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Did you ever dream of finding a treasure map and searching for the hidden booty? Or how about being a detective and using a series of clues to solve a mystery? Letterboxing, a fun outdoor activity that combines art and orienteering skills, is the next best thing.

Here's how it works: Someone hides a waterproof box in a scenic, remote or interesting location. Inside the box is a log book and a rubber stamp (preferably a hand-carved stamp that is descriptive of the site). There may be other goodies or gifts placed in the box as well.

The person who hides the box then writes a series of clues for hunters. Sometimes the clues are very straightforward, and other times they are trickier. Often they will involve some sort of navigational skills such as reading a map, using a compass or pacing (counting the number of steps). The clues sometimes refer to specific trees, bushes or land forms, so some knowledge of geology and local vegetation is helpful.

The hunter carries a pen or pencil, his or her personal stamp and a logbook. When the hunter finds the box, he or she stamps the logbook in the box, perhaps adding a personal note, and then uses the stamp in the box to stamp his or her own logbook.

A popular variation on the letterboxing theme is geocaching. The two are similar in that both involve following clues to a hidden "treasure." The differences are that geocaching clues generally require the use of a Global Positioning System (GPS). Also, instead of the reciprocal stamping involved in letterboxing, in geocaching you take an item from the box and leave another item in return.

I'd never heard of letterboxing or geocaching and was intrigued when a friend told me about this new phenomenon. "But be careful," she warned. "It's like eating potato chips. Once you start, you won't be able to stop."

I went online at www.letterboxing.org and was amazed to find that there were several letterboxes hidden at sites not far from our house. I asked my 8-year-old daughter, Mariah Fisher, if she'd like to give it a try and she was game. We chose a nearby location that looked like it wouldn't be too hard.

In the end, the whole family came along, including Grandma and a family friend. We set out on a beautiful sunny afternoon. The clues soon led us to a trailhead, which we followed as it took us up and over a few low hills.

Now, according to the clues, we were to look for a place where the trail curved sharply to the right.

I was a little overeager. "Look here," I said, "it's curving a little right here."

"But there's no saguaro here," Mariah and her dad pointed out. "The next clue says there will be a saguaro without any arms."

They were right, of course, so we hiked a little farther. Eventually we came to a place that matched the clues perfectly.

From this point, the clues indicated that we should walk about 50 steps in the direction of 80 degrees (from magnetic north). It is always important to remember to be respectful of the environment. It isn't necessary to dig deep or move piles of rocks or vegetation. If you follow the clues correctly, they will take you right to the site. Once you're in the correct spot, the box should be pretty easy to locate.

Mariah quickly recovered the letterbox. "Ta-da!" She held her prize aloft. We took time to read the entries of the people who came before us. One mentioned enjoying the hike on New Year's Day. Another was an out-of-town visitor who thanked the owner of the letterbox for showing him such a beautiful spot.

Most letterboxers use a personal stamp that they have made. Creating the stamp is part of the art, and it serves as your letterboxing signature. We'd been anxious to get started, so for now we had only a purchased stamp. When we stamped the logbook, we noted that this was our very first letterbox! I have a feeling, though, that it won't be our last. As we hiked out, everyone was already talking about where we'd find our next letterbox. So I guess my friend was right. Letterboxing is like eating potato chips — just a whole lot healthier!

Look for these books:

"Journey into the Desert," by John Brown (Oxford University Press, $19.95)

"The Letterboxer's Companion," by Randy Hall (Falcon, $14.95)

"New Explorer's Guide to Maps and Compasses," by Percy W. Blandford (TAB Books, $15.95)

"Rubber Stamp Carving: Techniques, Designs, & Projects," by Luann Udell (Lark Books, $14.95)

Practice your compass skills with an online game. Visit www.letterboxing.org and click on the "Kids" link.

It is a point of honor among letterboxers to carve their own personal stamp. Visit www.crizmac.com and click on the "Roads Scholar" link for some kid-friendly ideas on how to make your own stamp.

If you go

Ask an adult to help you with your search. Visit the Web site www.letterboxing.org and print out the clues for the letterbox you want to search for. You shouldn't have trouble finding one. There are currently some 36 letterboxes hidden in and around Tucson and more than 150 in the state (with, of course, many more throughout the United States and even in other countries).

Next, assemble your supplies.

You will need:

● A stamp (you can use a purchased stamp, as we did, for your first outing. If you decide to continue letterboxing, you'll want to make your own stamp)

● an ink pad

● a compass

● sturdy walking shoes and outdoor attire

● a copy of the clues

● a pen or pencil

Follow the clues to your treasure!

If you enjoy hunting for letterboxes, you might want to consider hiding a letterbox yourself. Visit www.crizmac.com and click on the "Roads Scholar" link for instructions on how to assemble a box, hide it and write the clues.

Letterboxing got its start in 1854 in Dartmoor, England, when a Victorian gentleman named James Perrott Chagford put his personal calling card in a bottle and hid it on the banks of Cranmere Pool. He included a note encouraging other people who found the bottle to do the same.

The idea caught on, although modern letterboxes contain a journal and a rubber stamp, rather than calling cards. There are still more letterboxes in Dartmoor (which is now a national park) than probably anywhere else in the world. The idea took hold in the United States after an April 1998 article in Smithsonian Magazine about Dartmoor letterboxing. Groups and individuals in the United States began hiding letterboxes and publishing clues. There are now more than 2,500 letterboxes hidden around the nation.

There are many variations in letterboxing and geocaching. For instance, some people put a disposable camera in the box and ask that all who find it take a picture of themselves.

There are also what's known as "hitchhiker" boxes. These are boxes placed inside other boxes that are moved from box to box as they are found. A "cuckoo clue" is a clue to another letterbox that moves from box to box by the last person who found it. Many other variations are possible.

Can you think of any you'd like to try?

Maybe you can start a new trend!

Parents: These activities can help your child meet Arizona's educational standards. Visit www.crizmac.com and click on the Roads Scholar link to see the standards addressed.