Hi, I box with kids!
There is a board on atlasquest.com under message boards called boxing
with kids.
check it out!

Diana
DEF Dale End Farm

Quoting Beth :

> My husband and I are considering venturing into the world of
> Letterboxing with our children we have 3 boys: 16, 7 and 5. I have
> read through some of the posts but haven't come across any that
> reference LB(ing) with kids. If any of you are sharing this hobby
> with your children please share your experiances!
>
> Peace,
> BeWitchd'
>
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> Yahoo! Groups Links
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I often take my grandchildren letterboxing. Obviously you must select
hikes that aren't too long for the younger ones. The main thing to
impress on them, before you start out, is that there is no guarantee
that you will find a box. Some are missing, or maybe you mis-
interpreted the clues. This will prevent them (especially the 5-year
old) from being too disappointed. But my grandkids love being
outdoors, hiking with Grandma, and MAYBE finding a letterbox.


--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "Beth" wrote:
>
> My husband and I are considering venturing into the world of
> Letterboxing with our children we have 3 boys: 16, 7 and 5. I have
> read through some of the posts but haven't come across any that
> reference LB(ing) with kids. If any of you are sharing this hobby
> with your children please share your experiances!
>
> Peace,
> BeWitchd'
>

Be sure to check out "Kids" on www.letterboxing.org.

This is a great part that is aimed at kids understanding and preparing
for letterboxing. It has an activity to understand clues, how to carve
with simple tools, even a story that explains all about it.

Have your kids check it out!

KuKu

Just pick the place and the clues will tell you. You know best your kids
capabilities.
Try short walks first.

STAR:W+S=DRR


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I box with my 4 year old and 1 year old. The 1 year old just loves to be in the backpack so
he is great. The 4 year old has been boxing with us since 2003 and he has had his ups and
downs. He loves hiking but can't stand sitting around waiting until we find the box. He is
becoming more interested in finding, but it is still a hard sell sometimes. I got him his own
logbook and I carved him a sig stamp which he LOVES. He really enjoys stamping in the
logbooks, so I try to focus on that too.

Heloves to check on my boxes, though. He knows where they are all hidden and he'll ask
me if we should go to such and such a place to make sure the letterbox is OK. It is so
funny!

I think there are a lot of boxes that are not appropriate for kids (the hike and/or location)
but I just wait for those until Grandma comes to visit...unless she wants to box too as she
is a letterboxer herself!




--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "Beth" wrote:
>
> My husband and I are considering venturing into the world of
> Letterboxing with our children we have 3 boys: 16, 7 and 5. I have
> read through some of the posts but haven't come across any that
> reference LB(ing) with kids. If any of you are sharing this hobby
> with your children please share your experiances!
>
> Peace,
> BeWitchd'
>

We have boxed with all of our kids for the last 4 years. Our youngest
was just 3 when we started, and we threw him in the hiking pack. He
LOVED it. We have planned family trips around letterboxing and
geocaching. We do day/evening trips now and pack a picnic and some clues
and head off when daddy comes home from work, or we go while he's gone
for the day (and so are we). The kids love the picnic and the boxing.
Now we have our older kids carving and they are getting ready to plant a
series.

-----Original Message-----
From: Beth [mailto:bbmitchd@sbcglobal.net]
Sent: Wednesday, July 05, 2006 6:05 PM
To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [LbNA] Letterboxing and kids

My husband and I are considering venturing into the world of
Letterboxing with our children we have 3 boys: 16, 7 and 5. I have
read through some of the posts but haven't come across any that
reference LB(ing) with kids. If any of you are sharing this hobby
with your children please share your experiances!

Peace,
BeWitchd'











Yahoo! Groups Links

We started letterboxing as a way of getting our son out in the woods,
etc. and helping him see interesting sites. Most letterboxes are put
in interesting or education locations. We felt this was an ideal
family hobby. Our son has yet to learn to enjoy the challenge and
that the journey is the destination rather than the goal of the box
and stamping the book, so he misses alot on the way at times. Our son
is nine, and we've been doing this about a year. He has his own book,
stamp and ink pad -- fanny pack for short trips and small hiking pack
for longer trips. Eventually we hope to work him up to hiking day
trips and then overnight trips ;)

shadowrose

When we started letterboxing we had a four year old and a one year
old. We now have a 9, 6, and 3 year old. Over the years we've had to
adapt our letterboxing depending on the ages of our kids. At times
we've used a baby carrier or backpack for a young one, or just found
quick, short hikes to do. We're getting to a place now where we can go
out and do 1-2 mile hikes on easy terrain and even the three year old
does just fine. As long as we rest and have plenty of water and some
snacks, the kids have fun. This is a great family hobby, have fun!

Valerie
(L Troop)


--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "Beth" wrote:
>
> My husband and I are considering venturing into the world of
> Letterboxing with our children we have 3 boys: 16, 7 and 5. I have
> read through some of the posts but haven't come across any that
> reference LB(ing) with kids. If any of you are sharing this hobby
> with your children please share your experiances!
>
> Peace,
> BeWitchd'
>

Letterboxing with kids is why we got started letterboxing. I introduced it
to my kids back in '99 at a birthday party by hiding one in our yard: "Slices
of Quince." Its still there then I hid sseveral in the area (one is still
there CMT at the local library). The most fun was a five series box at the local
park - its no longer there but it was a lot of fun. Photos of it are posted
on the LBNA kids page. [ Those are not all my kids - they include friends and
neighbors ]

Since then we always letterbox while on vacation (or geocache when there are
no letterboxes around) - we attempted to find boxes at Valley Forge, Liberty
Island, Osage FOrt in Mo, near Mount Rushmore, the badlands and Devils Tower.
Letterboxing has taken us places we would not normally have gone with the
kids! We've had a lot of fun family and friend adventures!

Mohmers


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I have taken my nieces letterboxing. They are 13 and 11. At first they
thought is was hokey but part of the fun was looking for the supplies (shopping).
One letterbox instructed the finders to go inside the library to say hello to
the librian. They did so reluctantly but came out with a great smile as the
nieces told the libraians about another box on the library property. It was good
news to them.

The nieces also thought it was funny when the ranger came looking for us to
let us know the gates were being locked.

The nieces are now looking forward to coming back to Connecticut and we will
continue as I kept their "stuff" here.

I am looking forward to the end of July when my friends sons get back from a
trip and the three boys and I will go letterboxing. I talked it up and they
are looking forward to our adventures that will include a picnic.

in Her light
Diane/Connecticut


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

My daughter and I started letterboxing when she was 6. She's about to
turn 9 now and we're still out there. :-) We were unsuccessful on our
very first box, which was a good lesson - she really gets that it's
about the hike and the box may or may not be there. She really does
like having her own stamp, but if there are several of you, maybe you
could use a group stamp and let them take turns stamping in if that's
easier for you. My daughter has learned a lot over the years, but I
do still make it my responsibility to make sure the box is re-hidden
well and such. We've had a lot of fun and met a lot of great people,
including other boxing families, and I'd vote for taking the kids.
It's really a great family activity.

-pezpam

I started boxing with my kids about three years ago, with the baby in the
backpack. They are now 9, 7 and 4 and enjoy easy hikes in interesting
places-I am the one who is addicted :-) My kids enjoy exploring the trails
and meeting other boxers the most. Following the clues and finding the box
are secondary. Stamping in holds minimal appeal, although they do like
having their own log books. IF you are into scrapbooking or
photojournaling at all, my kids love to look through our albums and recall
the different adventures.



I want to echo the suggestions of others-take time to make sure the hikes
and boxes you are choosing are kid appropriate; be sure to focus on the
adventure as finding the box is not guaranteed, etc.



I also want to emphasize the importance of Letterboxing etiquette and
safety. Read about it before starting out on your first adventure.
Remember that discretion is key (Most kids love the "spy" aspect) and be
sure to retrieve and rehide boxes yourself, or at least supervise the older
ones' efforts.



You might also want to search the archives for posts specific to kids, join
the new boxers list, and/or sign up for the boxing with kids board on
Atlasquest. I know I learned a lot AFTER I started that I wish I had known
before and was very lucky not to commit some major breaches of etiquette.
For example, Baby wipes leave a scent on boxes that can attract animals.
(as, obviously, do peanut butter covered fingers :-))



Enjoy-it is a cooler day here in the Midwest so we are hoping to grab a
nearby box before the heat returns!



Mama Stork

aka Pam in Cinci

along with ButterflyGirl, HappyFrog and Chickadee

_____

From: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com [mailto:letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com]
On Behalf Of Beth
Sent: Wednesday, July 05, 2006 6:05 PM
To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [LbNA] Letterboxing and kids



My husband and I are considering venturing into the world of
Letterboxing with our children we have 3 boys: 16, 7 and 5. I have
read through some of the posts but haven't come across any that
reference LB(ing) with kids. If any of you are sharing this hobby
with your children please share your experiances!

Peace,
BeWitchd'







[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I'm new to this whole letterboxing phenomenon as well. I've planted
more than I've found, however, because my husband is still trying to
think of a stamp idea and isn't ready to jump into letterboxing yet.

Anyway, I'm a Children's and Teen librarian and am doing Letterboxing
as a teen program this summer, but am running out of places to plant
boxes as there aren't many rural spots in the town where I work. Is
it really not a breach of letterboxing ettiquette to plant one or two
in some place like my library or the city museum (with permission
from the curators of course - was thinking those who want to stamp
the box would have to talk to the curator and have her show them her
favorite exhibit before they could get to stamp or something like
that)? That would make my program so much easier.

Thanks in advance for the advice.

Juli

On Jul 6, 2006, at 5:28 AM, MDHASZ@aol.com wrote:

> I have taken my nieces letterboxing. They are 13 and 11. At first they
> thought is was hokey but part of the fun was looking for the
> supplies (shopping).
> One letterbox instructed the finders to go inside the library to
> say hello to
> the librian. They did so reluctantly but came out with a great
> smile as the
> nieces told the libraians about another box on the library
> property. It was good
> news to them.
>
> The nieces also thought it was funny when the ranger came looking
> for us to
> let us know the gates were being locked.
>
> The nieces are now looking forward to coming back to Connecticut
> and we will
> continue as I kept their "stuff" here.
>
> I am looking forward to the end of July when my friends sons get
> back from a
> trip and the three boys and I will go letterboxing. I talked it up
> and they
> are looking forward to our adventures that will include a picnic.
>
> in Her light
> Diane/Connecticut
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>

"It is astonishing just how much of what we are can be tied to the
beds we wake up in in the morning, and it is astonishing how fragile
that can be." Coraline ~ by Neil Gaiman

http://cinemaspot.blogspot.com/
http://quotesite.blogspot.com/
http://xanga.com/staarg1rl



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

It's perfectly fine to plant in places like libraries and museums, with
permission, and especially if the curator is eager and willing to share
something in the process!

But - have you also hit the cemeteries in town? Find people of interest
there and tell their story.


On 7/6/06, Juli Huston wrote:
>
> I'm new to this whole letterboxing phenomenon as well. I've planted
> more than I've found, however, because my husband is still trying to
> think of a stamp idea and isn't ready to jump into letterboxing yet.
>
> Anyway, I'm a Children's and Teen librarian and am doing Letterboxing
> as a teen program this summer, but am running out of places to plant
> boxes as there aren't many rural spots in the town where I work. Is
> it really not a breach of letterboxing ettiquette to plant one or two
> in some place like my library or the city museum (with permission
> from the curators of course - was thinking those who want to stamp
> the box would have to talk to the curator and have her show them her
> favorite exhibit before they could get to stamp or something like
> that)? That would make my program so much easier.
>
> Thanks in advance for the advice.
>
> Juli
>
>
> On Jul 6, 2006, at 5:28 AM, MDHASZ@aol.com wrote:
>
> > I have taken my nieces letterboxing. They are 13 and 11. At first they
> > thought is was hokey but part of the fun was looking for the
> > supplies (shopping).
> > One letterbox instructed the finders to go inside the library to
> > say hello to
> > the librian. They did so reluctantly but came out with a great
> > smile as the
> > nieces told the libraians about another box on the library
> > property. It was good
> > news to them.
> >
> > The nieces also thought it was funny when the ranger came looking
> > for us to
> > let us know the gates were being locked.
> >
> > The nieces are now looking forward to coming back to Connecticut
> > and we will
> > continue as I kept their "stuff" here.
> >
> > I am looking forward to the end of July when my friends sons get
> > back from a
> > trip and the three boys and I will go letterboxing. I talked it up
> > and they
> > are looking forward to our adventures that will include a picnic.
> >
> > in Her light
> > Diane/Connecticut
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
> >
> >
>
> "It is astonishing just how much of what we are can be tied to the
> beds we wake up in in the morning, and it is astonishing how fragile
> that can be." Coraline ~ by Neil Gaiman
>
> http://cinemaspot.blogspot.com/
> http://quotesite.blogspot.com/
> http://xanga.com/staarg1rl
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>



--
Barefoot Lucy
"It's not about footwear, it's about philosophy"


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Libraries and museums are perfectly fine places. Some will love the idea
and give permission, others will say "go 'way, you're botherin' me." All
you can do is ask.

Since you're a librarian, have you scouted out book stores in your town and
surrounding towns?

Large corporations, like Barnes & Noble or Borders Books, might not be
ecstatic to give permission. Tho they might be. Can't hurt to approach
their managers. But if you have any smaller independent book stores, that
sell either new or used books, a lot of the owners of those stores are often
glad to give permission. They're often art-oriented people themselves.
Plus a letterbox can get potential customers walking thru the door.

~~ Mosey ~~


On 7/6/06, Juli Huston wrote:
>
> I'm new to this whole letterboxing phenomenon as well. I've planted
> more than I've found, however, because my husband is still trying to
> think of a stamp idea and isn't ready to jump into letterboxing yet.
>
> Anyway, I'm a Children's and Teen librarian and am doing Letterboxing
> as a teen program this summer, but am running out of places to plant
> boxes as there aren't many rural spots in the town where I work. Is
> it really not a breach of letterboxing ettiquette to plant one or two
> in some place like my library or the city museum (with permission
> from the curators of course - was thinking those who want to stamp
> the box would have to talk to the curator and have her show them her
> favorite exhibit before they could get to stamp or something like
> that)? That would make my program so much easier.
>
> Thanks in advance for the advice.
>
> Juli
>
>

In a message dated 7/7/2006 12:54:50 AM Eastern Standard Time,
shiningstar1974@mac.com writes:
library or the city museum (with permission
from the curators of course - was thinking those who want to stamp
the box would have to talk to the curator and have her show them her
favorite exhibit before they could get to stamp or something like
that)? That would make my program so much easier.
There is a small Library in Middlefield, CT that has two letterboxes on their
property. One of the boxes directs the finder to go inside the library to say
hello to a librarian.

I am not sure about other places but I would think that a series of library
or museum related boxes would be quite fun.

in Her light
Diane/Connecticut


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

About library boxes. I have a box in a local library ,
with permission. It's a letterbook, I hollowed out the
inside of a book. It's on a shelf in the reference
section with it's own Dewy decimel #.

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Jan of Team Little Dog

--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, MaryAnn Lockard
wrote:
>
> About library boxes. I have a box in a local library ,
> with permission. It's a letterbook, I hollowed out the
> inside of a book. It's on a shelf in the reference
> section with it's own Dewy decimel #.
>
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
> http://mail.yahoo.com
>