Business group places letterboxes in Genoa

Staff Reports

The Greater Genoa Business Association recently placed four letterboxes in the Town of Genoa to introduce adults and children to letterboxing, an activity that will help them find out about the historic town and its businesses.

In letterboxing, someone hides a waterproof box containing a logbook, a rubber stamp and an ink pad in an interesting location. The hider writes directions to the box. Then, hunters in possession of the clues, a logbook and a stamp attempt to find the hidden box.

When a hunter finds the box, he or she stamps the logbook in the box with a personal stamp and stamps his or her personal logbook with the box's stamp. The box's logbook contains a record of all of its visitors, and the hunters keep a record of all the boxes they have found in their personal logbooks.

Letterboxing is a low-tech form of geocaching, in that no global positioning system is required.

All hunters are asked to read the "Waiver of Responsibility and Disclaimer" posted on the Letterboxing in America Web site: www.letterboxing.org.

To start letterboxing, go to the Letterboxing in America Web site.

The home page provides information about getting started, frequently asked questions, letterbox clues, etc. When letterbox clues are selected a map of the United States appears.

Download a copy of the clues and, along with your logbook and stamp, you are ready to letterbox. The stamp used may be purchased or you may create your own. There are instructions on the Letterboxing in America Web site to help you carve your own stamp.

Association member Lynne Bowersock has letterboxed in Carson City and Blue Bell, Pa.

One of the logbooks she found in Carson City had a stamp from Kodiak, Alaska.

"Letterboxing has taken my husband and me to areas we never would have discovered, and taking our grandchildren along is really fun."

The business association is a non-profit organization comprised of businesses and friends of Genoa. The mission of the organization is to better the community and promote tourism.