I'm a new member to this group. I'm looking forward to
learning
> more about this exciting hobby. Me and my children are heading out
> this morning with my sister to hunt for our first box and help her
> plant one of her own. My son is in boy scouts and this seems a
great
> activity to incorporate into scouting activities. My sister tells
me
> that others have posted here about combining scouting with
> letterboxing. I'd appreciate any ideas from other members on how
to
> approach the scouts about this. Thanks.
>
> Regina (Mother Nature)
(Won't mess with you) ;)
There are a lot of Girl Scouts in CT who letterbox. In our own
service unit, it has reached enough popularity/curiosity that we are
planning a LB activity at our camporee this spring. The committee
will be making and planting 4 or so boxes at camp for the weekend,
and we will be making stamps as a craft project. The scouts will be
bringing their own log books, and each leader will have a stamp pad
for her troop. Then, we'll just pass out clues and set them off to
discover the joys of LBing at their leisure.
For ideas on stamp carving, take a look at the archives.
Enjoy!
Aili
--- In letterbox-usa@egroups.com, "Regina "
> Hi, I'm a new member to this group. I'm looking forward to
learning
> more about this exciting hobby. Me and my children are heading out
> this morning with my sister to hunt for our first box and help her
> plant one of her own. My son is in boy scouts and this seems a
great
> activity to incorporate into scouting activities. My sister tells
me
> that others have posted here about combining scouting with
> letterboxing. I'd appreciate any ideas from other members on how
to
> approach the scouts about this. Thanks.
>
> Regina (Mother Nature)
(Won't mess with you) ;)
Re: [LbNA] Letterboxing with Scouts
From: Eric J. Eurto (enicltrbxr@netzero.net) |
Date: 2001-01-17 00:02:54 UTC-05:00
As an Assistant Scoutmast for Troop 4 in Norwich, CT, I feel I must add my
$.02.
I have run into some resistance from a few scouters as far as letterboxing
is concerned. Here are a couple of concerns that they have had:
1. It has been thought that Letterboxing does not comply with the Leave No
Trace ethic of outdoorsmanship. We leave plastic with stuff in it outside
buried or stuck somewhere thereby leaving behind some evidence that man has
been there.(how do you all fee about this?)
2. The only way you could really incorporate Letterboxing into any scouting
program would be as a hobby type interest on an outing or as part of a Merit
Badge. Scouting does have a structured learning program for what it teaches.
Once again, these are comments I've heard from some hardened scouters. I
wrestle with them myself to be quite honest; especially the first one.
However I try to be as responsible as I possibly can regarding LNT.
-----Original Message-----
From: Regina
To: letterbox-usa@egroups.com
Date: Sunday, January 14, 2001 11:26 AM
Subject: [LbNA] Letterboxing with Scouts
>Hi, I'm a new member to this group. I'm looking forward to learning
>more about this exciting hobby. Me and my children are heading out
>this morning with my sister to hunt for our first box and help her
>plant one of her own. My son is in boy scouts and this seems a great
>activity to incorporate into scouting activities. My sister tells me
>that others have posted here about combining scouting with
>letterboxing. I'd appreciate any ideas from other members on how to
>approach the scouts about this. Thanks.
>
>Regina (Mother Nature)
>
>
>To unsubscribe: mailto:letterbox-usa-unsubscribe@egroups.com
>List info, archives, etc: http://www.letterboxing.org/list.html
>
>
>
Shop online without a credit card
http://www.rocketcash.com
RocketCash, a NetZero subsidiary
$.02.
I have run into some resistance from a few scouters as far as letterboxing
is concerned. Here are a couple of concerns that they have had:
1. It has been thought that Letterboxing does not comply with the Leave No
Trace ethic of outdoorsmanship. We leave plastic with stuff in it outside
buried or stuck somewhere thereby leaving behind some evidence that man has
been there.(how do you all fee about this?)
2. The only way you could really incorporate Letterboxing into any scouting
program would be as a hobby type interest on an outing or as part of a Merit
Badge. Scouting does have a structured learning program for what it teaches.
Once again, these are comments I've heard from some hardened scouters. I
wrestle with them myself to be quite honest; especially the first one.
However I try to be as responsible as I possibly can regarding LNT.
-----Original Message-----
From: Regina
To: letterbox-usa@egroups.com
Date: Sunday, January 14, 2001 11:26 AM
Subject: [LbNA] Letterboxing with Scouts
>Hi, I'm a new member to this group. I'm looking forward to learning
>more about this exciting hobby. Me and my children are heading out
>this morning with my sister to hunt for our first box and help her
>plant one of her own. My son is in boy scouts and this seems a great
>activity to incorporate into scouting activities. My sister tells me
>that others have posted here about combining scouting with
>letterboxing. I'd appreciate any ideas from other members on how to
>approach the scouts about this. Thanks.
>
>Regina (Mother Nature)
>
>
>To unsubscribe: mailto:letterbox-usa-unsubscribe@egroups.com
>List info, archives, etc: http://www.letterboxing.org/list.html
>
>
>
Shop online without a credit card
http://www.rocketcash.com
RocketCash, a NetZero subsidiary
Re: [LbNA] Letterboxing with Scouts
From: Eric Mings (elm@ao.net) |
Date: 2001-01-17 08:54:35 UTC-05:00
I was in scouts during my youth all the way from cub scouts to
explorers. I too learned the leave no trace philosophy which to me
has expanded to the "Kill only time, take only pictures, and leave
only footprints." There is no denying that letterboxing is
technically violating this policy. However, when I see the rape of
the landscape every day by unbridled development (God save Florida
because the people sure aren't doing it) I feel that any activity
encouraging people to get out into the wildnerness and appreciate
nature must be considered in the larger context. From that vantage
point the most important real meaning of the "leave only footprints"
adage to me is leaving nothing of harm to the system nor unsightly
for visitors. Hopefully letterboxes are inert to the system (don't
harm anything) and hidden well enough to avoid being seen, much less
unsightly. I do believe we have to be very careful to minimize any
disturbance of the surrounding bush. My 2c / rationalization.
--
Regards,
Eric Mings Ph.D.
explorers. I too learned the leave no trace philosophy which to me
has expanded to the "Kill only time, take only pictures, and leave
only footprints." There is no denying that letterboxing is
technically violating this policy. However, when I see the rape of
the landscape every day by unbridled development (God save Florida
because the people sure aren't doing it) I feel that any activity
encouraging people to get out into the wildnerness and appreciate
nature must be considered in the larger context. From that vantage
point the most important real meaning of the "leave only footprints"
adage to me is leaving nothing of harm to the system nor unsightly
for visitors. Hopefully letterboxes are inert to the system (don't
harm anything) and hidden well enough to avoid being seen, much less
unsightly. I do believe we have to be very careful to minimize any
disturbance of the surrounding bush. My 2c / rationalization.
--
Regards,
Eric Mings Ph.D.
Re: [LbNA] Letterboxing with Scouts
From: Thom Cheney (tcgrafx@imagina.com) |
Date: 2001-01-17 08:01:39 UTC-08:00
on 1/17/01 5:54 AM, Eric Mings at elm@ao.net wrote:
> I was in scouts during my youth all the way from cub scouts to
> explorers.
...as was I... and now my 7 yr old son is well on his way to earning his
Wolf rank in cub sprouts. I don't think scouting is a perfect organization
(homophobic yes, also fairly militaristic), but I haven't found a better
replacement for the kind of experiences scouting offers.
...and this wasn't meant as a treatise on scouting... :-) I just wanted
to say that in my heart of hearts, I know that letterboxing is a good and
wholesome outdoor activity that leaves much less trace than many
"environmentally correct" (The twin brother of politically correct)
activities. I'm not going to spend too much time examining my motives &
impact. Letterboxing is what it is & requires no justification.
TC
tired of being correct
> I was in scouts during my youth all the way from cub scouts to
> explorers.
...as was I... and now my 7 yr old son is well on his way to earning his
Wolf rank in cub sprouts. I don't think scouting is a perfect organization
(homophobic yes, also fairly militaristic), but I haven't found a better
replacement for the kind of experiences scouting offers.
...and this wasn't meant as a treatise on scouting... :-) I just wanted
to say that in my heart of hearts, I know that letterboxing is a good and
wholesome outdoor activity that leaves much less trace than many
"environmentally correct" (The twin brother of politically correct)
activities. I'm not going to spend too much time examining my motives &
impact. Letterboxing is what it is & requires no justification.
TC
tired of being correct
Re: Letterboxing with Scouts
From: (vicfil@99main.com) |
Date: 2001-01-18 01:50:38 UTC
I don't mean to get off on a rant here but, I too spent my youth in
Scouting from Cubs to Explorers, Order of the Arrow, the whole bit and
the only reason I mention the latter is the Scouts idea of it as an
"honor camper" society. This means I was well indoctrinated with the
idea of doing no harm to nature. I don't feel letterboxing is a threat
to nature. It violates the principal if you interpret it literally,
but it does not violate the spirit of the principal. If letterboxing
is done in the context of Scouting I think it would be important to
stress to the members that it is done with reverence for the land. We
do this because we enjoy nature and want to preserve it. If one wishes
to create a hierarchy of distructive outdoor activities I would put
letterboxing near the bottom, even cycling causes far more damage when
confined to trails than the occasional off trail steps taken by
'boxers carefully secreting a little treasure for the enjoyment of our
fellows.
As for the evidence that humans have been to a given location, well
where have we not been. Not too many places I would guess. Here in CT
you can hardly box without hearing a highway, seeing power lines,
walking along a paved road and nearly constantly being reminded of how
small the "natural" areas here really are. The forest here is all
second growth. There is nothing left from before the time of
colonization; the plethora of stonewalls attest to this. This is
reclaimed farmland. Of course this only means we need to be vigilent
in preserving what little we have of undeveloped land.
While it is worthwhile to be concerned with these principals and care
ought be taken because youngsters (like computers) can be very
literal, 'boxing can still prove a wonderful addition to Scouting
activities.
We can talk about Scouting and its views of certain groups elsewhere.
[soapbox mode off] whew!
--- In letterbox-usa@egroups.com, "Eric J. Eurto"
wrote:
> As an Assistant Scoutmast for Troop 4 in Norwich, CT, I feel I must
add my
> $.02.
> I have run into some resistance from a few scouters as far as
letterboxing
> is concerned. Here are a couple of concerns that they have had:
> 1. It has been thought that Letterboxing does not comply with the
Leave No
> Trace ethic of outdoorsmanship. We leave plastic with stuff in it
outside
> buried or stuck somewhere thereby leaving behind some evidence that
man has
> been there.(how do you all fee about this?)
Scouting from Cubs to Explorers, Order of the Arrow, the whole bit and
the only reason I mention the latter is the Scouts idea of it as an
"honor camper" society. This means I was well indoctrinated with the
idea of doing no harm to nature. I don't feel letterboxing is a threat
to nature. It violates the principal if you interpret it literally,
but it does not violate the spirit of the principal. If letterboxing
is done in the context of Scouting I think it would be important to
stress to the members that it is done with reverence for the land. We
do this because we enjoy nature and want to preserve it. If one wishes
to create a hierarchy of distructive outdoor activities I would put
letterboxing near the bottom, even cycling causes far more damage when
confined to trails than the occasional off trail steps taken by
'boxers carefully secreting a little treasure for the enjoyment of our
fellows.
As for the evidence that humans have been to a given location, well
where have we not been. Not too many places I would guess. Here in CT
you can hardly box without hearing a highway, seeing power lines,
walking along a paved road and nearly constantly being reminded of how
small the "natural" areas here really are. The forest here is all
second growth. There is nothing left from before the time of
colonization; the plethora of stonewalls attest to this. This is
reclaimed farmland. Of course this only means we need to be vigilent
in preserving what little we have of undeveloped land.
While it is worthwhile to be concerned with these principals and care
ought be taken because youngsters (like computers) can be very
literal, 'boxing can still prove a wonderful addition to Scouting
activities.
We can talk about Scouting and its views of certain groups elsewhere.
[soapbox mode off] whew!
--- In letterbox-usa@egroups.com, "Eric J. Eurto"
wrote:
> As an Assistant Scoutmast for Troop 4 in Norwich, CT, I feel I must
add my
> $.02.
> I have run into some resistance from a few scouters as far as
letterboxing
> is concerned. Here are a couple of concerns that they have had:
> 1. It has been thought that Letterboxing does not comply with the
Leave No
> Trace ethic of outdoorsmanship. We leave plastic with stuff in it
outside
> buried or stuck somewhere thereby leaving behind some evidence that
man has
> been there.(how do you all fee about this?)
Re: [LbNA] Re: Letterboxing with Scouts
From: Jay Chamberlain (ae4mk@1bigred.com) |
Date: 2001-01-18 07:28:40 UTC-05:00
vicfil@99main.com
........ BRAVO BRAVO
Jolly G- Man,
former Scoutmaster and Den
Leader
I don't mean to get off on a rant here but, I too spent my youth in Scouting from Cubs to Explorers, Order of the Arrow, the whole bit and
the only reason I mention the latter is the Scouts idea of it as an "honor camper" society. This means I was well indoctrinated with the
idea of doing no harm to nature. I don't feel letterboxing is a threat to nature. It violates the principal if you interpret it literally,
but it does not violate the spirit of the principal. If letterboxing is done in the context of Scouting I think it would be important to
stress to the members that it is done with reverence for the land. We do this because we enjoy nature and want to preserve it. If one wishes
to create a hierarchy of distructive outdoor activities I would put letterboxing near the bottom, even cycling causes far more damage when
confined to trails than the occasional off trail steps taken by 'boxers carefully secreting a little treasure for the enjoyment of our fellows.
As for the evidence that humans have been to a given location, well where have we not been. Not too many places I would guess. Here in CT
you can hardly box without hearing a highway, seeing power lines, walking along a paved road and nearly constantly being reminded of how
small the "natural" areas here really are. The forest here is all second growth. There is nothing left from before the time of
colonization; the plethora of stonewalls attest to this. This is reclaimed farmland. Of course this only means we need to be vigilent
in preserving what little we have of undeveloped land.
While it is worthwhile to be concerned with these principals and care ought be taken because youngsters (like computers) can be very
literal, 'boxing can still prove a wonderful addition to Scouting activities.
We can talk about Scouting and its views of certain groups elsewhere.
[soapbox mode off] whew!
Re: [LbNA] Re: Letterboxing with Scouts
From: Susan/Erik Davis (davisarc@wcvt.com) |
Date: 2001-01-18 08:58:34 UTC-05:00
Interesting... Erik also was a Boy Scout, Order of the Arrow and HE
started this whole thing here in America. I think with several Boy
Scouts and several Girl Scouts involved in letterboxing we have enough
environmental consciousness on board to "keep it all in bounds".
Susan
in sub zero, icicles at the ends of your mittens Vermont
started this whole thing here in America. I think with several Boy
Scouts and several Girl Scouts involved in letterboxing we have enough
environmental consciousness on board to "keep it all in bounds".
Susan
in sub zero, icicles at the ends of your mittens Vermont
Re: [LbNA] Letterboxing with Scouts
From: Regina Quinn (riani8@hotmail.com) |
Date: 2001-01-18 14:38:42 UTC-05:00
Thanks to all of your responses to letterboxing with Scouts many opinions were offered, but I think the general felling of letterboxing with Scouts was positive, Im sure the integrity of the rules and vows of the scouts should always be upheld , yet possibly by seeing the good of this activity and by realizing the whole idea is to get out into nature and appreciate all it offers as well as getting to know some areas of beauty around us will take a strong notice , I myself have grown up on Long Island and have visited Sunken Meadow Park dozens of times since my youth. This past week my sister invited me and my two children there to search for a letterbox, I never realized the trails were there before and I got such a different feeling climbing them than just being at the park. I for one felt close to nature and respected its ability to camoflauge its self. We never found the letterbox but it was fun trying and all along I thought how I couln't wait to share this new found activity with others who I know appreciate the great outdoors and a bit of a challange as well. I feel eager to look for more letterboxes and I feel it will be a wholesome activity for the whole family. Hopefuly my sons scout den will also approve I'll keep you all posted, and thanks again for all your responses, and to my sister The Ladybug for turning us on to letterboxing!
Regina aka (Mother Nature)
----- Original Message -----From: Eric J. EurtoSent: Wednesday, January 17, 2001 12:06 AMTo: letterbox-usa@egroups.comSubject: Re: [LbNA] Letterboxing with ScoutsAs an Assistant Scoutmast for Troop 4 in Norwich, CT, I feel I must add my
$.02.
I have run into some resistance from a few scouters as far as letterboxing
is concerned. Here are a couple of concerns that they have had:
1. It has been thought that Letterboxing does not comply with the Leave No
Trace ethic of outdoorsmanship. We leave plastic with stuff in it outside
buried or stuck somewhere thereby leaving behind some evidence that man has
been there.(how do you all fee about this?)
2. The only way you could really incorporate Letterboxing into any scouting
program would be as a hobby type interest on an outing or as part of a Merit
Badge. Scouting does have a structured learning program for what it teaches.
Once again, these are comments I've heard from some hardened scouters. I
wrestle with them myself to be quite honest; especially the first one.
However I try to be as responsible as I possibly can regarding LNT.
-----Original Message-----
From: Regina <riani8@hotmail.com>
To: letterbox-usa@egroups.com <letterbox-usa@egroups.com>
Date: Sunday, January 14, 2001 11:26 AM
Subject: [LbNA] Letterboxing with Scouts
>Hi, I'm a new member to this group. I'm looking forward to learning
>more about this exciting hobby. Me and my children are heading out
>this morning with my sister to hunt for our first box and help her
>plant one of her own. My son is in boy scouts and this seems a great
>activity to incorporate into scouting activities. My sister tells me
>that others have posted here about combining scouting with
>letterboxing. I'd appreciate any ideas from other members on how to
>approach the scouts about this. Thanks.
>
>Regina (Mother Nature)
>
>
>To unsubscribe: mailto:letterbox-usa-unsubscribe@egroups.com
>List info, archives, etc: http://www.letterboxing.org/list.html
>
>
>
Shop online without a credit card
http://www.rocketcash.com
RocketCash, a NetZero subsidiary
To unsubscribe: mailto:letterbox-usa-unsubscribe@egroups.com
List info, archives, etc: http://www.letterboxing.org/list.html