Letterboxing With Children

Craft a Signature Stamp and Solve a Letterbox Mystery

Oct 28, 2008
Sara McGrath

Compass - earl53

Crafting stamps, following clues, solving puzzles, and hiking all combine in the Old World traditional activity known as letterboxing.

In simplest terms, letterboxing can be described as the act of exchanging stamps in log books. The participant carries a stamp and log book and the letterbox contains a stamp and log book. The two come together when the searcher finds the hidden letterbox and uses his or her stamp to mark the letterbox log and the letterbox stamp to mark his or her log.

The activity of letterboxing is made into a mystery-solving adventure by crafting one's own personal stamp for use as a signature and by following clues and solving puzzles during the process of searching for the hidden letterbox. Participants can form clubs or teams or search as a family. Besides searching, participants can create and hide letterboxes for others to find.

The letterboxer's log book serves as a place to collect stamp prints and to journal letterboxing adventures. Children can draw pictures. The letterboxer's personal stamp serves as a calling card to announce to other particpants that he or she solved the letterbox mystery and to display his or her stamp artistry in the case of a handmade stamp.

A letterboxer may also use a code name that corresponds to the theme of his or her personal stamp. Likewise, letterbox stamps are often created in an image that corresponds in some way to the location where they are hidden or to the clues given.

Making a Foam Stamp

Supplies: A sheet of craft foam, a marker pen, scissors, glue, and a small block of wood or other object for a mount. (And an inkpad for later.)

Draw a shape on the foam sheet. Alternately, children can trace a stencil or use pre-cut foam shapes to create a stamp form.
Cut out the shape.
Glue the foam shape to the mount. If necessary, reverse the image by flipping over the foam shape before gluing.

Making a Rubber Stamp

Supplies: A butter knife, a pencil, toothpicks, and an art gum eraser.

Draw or trace a shape on the eraser.
Cut out the shape with the butter knife. For carving out fine details, remove a pencil's eraser and use the remaining metal casing to cut the art gum eraser. For making small holes, use a toothpick.

Searching for a Letterbox

Supplies: Personal stamp, ink pad, log book, pack lunch and water, hiking supplies (backpack, sun protection, first aid, extra clothing, weather report), searching supplies (compass, map, clues).

Choose an area where a letterbox is hidden. (For a list of hidden letterboxes, go to Letterboxing North America or Atlas Quest.)
Print out the clues.
Check the weather and gather appropriate provisions.
Go find the letterbox.

Creating, Hiding, and Announcing a Letterbox

Supplies: A waterproof box, a log book, and a stamp.

Assemble your letterbox with a log book and a stamp.
Hide the letterbox well.
Create a list of clues or directions for finding it.
Publish the clues and general location on a letterboxing website such as Letterboxing North America or Atlas Quest.

Letterboxing is an old tradition enjoyed by people of all ages. Participants enjoy stamp artistry, spending time outdoors, solving riddles, and sharing these activities with friends and family. Through this activity, children can learn to read a compass and map, get exercise, develop nature awareness, and enjoy mystery-solving adventures.