Event #1362

Spring Training - Letterbox Style: 2010 Season

Mendon Ponds Park, 95 Douglas Rd, Honeoye Falls, NY

Registered Boxes: All Traditional HH/Cootie/Flea Postal LTC Event Box Traveler Other

Starts	Sat May 8, 2010 10:00am
Ends	Sat May 8, 2010 5:00pm
Owner	Bikers n Hikers
Admins	Bikers n Hikers
Signups	68/∞
Location	Mendon Ponds Park, 95 Douglas Rd, Honeoye Falls, NY View Map
Add to Calendar	Google calendar ICS file (e.g. Outlook, iCal, etc.)

Description

Original Announcement:
Even though the 2009 Letterboxing season is far from over, its never too early to start thinking about next year! More details will certainly follow, but we'll be hosting this event at Mendon Ponds Park about 10 miles SE of Rochester, NY. If past events are any indication, this one is sure to be a great time!

Hope to see you there!

January 10 Update:
The date has changed, but the party is still on! We've got a indoor lodge to visit at, a playground to run on, and even a fishing pond nearby in case "catching" letterboxes isn't offering you enough challenge! Stay tuned for more updates!

March 26 Update:
The vernal equinox has passed... The weather has warmed and only the largest snow piles are left... BRING ON THE SPRING!!!

Get ready for a great letterboxing season with some good ol' fashion Spring Training - Letterbox Style! This year we will again be congregating in one of the Monroe County parks, but now we are in the big leagues, if you'll pardon the intentional baseball pun! We are going to be in the largest, and arguably the most beautiful park, in the Parks Department - Mendon Ponds Park. Here's a map of the place if you are interested. The park is big, beautiful, rich with geologic wonders, full of wildlife, and popular among muggles... so be ready for a little stealthy cloak and dagger action too.

Having learned how much the wind can play a part in meet-and-greet and clean-up portions of these spring events, we've been lucky enough to get an indoor facility at the park. We'll be enjoying Stewart Lodge as our home plate... yet another intentional baseball pun! Since the event is potluck, you'll be happy to know that we've got electrical outlets for anything that has to be warmed up, a grill for any dogs or burgers, and a stove is listed as being there... but I'm not sure what that entails. When I find out about that, I'll be sure to let everyone know. We've even got a playground at the bottom of the hill for the kids to enjoy, and and 100 acres of pond nearby full of some very hungry sunfish. To see the lodge for yourself, use this link to open up the Monroe County Parks Online Reservation site and look for the Stewart Lodge in Mendon Ponds Park. So no rain delays for this event... HA! Another one!

There are a number of letterboxes already in the park, and after this event there will be even more! All the clues will be printed out for you in an event packet available only to the people that attend. Also included in the packet will be all the clues for the existing boxes in the park so you shouldn't have anything to print out, except the clues for any other boxes that you want to find in the surrounding area. If you've been to Spring Training, you know how that packet works. But what if you've never been to any Training before? We'll then...

At Spring Training, we try to have something to do for letterboxers of all makes and models:
• Walk the trails and get rid of those wintertime kinks and cramps
• See some natural wonders
• Enjoy your right to vote by participating in our surveys
• Re-orient yourself with your compass on the compass course
• Practice your cootie-defense skills
• Find kid-friendly boxes carved and planted by kids
• Search for bonus boxes
• Visit with LBers that you have seen in a while
• Exchange with some new LBers that you haven't yet met

So far this event is shaping up to be one of our biggest ever! Don't miss out on the fun!

May 2 Update:
Less than a week to go! The event is as high as it's gonna get on the Upcoming Events list! No turning back now!

Here are a couple of items for everyone to keep in mind has they head in for Spring Training:
(1)

Since spring came so soon to Western NY, come to the park prepared with bug spray. They're hungry this year.

(2)

Most of boxes are planted on the main trails found on the park map. Remembering that the park is the biggest in the Monroe County Parks system, you may need to take your car, or car pool, to some of the trail heads. There are boxes planted around the shelter we're at too, but many of LBs put out for the event (FYI, all the boxes are permanent plants) are in different sections of the of the park.

(3)

No need to print out clue packets for the boxes already in the park. We've included them in the event's clue booklet. Any that are nearby, but out of the park, won't be provided. You'll need to print them.

(4)

We still need some more things brought in for the potluck, especially the non-perishables like plates, napkins and utensils.
Looking forward to seeing everyone this weekend!

May 6 Update:
Just a few more days to, and here are some last minute items:
• Some of the trails have a little bit of mud on them, and with the rain predicted on Friday (and Saturday :-{ ) you'll want to have appropriate footwear.
• The temperature is suppose to be around 55, with wind and some rain. Thankfully our lodge is enclosed, so there will be a dry place for us to stay. The lodge has a clear view of 100 Acre Pond though, and the wind will blow right across it... so once you step outside, you'll know it. Make sure you've got the right clothing to change into if you need it.

Can't think of anything else right now, but if I do you'll hear from me! See you on Saturday!

Signups

Total signups:68