something we need to be concerned about.
> As it grows, we all need to be
> cognizant of the reputation we are creating.
>
What makes
> letterboxers different? How can we raise ourselves above the
> great unwashed to be welcomed by parks?
Well folks I think part of the answer lies in the very thing we
enjoy. First how about a work party associated with the frequent and
always fun gatherings. When contacting a park about space or a
pavillion ask what service the group can provide. trim a trail,
paint outhouses, pick up litter, repaint blazes. A special stamp
could be carved only to be earned by an hour or two spent in service
to our parks. Not much to ask on a glorious day of exchanges and new
boxes. How about a park appreciation box one whose clues celebrate
the uniquenes of a park, or named after a long time ranger they may
be less likely to pull one of "their own". Hey folks how about the
old fashioned but never out of style thank you note to a park when we
hold a function there. If they are flooded with positive mail after a
group meets there they will remember us in a positive light. There
will always be the chance of damage from our wide and varied
population of enthusiasts but remind folks in the clues to leave no
trace - to clean up - to take the litter even if not theirs and leave
positive notes in the box guest book the rangers may read them and
think twice about pulling a box. Developing a park etiquette and
teaching it to new boxers as they come into the group will help.
Please everyone- Go the Extra Distance to save our access to the
local parks. Leader of the Pack
Parks.... We can do something
9 messages in this thread |
Started on 2002-09-13
Re: Parks.... We can do something
From: mothermoo2001 (cstearns07@hotmail.com) |
Date: 2002-09-13 01:09:32 UTC
Re: [LbNA] Re: Parks.... We can do something
From: (cherieph@aol.com) |
Date: 2002-09-12 21:34:23 UTC-04:00
Love the idea of Thank YOu notes. They have always worked in my favor when I have sent them-for whatever reason-in the past. Everyone wants to be appreciated.
cherieph
cherieph
Re: [LbNA] Re: Parks.... We can do something
From: (HANNAHKAT@aol.com) |
Date: 2002-09-12 23:25:19 UTC-04:00
I think all those ideas are wonderful.
As someone who works at a wildlife sanctuary, I can certainly say that most
parks and preserves are there so that people can find a place in nature,so
that they will fall in love with it and realize why it is so important to
preserve it. Unfortunately, because people seek out these areas as the few
places that are wild and natural, there is the very real risk of
"over-loving" a landscape.
By spending time volunteering to help the staff out occasionally,
letterboxers can not only do wonders for their reputation, but also go a very
long way in preserving the places they love.
If I may give an example...I work at a 2,200 acre sanctuary with 11
buildings, three vehicles and a calculated 25 miles of trails....and only two
property workers to take care of it all. We had a group of 15 students come
in from Boston University for two days to do community service before the
semester started. In that time they cleaned, weeded and pruned all the formal
gardens, rebuilt stone walls, filled the dumpster with bags of trash picked
up from the roadsides and on and on. This would have taken our staff months
and months to have gotten time to do all that while simultaneously trying to
teach educational programs, run summer camp, fix trucks, paint the building,
fund-raise etc. They were like angels.
I really would encourage people to give a bit of time alone or in LB groups.
My colleagues already knows that most letterboxers try very hard to tread
lightly (and I have suspicions that some of my colleagues at other
sanctuaries have taken up LB too), but we do need to build a stronger
reputation of being responsible so that other wild areas are not closed to us.
May I suggest a possible LB gathering at my sanctuary sometime to discuss it?
-Kim C. (aka Rustypuff)
As someone who works at a wildlife sanctuary, I can certainly say that most
parks and preserves are there so that people can find a place in nature,so
that they will fall in love with it and realize why it is so important to
preserve it. Unfortunately, because people seek out these areas as the few
places that are wild and natural, there is the very real risk of
"over-loving" a landscape.
By spending time volunteering to help the staff out occasionally,
letterboxers can not only do wonders for their reputation, but also go a very
long way in preserving the places they love.
If I may give an example...I work at a 2,200 acre sanctuary with 11
buildings, three vehicles and a calculated 25 miles of trails....and only two
property workers to take care of it all. We had a group of 15 students come
in from Boston University for two days to do community service before the
semester started. In that time they cleaned, weeded and pruned all the formal
gardens, rebuilt stone walls, filled the dumpster with bags of trash picked
up from the roadsides and on and on. This would have taken our staff months
and months to have gotten time to do all that while simultaneously trying to
teach educational programs, run summer camp, fix trucks, paint the building,
fund-raise etc. They were like angels.
I really would encourage people to give a bit of time alone or in LB groups.
My colleagues already knows that most letterboxers try very hard to tread
lightly (and I have suspicions that some of my colleagues at other
sanctuaries have taken up LB too), but we do need to build a stronger
reputation of being responsible so that other wild areas are not closed to us.
May I suggest a possible LB gathering at my sanctuary sometime to discuss it?
-Kim C. (aka Rustypuff)
Re: [LbNA] Re: Parks.... We can do something
From: Sheila Stewart (sheila27@tm.net) |
Date: 2002-09-12 21:30:02 UTC-07:00
What a wonderful bunch of ideas!!!! Most definitely worth putting into
action.
All the best,
Puppylover
----- Original Message -----
From: "mothermoo2001"
To:
Sent: Thursday, September 12, 2002 6:09 PM
Subject: [LbNA] Re: Parks.... We can do something
> something we need to be concerned about.
> > As it grows, we all need to be
> > cognizant of the reputation we are creating.
> >
> What makes
> > letterboxers different? How can we raise ourselves above the
> > great unwashed to be welcomed by parks?
>
> Well folks I think part of the answer lies in the very thing we
> enjoy. First how about a work party associated with the frequent and
> always fun gatherings. When contacting a park about space or a
> pavillion ask what service the group can provide. trim a trail,
> paint outhouses, pick up litter, repaint blazes. A special stamp
> could be carved only to be earned by an hour or two spent in service
> to our parks. Not much to ask on a glorious day of exchanges and new
> boxes. How about a park appreciation box one whose clues celebrate
> the uniquenes of a park, or named after a long time ranger they may
> be less likely to pull one of "their own". Hey folks how about the
> old fashioned but never out of style thank you note to a park when we
> hold a function there. If they are flooded with positive mail after a
> group meets there they will remember us in a positive light. There
> will always be the chance of damage from our wide and varied
> population of enthusiasts but remind folks in the clues to leave no
> trace - to clean up - to take the litter even if not theirs and leave
> positive notes in the box guest book the rangers may read them and
> think twice about pulling a box. Developing a park etiquette and
> teaching it to new boxers as they come into the group will help.
> Please everyone- Go the Extra Distance to save our access to the
> local parks. Leader of the Pack
>
>
>
> To unsubscribe: mailto:letterbox-usa-unsubscribe@egroups.com
> List info, archives, etc: http://www.letterboxing.org/list.html
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
action.
All the best,
Puppylover
----- Original Message -----
From: "mothermoo2001"
To:
Sent: Thursday, September 12, 2002 6:09 PM
Subject: [LbNA] Re: Parks.... We can do something
> something we need to be concerned about.
> > As it grows, we all need to be
> > cognizant of the reputation we are creating.
> >
> What makes
> > letterboxers different? How can we raise ourselves above the
> > great unwashed to be welcomed by parks?
>
> Well folks I think part of the answer lies in the very thing we
> enjoy. First how about a work party associated with the frequent and
> always fun gatherings. When contacting a park about space or a
> pavillion ask what service the group can provide. trim a trail,
> paint outhouses, pick up litter, repaint blazes. A special stamp
> could be carved only to be earned by an hour or two spent in service
> to our parks. Not much to ask on a glorious day of exchanges and new
> boxes. How about a park appreciation box one whose clues celebrate
> the uniquenes of a park, or named after a long time ranger they may
> be less likely to pull one of "their own". Hey folks how about the
> old fashioned but never out of style thank you note to a park when we
> hold a function there. If they are flooded with positive mail after a
> group meets there they will remember us in a positive light. There
> will always be the chance of damage from our wide and varied
> population of enthusiasts but remind folks in the clues to leave no
> trace - to clean up - to take the litter even if not theirs and leave
> positive notes in the box guest book the rangers may read them and
> think twice about pulling a box. Developing a park etiquette and
> teaching it to new boxers as they come into the group will help.
> Please everyone- Go the Extra Distance to save our access to the
> local parks. Leader of the Pack
>
>
>
> To unsubscribe: mailto:letterbox-usa-unsubscribe@egroups.com
> List info, archives, etc: http://www.letterboxing.org/list.html
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
Re: Parks.... We can do something
From: lizardbuttsfamily (mmebt@hotmail.com) |
Date: 2002-09-13 07:10:59 UTC
"mothermoo2001" wrote:
> Well folks I think part of the answer lies in the very thing we
> enjoy. First how about a work party associated with the frequent
and
> always fun gatherings. When contacting a park about space or a
> pavillion ask what service the group can provide. trim a trail,
> paint outhouses, pick up litter, repaint blazes.
This is an excellent idea! At the same time letterboxers can learn
how the park service trys to protect and perseve the park for all to
enjoy. Another option is volunteering a couple of times a year. We do
this and my kids enjoy helping out at the local park.
Monica
> Well folks I think part of the answer lies in the very thing we
> enjoy. First how about a work party associated with the frequent
and
> always fun gatherings. When contacting a park about space or a
> pavillion ask what service the group can provide. trim a trail,
> paint outhouses, pick up litter, repaint blazes.
This is an excellent idea! At the same time letterboxers can learn
how the park service trys to protect and perseve the park for all to
enjoy. Another option is volunteering a couple of times a year. We do
this and my kids enjoy helping out at the local park.
Monica
Re: [LbNA] Re: Parks.... We can do something
From: Alafair (ms_alafair@yahoo.com) |
Date: 2002-09-13 06:39:43 UTC-07:00
Hi Kim,
I think a combination of a work party and a "mini-summit" at your wildlife sanctuary would be a great idea. I know many letterboxers participate in trail and park maintenance already. A day of putting ideas on the table for all to consider while giving something substantive back surely sets the tone for other efforts in the same positive direction that can take place anywhere. Grassroots efforts like this can't help but reinforce the fact that letterboxers are also good stewards of the environment. Please keep us posted.
Linda a/k/a Alafair
HANNAHKAT@aol.com wrote:
I think all those ideas are wonderful.
As someone who works at a wildlife sanctuary, I can certainly say that most
parks and preserves are there so that people can find a place in nature,so
that they will fall in love with it and realize why it is so important to
preserve it. Unfortunately, because people seek out these areas as the few
places that are wild and natural, there is the very real risk of
"over-loving" a landscape.
By spending time volunteering to help the staff out occasionally,
letterboxers can not only do wonders for their reputation, but also go a very
long way in preserving the places they love.
If I may give an example...I work at a 2,200 acre sanctuary with 11
buildings, three vehicles and a calculated 25 miles of trails....and only two
property workers to take care of it all. We had a group of 15 students come
in from Boston University for two days to do community service before the
semester started. In that time they cleaned, weeded and pruned all the formal
gardens, rebuilt stone walls, filled the dumpster with bags of trash picked
up from the roadsides and on and on. This would have taken our staff months
and months to have gotten time to do all that while simultaneously trying to
teach educational programs, run summer camp, fix trucks, paint the building,
fund-raise etc. They were like angels.
I really would encourage people to give a bit of time alone or in LB groups.
My colleagues already knows that most letterboxers try very hard to tread
lightly (and I have suspicions that some of my colleagues at other
sanctuaries have taken up LB too), but we do need to build a stronger
reputation of being responsible so that other wild areas are not closed to us.
May I suggest a possible LB gathering at my sanctuary sometime to discuss it?
-Kim C. (aka Rustypuff)
To unsubscribe: mailto:letterbox-usa-unsubscribe@egroups.com
List info, archives, etc: http://www.letterboxing.org/list.html
Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
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[LbNA] Re: Parks.... We can do something
From: mothermoo2001 (cstearns07@hotmail.com) |
Date: 2002-09-13 19:50:52 UTC
--- In letterbox-usa@y..., HANNAHKAT@a... wrote:
>
> May I suggest a possible LB gathering at my sanctuary sometime to
discuss it?
>
> -Kim C. (aka Rustypuff)
Where are you RustyPuff? I would love to come all those acres Hmmm!
Leader of the Pack
>
> May I suggest a possible LB gathering at my sanctuary sometime to
discuss it?
>
> -Kim C. (aka Rustypuff)
Where are you RustyPuff? I would love to come all those acres Hmmm!
Leader of the Pack
Re: [LbNA] Re: Parks.... We can do something
From: (HANNAHKAT@aol.com) |
Date: 2002-09-13 22:25:48 UTC-04:00
I work at the Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary in Sharon, MA...
what do folks think? Should I try to schedule a day for a volunteerism
meeting?
-Kim
what do folks think? Should I try to schedule a day for a volunteerism
meeting?
-Kim
[LbNA] Re: Parks.... We can do something
From: trishkri (trishkri@yahoo.com) |
Date: 2002-09-14 11:39:22 UTC
--- In letterbox-usa@y..., HANNAHKAT@a... wrote:
> I work at the Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary in Sharon, MA...
> what do folks think? Should I try to schedule a day for a
volunteerism
> meeting?
> -Kim
To paraphrase "Field of Dreams" - If you plan it they will come.
Trish
> I work at the Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary in Sharon, MA...
> what do folks think? Should I try to schedule a day for a
volunteerism
> meeting?
> -Kim
To paraphrase "Field of Dreams" - If you plan it they will come.
Trish