Letterboxing: Something to do for Spring Break

Many of you are preparing to leave or preparing to stay for Spring Break. Regardless of where you’ll be, if you have kids, you’re searching for something educational, intriguing and new for them to do. Have you heard about letterboxing? A real-life treasure hunt that involves art, problem-solving, hiking, mystery and intrigue. You can letterbox, pretty much anywhere in the world, surprisingly, probably your own local park. Choose your destination here or here. Mystery letterboxes are not for beginners, as they have vague starting areas. And a cuckoos is a traveling letterbox.

Letterboxing dates back to 1854 in Dartmoor, England. A well known Dartmoor guide (James Perrott) placed a bottle for visitors cards at Cranmere Pool on the northern moor in 1854. From this hikers on the moors began to leave a letter or postcard inside a box along the trail (sometimes addressed to themselves, sometimes a friend or relative) — hence the name “letterboxing”. The next person to discover the site would collect the postcards and mail them. The first Dartmoor letterboxes were so remote and well-hidden that only the most determined walkers ended up finding them, allowing weeks to pass before the letter made its way home. Increasingly, however, letterboxes have been located in relatively accessible sites. As a result, the tradition of leaving a letter or postcard in the box has been forgotten.

Searching for clues

In addition to the maps and clues, you’ll need some tools:

You can also hide your own letterbox, and leave clues for someone else. You can announce your letterbox to the world, here.