Geocache hybrids, how-to tips to make stamps

My family hid a geocache a while back that was special. In the geocache box was a stamp that L. had carved herself. Unfortunately the geocache, along with the stamp, were stolen last summer.

In the game of geocaching (you use a GPS unit and coordinates listed on the web to find a hidden treasure box in the woods - read about our intro to game here), there are a variety of classifications for a box from tiny "micro" boxes (the size of an old 35-mm film canister or smaller) to larger boxes in all shapes and sizes to "mystery" boxes that require riddles to be solved in order to find the prize to "hybrids" that combine the letterboxing and geocaching games.

My family has played the game of letterboxing (like geocaching there is a box hidden in the woods but instead of trinkets to trade there is a hand-carved stamp inside) and the kids enjoyed finding the stamps to make impressions in their log books of their finds. But, we don't care so much for the directions to find these boxes (instructions to find letterboxes are not great, nor designed to be easy most times, so we find geocaching more family-friendly (i.e., better chances of finding one and keeping the kids motivated to do it again) with the bonus of an active online community even when we can't get outdoors).

[I talk more about the pros/cons of each game here and less you ever talk about anyone else's letterbox stamp well, this is the sort of reception you can expect).]
So when developing our own geocaches (the kids love choosing hiding spots) we decided to make several of them "geocache hybrids."

Geocache hybrids are boxes found by GPS coordinates but instead of prizes inside the box for people to trade, there is a stamp that stays with the box like letterboxing. Geocachers can make an impression of the box's stamp and add their own personalized stamp (if they have one, sometimes we saw hand-drawn pictures in our log book that were just as much fun). It's the combination of both games' best features (stamps and GPS directions) that my crew really likes.

Our hybrid, Ski Away, was made in honor of the location being one of our favorite places to cross country ski and we took it off-line after it was stolen. It wasn't until recently that we got things put together to activate this box again.

G. took on the task of making a new stamp for Ski Away in the same design (a ski theme of course) as the original one. And because it's been a while since we've done any stamp-making (we're still novices at this craft), the kids and Fino were inspired to make some new ones.

To make our stamps the kids draw something on a piece of paper the size of the eraser they plan to use.

Then we use a pencil to scribble lead on the opposite side of the drawing so we can trace that drawing (with a pencil) on to the eraser (we use 'chunky' erasers but art supply stores have higher quality erasers and/or special material for making stamps).

The girls use one of Fino's small, not-so-sharp woodworking tools to carve their stamps and it works well for them.

A closer look at the the girls' carving tool.

Fino uses sharper implements to carve but the girls are still not keen on these tools and they get similar results with their own tool with less worry about cutting themselves.

The bird stamp is L.'s latest creation and the rooster is Fino's, which reminds me of his other rooster image that I still chuckle about. I think he made this particular stamp because of that.) 

In the photo with the text above is my family's stamps that we use to sign log books. Each of us has made their own along with a small pouch to store them in our backpacks.

If you're interested in learning more about my family's experience with these games, you can read more about them on MaineOutdoorJournal.com:
Letterboxing with Kid Tracks
Geocaching with Kid Tracks

A geocache box replacement and fun rocks

We hid a geocache box at the Lowell Preserve hiking trails in Windham many moons ago (May 2005 to be more precise) when we were first learned how to geocache. It was our very first geocache hide.

I wrote a story for the Sunday Telegram about our first experiences and how to get started with the game. When prepping our first hide I asked our staff designer to create a treasure map to find the cache without a GPS for those people who were curious about the game but didn't want to invest in a GPS unit without learning a bit more about it.

[If you are a geocacher, you can find this geocache listing here]
About two years ago we had to replace the log book in the cache because it was full (and a most enjoyable read) but haven't been back since. Then over the winter a geocacher admitted to breaking the top of the container when he tried to pry it from it's hiding spot in the snow and ice (I very much appreciated his honesty in letting me know the cache was damaged) and I knew the container needed to be replaced.

I had it on my list of things to do since that email back in December but it wasn't until this past weekend that I got around to actually driving over to the trail to replace the container with a new one (which just goes to show that writing my lists does not always ensure the doing part).

We decided to replace the broken plastic container with a much sturdier and nearly unbreakable ammo box I picked up at the Army Surplus store in South Portland (it's the box of choice among geocachers because of it's sturdiness and color to blend in to the environment).


The one thing about the ammo box I don't like is carrying it on the trail. It looks a little suspicious and requires an explanation to non-geocachers. But we didn't run in to anyone and I was able to replace the old container, which was in very sad shape and full of water, without incident.

L. was the one who actually chose the hiding spot for this geocache because she thought all the kids who might visit our family's geocache would like the "fun rocks." The rocks are on a low-lying part of the trail and since they were a good landmark, they were identified on the treasure map per her request.

And even after all these years, hopping from rock to rock is still a highlight of this trail and geocache hide for her.

Then...

Now...