By Emily Harrington
This summer I got my first taste of letterboxing, a form of geocaching. I quickly realized this hobby of hunting for hidden objects or stamps is much bigger than Champaign-Urbana. Nationally and worldwide participants are finding, hiding and cataloging their finds.
It truly is a scavenger hunt that is broader than the neighborhood ones from childhood. You are crossing the same path, playing the same game, with strangers that you will probably never even meet. The common thread—you share the same goal—find the next hidden item.
If you are looking to expand your geocaching/letterboxing horizons, check out the opportunities provided by the Champaign County Forest Preserve District.
If you want to stay close to C-U there’s a new limited-edition letterbox event taking place right now thanks to the Urbana Park District’s Quest series. Let’s G.O! an acronym for Get Outdoors will remain active until September 30. This quest is different than previous quests. Instead of hunting for letterboxes, all you and your child need to do is go outside and connect with nature.
This quest promotes three nature-related happenings: Take a Child Outside Week running from September 20 to 28, the new C-U Outdoors Club and the national Let’s G.O! campaign. All you need to do is download the booklet or pick one up from the Anita Purves Nature Center, participate in at least two of the activities below, describe your experience in the booklet and bring the booklet to the nature center for validation.
Participate and describe at least two of the following FREE events (for more details, see the program guide):
- Attend the 10th annual Jazz Walk on September 5 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Meadowbrook Park.
- If you are ready to Get Outside? Say “Yes” on Twitter by using the hashtag #yesletsgo
- Borrow a Nature Discovery Backpack and take it along when you explore local parks and natural areas. Call (217) 384-4062 for details.
- Stroll on a Sunday Morning Bird Walk beginning at the nature center parking lot Sundays in September at 7:30 a.m.
- Take part in Stewardship Saturdays that run September 13 from 1 to 3 p.m., September 27 from 9 to 11 a.m. and 1 to 3 p.m. Kids younger than 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Call (217) 384-4062 for locations and registration.
- Partake in the Worldwide Day of Play on September 20 from noon to 2 p.m. at AMBUCS Park.
- Have a picnic at Meadowbrook Park’s Garden Pavilion and then watch a free film screening of Mother Nature’s Child at the Meadowbrook Interpretive Center on September 22 from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
- Attend the C-U Outdoors Club Family Picnic and English/Spanish Hike on September 20 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the nature center.
- Star Gaze on September 25 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Meadowbrook Interpretive Center.
- Participate in National Public Lands Day Human Seed Collectors on September 27 from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Meadowbrook Interpretive Center or from 1 to 3 p.m. at Perkins Wet Prairie. Kids younger than 16 must be accompanied by an adult. This event is recommended for ages 7 and older.
- Pick up the revised Wild About Parks Quest clue book at the nature center and search for treasures hidden in Urbana Park District parks and facilities.
If you complete two activities and get your booklet validated by October 1 you will be entered in a raffle-prize drawing.
Enjoy the remaining nice days before cool weather hits. Shut off the TV, put down the cell phone, grab your kids and G.O.! You may win a prize? You may learn something new? But, you most definitely will create fond memories with your kids and the wild outdoors.
Emily Harrington is a Chambana townie that left her 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. job to be a 24/7 mom to a dreamy son. Still interested in writing, Emily uses some of naptime to practice her passion and keep her mind right. Emily is a happy wife with a happy life because she fell for a fellow townie. Oh, and let’s not forget her other son, a degenerate canine named Heppenheimer.