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<img alt="Letterbox in the Woods" src="ImageHandler.ashx?id=8e22ac55-dd1b-4ec5-82a3-bacead692008&size=original" style="border-width: 1px; border-style: solid; margin: 10px; width: 205px; height: 203px; float: left;" /></p>
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Spring break is a great time to do a test run for summer activities. The kids are out of school and ready for some fun. If you're not traveling for spring break, why not try a close-to-home adventure?</p>
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I thought it would be fun to try letterboxing. Friends who’ve done it told me that it is a mix of treasure hunting, rubber stamping, and orienteering -- great for kids and families. I was certainly intrigued!</p>
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Basically, letterboxers follow treasure map-style clues to find hidden "treasure," usually located in a park or other natural area. The “treasure chest” is a letterbox, a Tupperware container holding a blank journal and a rubber stamp. Letterboxers come prepared with their own blank journal and personalized rubber stamp, and when they discover the letterbox, they stamp their stamp into the letterbox's journal, and the letterbox's stamp into their own journal.</p>
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What's so great about this hobby is that it rolls so many kid-friendly activities into one. What child doesn't love treasure hunting? It’s great to pretend to be pirate or feel like a Sherlock Holmes. Crafty children love picking out their own personal rubber stamp as a kind of avatar.</p>
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Puzzling out the treasure map-style clues is a great way to exercise the brain while having fun. You can find clues on the <a href="http://www.letterboxing.org/" onclick="window.open(this.href, '', 'resizable=yes,status=no,location=no,toolbar=no,menubar=yes,fullscreen=no,scrollbars=yes,dependent=no'); return false;">Letterboxing North America </a>website, ranging from the straightforward (great for younger children) to the tricky (ideal for older kids). Once the kids have the hang of finding letterboxes, they can exercise their creativity by making a letterbox themselves and planting it.</p>
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There are nearly 40,000 letterboxes scattered all over North America, so there's bound to be one nearby. A number of indoor letterboxes, located at museums and other public places, are available, so even if the weather this spring break turns out to be chilly, letterboxing is still an option!</p>
3/21/2012 9:29:35 AM
(SusanR)
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<img alt="Summer Days Ahead" src="ImageHandler.ashx?id=203ff97e-cb2e-4c8f-acc9-26c3599cb8a1&size=original" style="border-width: 1px; border-style: solid; margin: 10px; width: 175px; height: 160px; float: left;" /></p>
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The other day a friend mentioned to me that she was starting to think about summer plans for her children. It’s only February, but I know I need to start thinking too.</p>
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Registration for many summer camps is starting, and local parenting magazines at the pediatrician's office and other places kids go are filled with ads. Now is the time to think about what your kids will be doing this summer.</p>
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There's a lot to consider: camp or no camp? If you choose a camp, will it be day or sleep-away? What about type--academic, religious, technology, sports? If you opt not to enroll your kids in camp, how will you keep them busy and learning? If they will be going, it does take some planning ahead.</p>
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First, collect information about summer activities you are interested in. Browse the local parenting magazines and rec center schedules for ideas; gather brochures for summer camps and enrichment classes; and ask your friends, neighbors, or coworkers what their families do during the summer break.</p>
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Next, decide what you can reasonably afford. Camp doesn't have to break the budget, but some are incredibly pricey. There are many summer activities other than camp that don't cost a thing—I’ll be posting ideas and projects throughout the spring and summer. </p>
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Talk to your kids to get their input. Of course, you as a parent will ultimately decide, but it's good to know if your daughter really has her heart set on soccer camp instead of basketball, or if your son has an interest in learning to play the guitar.</p>
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Finally, make your selection, and do it soon. Registration is open for a lot of camps now, and some fill up fast.</p>
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Whether or not camp is part of this summer’s plans for your kids, you might want to have a few projects or hobbies in your back pocket to help fill the days when there’s nothing to do. Even kids who do go to camp will still have some number of camp-free weeks during the summer. They too will be looking for things to do.</p>
2/17/2012 1:25:55 PM
(SusanR)
Congratulations on your new tab! You’re halfway to solving your group
communication problems. Now, invite others to share in the discussion.
Whenever you post to your tab, everyone gets the message.
2/17/2012 12:41:16 PM
(SusanR)