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Letterboxing {Geeky Fun}

Aug31

Looking for a family activity that’s interesting, creative and fun?  How about a creative birthday party idea for older kiddos?

On a hike in Swansea, MA
Try Letterboxing!

Luke’s discovery in Somerset, MA
We started letterboxing a few years ago, and found that it was a great way for our family to enjoy a hike together without hearing complaining from the kids that the unplugged activity was “boring”. Letterboxing is considered the predecessor to Geocaching.  It mixes orienteering (challenge with navigational skills) with stamp-making and collecting.  This is basically a free activity folks!

A local Geocache (we’ve done this too)!

The basic idea of letterboxing is to follow written directions like a treasure hunt with a compass to find a hidden letterbox (great lesson for kids to learn to use a compass!)  Set out on your hike, and watch for the land marks! Inside the box is a rubber stamp (some home-made, some commercial) and a notebook.  Sometimes, the letterbox owner will also enclose a pen or pencil and an ink pad, but your best bet is to bring your own.

On the hunt in Fairhaven, MA

Seth found this one!

The letterbox!

Once you find the “treasure,” you leave a copy of your stamp in the box’s notebook, and take a copy of their stamp in your personal collection.  When you get home, you can log on to the letterbox’s site and leave a message for the letterbox owner.

Getting ready to stamp in.
Victory!
We have discovered so many new places in our area by going on these little treasure hunts!  There are hundreds of letterboxes all over the world! The two best sites to find letterboxes near you are Atlas Quest and Letterboxing.org.
Westport, MA

Dartmouth, MA

Taunton, MA
Bristol, RI
Portland, ME area (Baxter Woods)
I have my kids carry a small backpack with their letterboxing kit and a bottle of water.

My cousin Ani’s first letterbox discovery!

Stamping in

Everyone takes a turn

My oldest son had a letterboxing birthday party a couple of years ago.  The first thing we did was have the kids make their own letterboxing kits.  They made their own “stamps” by sticking foam stickers to sponges with foam rubber hot glued to one side. They worked really well!  They got to choose a notebook, a pen and an ink pad to put in their plastic boxes.  These doubled as party favors for them to take home!
Letterboxing kit-making station
 

The kids loved personalizing their boxes with stickers

We hid five boxes in various places around the outside of our house and around the neighborhood.  We split the kids into teams, gave each team a map, a compass, a set of gloves, a disposable camera, and written directions and set them free! Everyone had a blast finding the hidden boxes. The kids still talk about this party as one of their favorite parties ever.

Teams setting out on “the hunt”

A letterboxing kit makes a great gift!  Make a special notebook, and put it in a nice plastic box (like a pencil box), a special pen, an ink pad and a rubber stamp and maybe a pair of gardening gloves and a compass. Include a homemade book about the history of letterboxing, and maybe a few choice letterbox locations close to you.

Using scrapbooking materials, I covered ordinary notebooks to make special gifts.
Coordinating colored pens, stamps and ink pads

What activities do you enjoy with your family?  Leave me some great ideas in the comments below!

Best,
Krysten
Clickable Party

Penny Smashers {Geeky Fun}

Aug16

We do a good amount of traveling with the kids, whether it’s a day-trip or some short overnights, and my boys always want to take something to remember it by.  This can get a bit pricey for two kids over time. Solution?  A Smashed Penny collection!

You can find Penny Smashers in just about every tourist attraction (including rest areas).  For between 51 cents and a $1.01 you have an instant souvenir.
The Philadelphia Visitor’s Center

We have also found these great Penny Passport books to keep all their pennies safe and sound.
I suppose that as the designs retire, they may have a few collectors items on their hands, but really it’s just for the fun of having a collection, and an easy and inexpensive souvenir.
And of course, you can find the Penny Smasher Waymarking Group is actively indexing the locations of these machines, if you want to find a penny smasher, log your visit or index one yourself!
Best,
Krysten
Clickable Party

The Moomins {Geeky Fun}

Aug8

I’ve recently come across this phenomenon known as The Moomins, which was originally a children’s book series and comic strip by Swedish/Finnish author, Tove Jansson beginning in 1945.  These are hugely popular and beloved by many – much to my surprise, since I am a huge children’s book fan and had never even heard of the Moomins until a couple of weeks ago!

The books are adorable, and eventually became a stop-motion TV show (in the spirit of Rankin/Bass, but a bit softer) and a cartoon.  The charm factor reminds me a bit of Winnie the Pooh (one of my all-time favorites).

In Finland, there is even a theme park for children called Moominworld.

Remember my Waymarking post?  Well, there is even a Waymarking Group dedicated to logging Moomin sightings!  So fun!

Have you ever heard of the Moomins?  Share your experiences in the comments, or tell me about your favorite children’s books!

We have one children’s book inspired printable – Pinkalicious! Maybe it’s time for a Moomin inspired printable!

Best,
Krysten
Clickable Party

Stikman Sightings {Geeky Fun}

Aug2

If you live in a major metropolitan area or just like to visit them, keep your eye out for this guy:

He is “stikman,” and he is a sneaky piece of urban Guerilla art that can be found from Boston to DC, from Hollywood to Toronto.  He is typically found in crosswalks, although he can also be seen on signs and walls. 
My oldest son noticed this one when we were walking in the monument section of DC, and said that he had also seen one back home when we were visiting Boston for a day trip and he wondered what they were.  He asked our waiter that night at dinner showing him this image on our camera, but our waiter didn’t know what these were either.  
Once we noticed him, we seemed to see him everywhere!  All over DC and Philadelphia.  After doing some research, I discovered this Flickr group dedicated to stikman sightings by other curious passerby’s who have been intrigued by his ghostly presence.  

Chicago, IL
http://www.flickr.com/photos/yooperann/4954980819/in/pool-42499904@N00/

Philadelphia, PA
http://www.flickr.com/photos/srhbth/4937909749/in/pool-42499904@N00/

He has become a new Easter Egg for my family while traveling.  If you want to know more about stikman, and see more fabulous pictures of him, visit his photostream.  Also, here are some articles on the elusive stikman:
Who knows, maybe he will get his own printable theme!
Best,