FRAMINGHAM, MA – The Framingham Conservation Commission and Framingham REI are hosting and sponsoring a Geocaching & LetterBoxing event at Callahan State Park on Saturday, September 24th, 2011. (Enter park at Edmands Rd. entrance to meet up with organizers and other participants. See directions below).
On Saturday, September 24th, 2011, people in 176 countries around the globe will be taking part in Moving Planet events.
Moving Planet is “a day to put our demands for climate action into motion“, marching, biking, skating — calling for the world to move beyond the use of fossil fuels. Moving Planet is sponsored by 350.org
According to the 350.org website, “350 means climate safety” and is based on the concept of reducing the amount of CO2 in Earth’s atmosphere from its current 392 parts per million level to below 350 ppm.
As Framingham’s part in this global effort, those who arrive for the events at Callahan State Park on foot, by bike, on roller-blades — or other non-fossil-fuel based transportation will be entered to win coupons, water bottles, an REI Flash 18 Pack, and more!
The GeoCaching event begins at 10:00a.m. Participants must bring their own cache and GPS units.
According to The Official Global GPS Cache Hunt Site, (www.geocaching.com), “Geocaching is a real-world outdoor treasure hunting game. Players try to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, using GPS-enabled devices and then share their experiences online”.
The LetterBoxing hunt begins at 10:00a.m., but participants need to arrive at 9:00a.m. to create logbooks.
According to Letter Boxing North America, (www.letterboxing.org), “LetterBoxing involves reading clues to find small weatherproof boxes hidden in public places (like parks). Each box contains a stamp and a visitor book. When a LetterBoxer finds a box they print that box’s stamp on their logbook or game card and then imprint their own personal stamp in the letterbox’s visitor book to prove they found the box and to let other letterboxers know who has been there already. Letterboxing combine navigational skills and rubber stamp art in a charming treasure hunt style outdoor quest.”
The LetterBoxing event is open to children in grades K-5, (friends and family members may participate).
For the LetterBoxing hunt, participants will attempt to use clues and solve riddles that will help them find where the letterboxes are hidden. Each letterbox will contain stickers, and the child will take one and place it into their logbook as evidence that they’ve found that box.
(Note, the Framingham LetterBoxing event will use stickers instead of rubber stamps).
The GeoCaching and LetterBoxing events will end at 2:00p.m.
Events will be held RAIN or SHINE!
Directions: Follow Edgell Road or Water Street to intersection of Edmands/Water/Edgell, (in Nobscot). Turn onto Edmands Rd. and follow approximately 2 miles, pass Nixon Road (on right) then look for “Callahan State Park” sign and small parking lot on the left.
To register for this event, contact Maeghan Walters, of the Framingham Conservation Commission at (508) 532-5460, or by email to: mnw@framinghamma.gov
###
In these “difficult economic times” things to do that are are free or only cost a few dollars — and don’t require excessive driving can help stretch the family budget between trips to Six Flags, Canobie Lake Park or other New England area day trips.
