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Like treasure hunts? Try letterboxing! Following the clues to find a hidden box has made exploration of two of
PLAN’s preserves more fun. Derek Stork, Skidmore Intern, has hidden “letterboxes” on two preserves. By following clues posted on our website, you can seek out the hidden letterboxes and learn something about these preserves at the same time. Letterboxing is an ancient hobby that began in England in 1854, and made its way into the United States in the 1998. Saratoga P.L.A.N has put its own spin on an ancient tradition. There are currently two letterboxes hidden: one is located in the Dr. Orra Phelps Preserve in Greenfield and the other is hidden at the Galway Preserve. Clues for each letterbox are located at: http://www.saratogaplan.org/np_orraphelps.html or at http://www.saratogaplan.org/GalwayNaturePreserveRC.htm. When you find the letterbox, you can log your discovery in our notepad in the box, leave us a note about your experience on the preserve, or send us a postcard with your comments. Letterboxing is a fun family activity for all ages – start you own notepad and record the rubber stamps from places you’ve been and bring your personal rubber stamp to record your find in each letterbox! If you want to make up the clues to hide a letterbox at another preserve, contact Andy at our office, 518-587-5554 ext. 4, and we’ll get you started. We encourage you to visit all of PLAN’s public properties and get a feel for the wilderness that is right in your own backyard.
A Short History of Letterboxing on Dartmoor By Derek Stork
“According to legend, letterboxing began in southwestern England in 1854 when a Victorian gentleman named James Perrott hid his calling card in a jar in a remote area by Cranmere Pool on the moors of Dartmoor. Perrot was a guide on the moor, and he encouraged his clients to leave their cards in the jar, as well” Eventually, visitors began leaving a self-addressed post card or note in the jar, hoping for them to be returned by mail by the next visitor (thus the origin of the term ‘letterboxing’; ‘letterbox’ is a British term for what we in the U.S. know as a mailbox). This practice ended in time, however, and the current custom of using rubber stamps and visitor’s log books came into use”. Saratoga P.L.A.N. has taken this ancient hobby and put it to work for them. Letterboxes on PLAN properties offer a new and unique element on two of their natural holdings. Individuals and families alike will enjoy the feelings of a treasure hunt, right in their own community. The letterboxes offer a range of difficulty, so there is a letterbox for each type of adventurer. The first letterbox was placed in the Orra Phelps preserve in the town of Wilton. The Dr. Orra Phelps Letterbox offers hunters a fairly easy search along the stream, but a tricky hiding place may result in some confusion. The second letterbox is located in the Galway preserve and offers a much more difficult adventure. The hunt is rather long, but gives boxers the chance to experience many of the wonderful attributes of the Galway preserve. We hope that you take advantage of the letterboxes and check our site for other new ones that will be hidden on other preserves in the future. Good luck boxing! For more information about letterboxing and to find other letterboxes scattered around the community, visit www.letterboxing.org and click on the tab “search for boxes”. Whenever you see this link. Click to find the letterbox clues!
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