An outdoor journaling activity

Jennifer Buchanan
Education Coordinator
Mississippi Dept. of Marine Resources'
Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
6005 Bayou Heron Road
Moss Point, MS 39562
228.475.7047 Fax 228.475.8097
www.grandbaynerr.org

From: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com [mailto:letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of sileagle1
Sent: Friday, February 08, 2013 8:15 AM
To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [LbNA] What Would You Say?



Not sure if anyone even looks at this List anymore but thought I would ask a question anyway. Every year when I host our LB Event I get asked by Park people and other curious onlookers what our group represents. In the beginning I told the truth and tried to explain letterboxing, but I quickly realized this caused more questions than I was prepared to answer and besides, I value the secrecy of letterboxing too much to expose it that way. For several years after that I would say we were a reunion of friends, and this worked ok but still did not explain why we were busily stamping into logbooks. Next I tried saying we were a craft club. This explained our activities in the building but not on the trails. Also, I got some strange looks from guy rangers obviously questioning my manhood. This is Texas after all. This year I was thinking of saying we are a Nature club. It would explain being on the trails and the logbooks could be notes on our nature finds. Of co urse this could backfire like it did for me one time when caught stamping in on a trail. Usually people will glance at you warily but continue on, but this person stopped and asked what I was doing. I quickly said I was taking notes on a bird I just heard so I could look it up when I got home. She then told me she was a birder and asked a bunch of questions about the bird and I had to imitate and describe this fictitious bird for 10 minutes!

So what would you say if asked what your letterbox group is?

Silver Eagle



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

I think I would plan gatherings someplace other than a park in which letterboxing was not permitted.

The Orient Express

This is so true. One should get written permission or a permit when placing on public or private property that is not your own.

Jennifer Buchanan
Education Coordinator
Mississippi Dept. of Marine Resources'
Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
6005 Bayou Heron Road
Moss Point, MS 39562
228.475.7047 Fax 228.475.8097
www.grandbaynerr.org

From: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com [mailto:letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Tom Cooch
Sent: Friday, February 08, 2013 8:22 AM
To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [LbNA] Re: What Would You Say?



I think I would plan gatherings someplace other than a park in which letterboxing was not permitted.

The Orient Express



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

I always say we're a hiking club and if questioned about logbooks, I say we log in at different points to show we've reached that part of the hike.
So far, it's worked.


With our annual Bed & Boxing events, I do let the manager/coordinator know exactly what we do just in case the staff runs across one of our boxes hidden in the hotel or on the grounds. I've yet to have resistance to that as they are making enough money on the number of rooms that are generally used.


With our letterboxing cruises, again, we let the group coordinator know of our activities and obtain permission. Since 9/11, there are hidden cameras all over a ship and I'd rather be truthful than have to bail someone out of jail!


Mark


----- Original Message -----
From: "sileagle1"
To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Friday, February 8, 2013 9:14:45 AM
Subject: [LbNA] What Would You Say?






Not sure if anyone even looks at this List anymore but thought I would ask a question anyway. Every year when I host our LB Event I get asked by Park people and other curious onlookers what our group represents. In the beginning I told the truth and tried to explain letterboxing, but I quickly realized this caused more questions than I was prepared to answer and besides, I value the secrecy of letterboxing too much to expose it that way. For several years after that I would say we were a reunion of friends, and this worked ok but still did not explain why we were busily stamping into logbooks. Next I tried saying we were a craft club. This explained our activities in the building but not on the trails. Also, I got some strange looks from guy rangers obviously questioning my manhood. This is Texas after all. This year I was thinking of saying we are a Nature club. It would explain being on the trails and the logbooks could be notes on our nature finds. Of course this could backfire like it did for me one time when caught stamping in on a trail. Usually people will glance at you warily but continue on, but this person stopped and asked what I was doing. I quickly said I was taking notes on a bird I just heard so I could look it up when I got home. She then told me she was a birder and asked a bunch of questions about the bird and I had to imitate and describe this fictitious bird for 10 minutes!

So what would you say if asked what your letterbox group is?

Silver Eagle




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

When we have events in our areas we usually register at the park as a midwestern hiking group.

If anyone actually asks about stamping on the trail (which is very rare), we say it is a scavenger hunt type game we are playing.

Wisconsin Hiker

Sent from my ASUS Pad

sileagle1 wrote:

> 
>
>Not sure if anyone even looks at this List anymore but thought I would ask a question anyway. Every year when I host our LB Event I get asked by Park people and other curious onlookers what our group represents. In the beginning I told the truth and tried to explain letterboxing, but I quickly realized this caused more questions than I was prepared to answer and besides, I value the secrecy of letterboxing too much to expose it that way. For several years after that I would say we were a reunion of friends, and this worked ok but still did not explain why we were busily stamping into logbooks. Next I tried saying we were a craft club. This explained our activities in the building but not on the trails. Also, I got some strange looks from guy rangers obviously questioning my manhood. This is Texas after all. This year I was thinking of saying we are a Nature club. It would explain being on the trails and the logbooks could be notes on our nature finds. Of course this could backfire like it did for me one time when caught stamping in on a trail. Usually people will glance at you warily but continue on, but this person stopped and asked what I was doing. I quickly said I was taking notes on a bird I just heard so I could look it up when I got home. She then told me she was a birder and asked a bunch of questions about the bird and I had to imitate and describe this fictitious bird for 10 minutes!
>
>So what would you say if asked what your letterbox group is?
>
>Silver Eagle
>
>
>
>

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

I can't answer the question about what to say at Gathers as I have never been asked during them.  I'm guessing it depends on the situation which can be different each time an encounter with a muggle occurs.  I was off trail once looking for a box and a hiker stopped and asked what I was doing.  I said I was looking at the flora and fauna.  Other times when letterboxing with a group, we've said we're doing a scavenger hunt.  One time at the Disney park, the guard who checks your bags looked at my colored pens and sketchbook asked if I was an artist.  Yup!  Sounds like you're being creative with it, but don't be too specific or you'll run into those "experts" who will quiz you more...  ; )   As far as your manhood is concerned, I'm not going there.  lol

enjoy~
donutz716




________________________________
From: sileagle1
To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Friday, February 8, 2013 9:14 AM
Subject: [LbNA] What Would You Say?


 
Not sure if anyone even looks at this List anymore but thought I would ask a question anyway. Every year when I host our LB Event I get asked by Park people and other curious onlookers what our group represents. In the beginning I told the truth and tried to explain letterboxing, but I quickly realized this caused more questions than I was prepared to answer and besides, I value the secrecy of letterboxing too much to expose it that way. For several years after that I would say we were a reunion of friends, and this worked ok but still did not explain why we were busily stamping into logbooks. Next I tried saying we were a craft club. This explained our activities in the building but not on the trails. Also, I got some strange looks from guy rangers obviously questioning my manhood. This is Texas after all. This year I was thinking of saying we are a Nature club. It would explain being on the trails and the logbooks could be notes on our nature
finds. Of course this could backfire like it did for me one time when caught stamping in on a trail. Usually people will glance at you warily but continue on, but this person stopped and asked what I was doing. I quickly said I was taking notes on a bird I just heard so I could look it up when I got home. She then told me she was a birder and asked a bunch of questions about the bird and I had to imitate and describe this fictitious bird for 10 minutes!

So what would you say if asked what your letterbox group is?

Silver Eagle




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

an easy asnwer thatdoesn't take too much time is "We are having a scavanger
hunt."
It is not lieing and most people know what that is.
:D




________________________________
From: donutz716
To: "letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com"
Sent: Fri, February 8, 2013 8:35:51 AM
Subject: Re: [LbNA] What Would You Say?

 
I can't answer the question about what to say at Gathers as I have never been
asked during them.  I'm guessing it depends on the situation which can be
different each time an encounter with a muggle occurs.  I was off trail once
looking for a box and a hiker stopped and asked what I was doing.  I said I was
looking at the flora and fauna.  Other times when letterboxing with a group,
we've said we're doing a scavenger hunt.  One time at the Disney park, the guard
who checks your bags looked at my colored pens and sketchbook asked if I was an
artist.  Yup!  Sounds like you're being creative with it, but don't be too
specific or you'll run into those "experts" who will quiz you more...  ; )   As
far as your manhood is concerned, I'm not going there.  lol

enjoy~
donutz716

________________________________
From: sileagle1 sileagle@windstream.net>
To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Friday, February 8, 2013 9:14 AM
Subject: [LbNA] What Would You Say?


 
Not sure if anyone even looks at this List anymore but thought I would ask a
question anyway. Every year when I host our LB Event I get asked by Park people
and other curious onlookers what our group represents. In the beginning I told
the truth and tried to explain letterboxing, but I quickly realized this caused
more questions than I was prepared to answer and besides, I value the secrecy of
letterboxing too much to expose it that way. For several years after that I
would say we were a reunion of friends, and this worked ok but still did not
explain why we were busily stamping into logbooks. Next I tried saying we were a
craft club. This explained our activities in the building but not on the trails.
Also, I got some strange looks from guy rangers obviously questioning my
manhood. This is Texas after all. This year I was thinking of saying we are a
Nature club. It would explain being on the trails and the logbooks could be
notes on our nature
finds. Of course this could backfire like it did for me one time when caught
stamping in on a trail. Usually people will glance at you warily but continue
on, but this person stopped and asked what I was doing. I quickly said I was
taking notes on a bird I just heard so I could look it up when I got home. She
then told me she was a birder and asked a bunch of questions about the bird and
I had to imitate and describe this fictitious bird for 10 minutes!

So what would you say if asked what your letterbox group is?

Silver Eagle

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




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

It doesn't seem to be a case where letterboxing isn't permitted in state parks. The Texas Parks & Wildlife website lists a "Letterboxing 101" course that was held at a couple of parks last June. Plus they seem extremely geocache-friendly. Maybe tell park guys that you're "letterboxing--it's like geocaching only with clues instead of GPS coordinates." For other folks, probably the scavenger hunt comparison will give them the most context.
Shebalooking forward to visiting Texas again :D

--- On Fri, 2/8/13, sileagle1 wrote:

So what would you say if asked what your letterbox group is?

Silver Eagle



------------------------------------

Yahoo! Groups Links





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

crazy reunion group doing group games for the day. nothing to see here, nothing to see. . .

~tigs

____________________________________________________________
Fast, Secure, NetZero 4G Mobile Broadband. Try it.
http://www.netzero.net/?refcd=NZINTISP0512T4GOUT2

I have been asked this time and again also, and my best answer is the truth. I will say I am letterboxing, and if they pry for more information I direct them a website for more information. Most times this gets them off my back enough for me to finish what I was doing and leave.

--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, Jen Buchanan wrote:
>
> An outdoor journaling activity
>
> Jennifer Buchanan
> Education Coordinator
> Mississippi Dept. of Marine Resources'
> Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
> 6005 Bayou Heron Road
> Moss Point, MS 39562
> 228.475.7047 Fax 228.475.8097
> www.grandbaynerr.org
>
> From: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com [mailto:letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of sileagle1
> Sent: Friday, February 08, 2013 8:15 AM
> To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [LbNA] What Would You Say?
>
>
>
> Not sure if anyone even looks at this List anymore but thought I would ask a question anyway. Every year when I host our LB Event I get asked by Park people and other curious onlookers what our group represents. In the beginning I told the truth and tried to explain letterboxing, but I quickly realized this caused more questions than I was prepared to answer and besides, I value the secrecy of letterboxing too much to expose it that way. For several years after that I would say we were a reunion of friends, and this worked ok but still did not explain why we were busily stamping into logbooks. Next I tried saying we were a craft club. This explained our activities in the building but not on the trails. Also, I got some strange looks from guy rangers obviously questioning my manhood. This is Texas after all. This year I was thinking of saying we are a Nature club. It would explain being on the trails and the logbooks could be notes on our nature finds. Of co urse this could backfire like it did for me one time when caught stamping in on a trail. Usually people will glance at you warily but continue on, but this person stopped and asked what I was doing. I quickly said I was taking notes on a bird I just heard so I could look it up when I got home. She then told me she was a birder and asked a bunch of questions about the bird and I had to imitate and describe this fictitious bird for 10 minutes!
>
> So what would you say if asked what your letterbox group is?
>
> Silver Eagle
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

Wow, thanks for all the responses, it's good to see people still participate on this List. Just for the record I never said the Events are in parks that don't allow letterboxing, and if someone was really interested I have no problem directing them to the website for more info. I was mainly referring to people with casual interest who would probably not be serious about the hobby and cause more harm than good if they knew too much. I think I will go with hiking club and scavenger hunt. Thanks again.

Silver Eagle

--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, Mark Pepe wrote:
>
> I always say we're a hiking club and if questioned about logbooks, I say we log in at different points to show we've reached that part of the hike.
> So far, it's worked.

Just for the record, there are lots of us who still love this list...it certainly has an interesting history!

Sent from my iPad

On Feb 8, 2013, at 7:52 PM, "sileagle1" wrote:

> Wow, thanks for all the responses, it's good to see people still participate on this List. Just for the record I never said the Events are in parks that don't allow letterboxing, and if someone was really interested I have no problem directing them to the website for more info. I was mainly referring to people with casual interest who would probably not be serious about the hobby and cause more harm than good if they knew too much. I think I will go with hiking club and scavenger hunt. Thanks again.
>
> Silver Eagle
>
> --- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, Mark Pepe wrote:
> >
> > I always say we're a hiking club and if questioned about logbooks, I say we log in at different points to show we've reached that part of the hike.
> > So far, it's worked.
>
>


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

So glad to see some activity here. Some good answers. Keep it simple, hiking club, scavenger hunt.
My son is in school in TX now and we do get some time to visit so I'm hoping to catch one of your gathers.
MizS

First weekend in March, MizS. You should come & represent the Main Line. :)

--- On Fri, 2/8/13, Maryann Lockard wrote:

From: Maryann Lockard
Subject: [LbNA] Re: What Would You Say?
To: "letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com"
Date: Friday, February 8, 2013, 9:12 PM

So glad to see some activity here. Some good answers. Keep it simple, hiking club, scavenger hunt.
My son is in school in TX now and we do get some time to visit so I'm hoping to catch one of your gathers.
MizS

------------------------------------

Yahoo! Groups Links





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

Last event I organized was at a fairly small private campground, and I felt compelled to tell the campground owners exactly what our group was doing. They were so interested in the activity they arranged for the community newspaper to have a reporter come there and interview some of us. If I didn't have to tell I wouldn't, just because it's a fairly complicated thing to explain. Scavenger hunt is something everyone knows, that's my first choice to tell when there are questions: "We are a hiking group and have organized a get-together with a sort of scavenger hunt as our main activity this year."

I also really like the explanation someone else threw out - hiking and logging into points along the way to prove we've been there.

Neither explanation is a lie, both are very simple to understand. Both explain why there are crazy people wandering around on the trails with their compasses looking confused. :)

Come to think of it, I probably didn't even have to tell the park owners all about letterboxing - they would have been satisfied with either of the other two explanations.

--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "sileagle1" wrote:
>
> Not sure if anyone even looks at this List anymore but thought I would ask a question anyway. Every year when I host our LB Event I get asked by Park people and other curious onlookers what our group represents. In the beginning I told the truth and tried to explain letterboxing, but I quickly realized this caused more questions than I was prepared to answer and besides, I value the secrecy of letterboxing too much to expose it that way. For several years after that I would say we were a reunion of friends, and this worked ok but still did not explain why we were busily stamping into logbooks. Next I tried saying we were a craft club. This explained our activities in the building but not on the trails. Also, I got some strange looks from guy rangers obviously questioning my manhood. This is Texas after all. This year I was thinking of saying we are a Nature club. It would explain being on the trails and the logbooks could be notes on our nature finds. Of course this could backfire like it did for me one time when caught stamping in on a trail. Usually people will glance at you warily but continue on, but this person stopped and asked what I was doing. I quickly said I was taking notes on a bird I just heard so I could look it up when I got home. She then told me she was a birder and asked a bunch of questions about the bird and I had to imitate and describe this fictitious bird for 10 minutes!
>
> So what would you say if asked what your letterbox group is?
>
> Silver Eagle
>

I made up a double sided business card to hand out. It took about 6 months to figure out how to get it all on a business card! My computer crashed, and life is in the way right now, but eventually I will get it posted to atlasquest so everyone can use it. I put some in my boxes and plan to take a bunch to hand out, for people to hand out, at the S.I.L.O event this month.
MOTHERDRAGON

On 2/9/2013 12:15 AM, Suzanne Coe wrote:

We still have room at the inn for one more, if interested. We are
flying out of Philly on 28 Feb.

> First weekend in March, MizS. You should come & represent the Main Line. :)
>
> --- On Fri, 2/8/13, Maryann Lockard wrote:
>
> From: Maryann Lockard
> Subject: [LbNA] Re: What Would You Say?
> To: "letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com"
> Date: Friday, February 8, 2013, 9:12 PM
>
> So glad to see some activity here. Some good answers. Keep it simple, hiking club, scavenger hunt.
> My son is in school in TX now and we do get some time to visit so I'm hoping to catch one of your gathers.
> MizS
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>


--
Nathan Brown
AKA Cyclonic

The best things in life arn't things at all.

Wish I could, leaving for FL today for a 2 week road trip.
mizS
--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, Nathan Brown wrote:
>
> On 2/9/2013 12:15 AM, Suzanne Coe wrote:
>
> We still have room at the inn for one more, if interested. We are
> flying out of Philly on 28 Feb.
>
> > First weekend in March, MizS. You should come & represent the Main Line. :)
> >
> > --- On Fri, 2/8/13, Maryann Lockard wrote:
> >
> > From: Maryann Lockard
> > Subject: [LbNA] Re: What Would You Say?
> > To: "letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com"
> > Date: Friday, February 8, 2013, 9:12 PM
> >
> > So glad to see some activity here. Some good answers. Keep it simple, hiking club, scavenger hunt.
> > My son is in school in TX now and we do get some time to visit so I'm hoping to catch one of your gathers.
> > MizS
> >
> > ------------------------------------
> >
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
> >
> >
> > ------------------------------------
> >
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
>
>
> --
> Nathan Brown
> AKA Cyclonic
>
> The best things in life arn't things at all.
>

Have a safe trip. Go find you some Kirbert boxes!

--- On Fri, 2/15/13, mizscarlet731 wrote:

From: mizscarlet731
Subject: [LbNA] Re: What Would You Say?
To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
Date: Friday, February 15, 2013, 7:32 AM


Wish I could, leaving for FL today for a 2 week road trip.
mizS
--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, Nathan Brown wrote:
>
> On 2/9/2013 12:15 AM, Suzanne Coe wrote:
>
> We still have room at the inn for one more, if interested. We are
> flying out of Philly on 28 Feb.
>
> > First weekend in March, MizS. You should come & represent the Main Line. :)
> >
> > --- On Fri, 2/8/13, Maryann Lockard wrote:
> >
> > From: Maryann Lockard
> > Subject: [LbNA] Re: What Would You Say?
> > To: "letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com"
> > Date: Friday, February 8, 2013, 9:12 PM
> >
> > So glad to see some activity here. Some good answers. Keep it simple, hiking club, scavenger hunt.
> > My son is in school in TX now and we do get some time to visit so I'm hoping to catch one of your gathers.
> > MizS
> >
> > ------------------------------------
> >
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
> >
> >
> > ------------------------------------
> >
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
>
>
> --
> Nathan Brown
> AKA Cyclonic
>
> The best things in life arn't things at all.
>




------------------------------------

Yahoo! Groups Links





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

Geeze Louise he's got 399 boxes! I think he is from other side of FL so most his boxes are not near where I will be.


--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, Suzanne Coe wrote:
>
> Have a safe trip. Go find you some Kirbert boxes!
>
> --- On Fri, 2/15/13, mizscarlet731 wrote:
>
> From: mizscarlet731
> Subject: [LbNA] Re: What Would You Say?
> To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
> Date: Friday, February 15, 2013, 7:32 AM
>
>
> Wish I could, leaving for FL today for a 2 week road trip.
> mizS
> --- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, Nathan Brown wrote:
> >
> > On 2/9/2013 12:15 AM, Suzanne Coe wrote:
> >
> > We still have room at the inn for one more, if interested. We are
> > flying out of Philly on 28 Feb.
> >
> > > First weekend in March, MizS. You should come & represent the Main Line. :)
> > >
> > > --- On Fri, 2/8/13, Maryann Lockard wrote:
> > >
> > > From: Maryann Lockard
> > > Subject: [LbNA] Re: What Would You Say?
> > > To: "letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com"
> > > Date: Friday, February 8, 2013, 9:12 PM
> > >
> > > So glad to see some activity here. Some good answers. Keep it simple, hiking club, scavenger hunt.
> > > My son is in school in TX now and we do get some time to visit so I'm hoping to catch one of your gathers.
> > > MizS
> > >
> > > ------------------------------------
> > >
> > > Yahoo! Groups Links
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > ------------------------------------
> > >
> > > Yahoo! Groups Links
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Nathan Brown
> > AKA Cyclonic
> >
> > The best things in life arn't things at all.
> >
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>