Safety Tips
Things to Remember:
Every outdoor activity, including letterboxing, has some risks and dangers. You could get hurt, meet up with wild animals and bugs, and touch poisonous plants. Here are a few reminders as you hunt for story pages with other GO York! kids this summer:
- Be familiar with the area where you are headed before getting there!
- Make sure to follow all posted park rules.
- Be respectful of the environment and of others around you!
- Never hike alone! If you are heading out with a friend, always make sure a responsible adult knows where you will be.
- Always lock your vehicle and secure any valuables.
- Wear clothing that is loose-fitting, lightweight, and light-colored to protect your skin from the sun and to keep you cool.
- Lather up with sunscreen – keep your skin healthy for years to come!
- Bring plenty of water with you and make sure you drink it even if you don’t feel thirsty.
- If it is really hot outside, bring extra water, walk slower, and take more breaks.
- Seek safe shelter if the weather gets dangerous, or you hear or see storms nearby.
- Step carefully over and around fallen logs and branches, rocks, roots, and other things lying on the ground.
- Poisonous plants – poison ivy, poison oak, or poison sumac – may grow near a story page or along a trail. Know what each looks like and watch out for them!
- Spiders, insects, snakes, or other critters may visit the same places where story pages are hidden. Be careful where you step and where you reach!
- Mosquitoes, black flies, or other annoying bugs may bother you. Make sure to wear bug repellent spray or other products to keep them away.
- Always check to make sure that you are not taking any bugs home with you.
- Be careful around ponds, lakes, rivers and streams. Don’t swim alone!
Finding GO York! Story pages:
One book = It’s easy. You must walk a short distance on fairly level ground.
Two books = It’s a little harder. You must either walk a long distance on fairly level ground, or a short distance with some hills.
Three books = It’s tough. You must walk a long distance with many hills and obstacles.
Distances to all story pages were measured using a GPS-enabled smartwatch. All distances are roundtrip, unless otherwise noted, based on following the clues as written from starting point to the post and backtracking to the starting point.
