National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

Letterboxing Adventures at Sagamore Hill

A Junior Ranger Activity in which you are the detective in

search of a hidden letterbox using clues in this booklet

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Sagamore Hill National Historic Site Junior Ranger Activities 2

Sagamore Hill National Historic Site is offering our young

visitors a special opportunity to visit President Roosevelt’s

Summer White House and to have fun in the process by

taking part in a number of different Junior Ranger Activities

on site. 

These activities will teach children about the Roosevelt 

family and their home while earning a Junior Ranger badge

and certificate. These programs also introduce Ranger

Activities, the concepts of conservation and stewardship to

young people.

In order to earn the Junior Ranger badge, the young person

must complete any one of several activities. These are the

activities currently offered:

Those completing three or more of the activities are entitled

to the special Sagamore Hill Junior Ranger Patch. (You must

show the certificates or the completed booklets to receive

the patch.)

1. Theodore Roosevelt and His Sagamore Hill Home

2. The Theodore Roosevelt Museum History Hunt

3. Letterboxing Adventures at Sagamore Hill

4. The Wonderbook of Nature: 

Exploring Natural History at Sagamore Hill

“The nation’s

most valuable asset

is the children; 

for the children 

are the nation of

the future.” —Theodore Roosevelt

at the Jamestown Exposition, VA

June 10, 1907

Junior Ranger Program

Sagamore Hill National Historic Site

Junior Ranger Activities

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Sagamore Hill National Historic Site Junior Ranger Activities 3

Letterboxing Adventures

at Sagamore Hill

Here’s How 

You Play

Letterboxing is an activity that mixes treasure hunting,

navigation, orienteering and puzzle-solving all in one.

This game originated in England around 1854 and since then

it has been a popular pastime throughout Europe and the

United States. 

At Sagamore Hill, letterboxing links the past to the present

through a series of clues that help you learn about the 

history of the site. Note that we have slightly modified the

activity so we are not disturbing the natural and historical

areas of the park.

This activity is particularly good for families with several

children. The older kids and mom and dad can help teach

the younger ones so that every one gets involved.

For many people this is an introduction to Letterboxing as a

family activity. You may wish to check out this website

http://www.letterboxing.org/ for other similar activities.

These range from fairly simple to very involved and complex.

Many families find letterboxing an interesting addition to

their travels.

Please note that this booklet contains several letterboxing

activities, so depending on the time you have you may want

to do more than one. Plan about twenty minutes to complete

one activity. The completion of any or all of these activities

entitles the participants to the Junior Ranger Badge.

Waterproof containers are hidden in secret areas

on site. Each container contains the prize: a logbook, 

rubber stamp and an inkpad. Your job is to find a container

by following clues on the activity sheets provided. Be aware

that following these clues can be tricky. Some clues may

require the use of a compass while others include looking for

certain landmarks. Some word puzzles are included as well.

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Sagamore Hill National Historic Site Junior Ranger Activities 4

Here’s What 

You Need

How to 

Follow Clues

Respect Your

National Park

When you find the letterbox, stamp your logbook with

the rubber stamp that’s in the container, and then get your

own rubber stamp and stamp the log book in the container.

People usually sign and date each entry. When you’re 

finished, put everything back in the container and close it.

Put it back where you found it. Other letterboxers will be

looking for that container.

Letterboxers carry their own compass, personal

rubber stamp, inkpad, pen and personal logbook.

We provide these materials if you are just getting started. We

also have the materials to make your own personal stamp

that you can take away with you on your next letterboxing

adventure. One fun part is designing your own stamp. It’s

artistic, clever and it’s a mark that you leave behind in every

letterboxing logbook. Directions are provided to make your

own stamp!

The clues may be simple or tricky. Some clues ask you to “to

turn and face a bearing of a certain numerical degrees.” This

requires the use of a compass. Directions are provided in this

booklet. Other clues ask the finder to look for landmarks

and trees. It’s important to know that the clues and

letterboxes are in safe areas on site property. They

are not near major roads and parking lots. 

Please leave Sagamore Hill the way you found it.

Throw away all trash, bottles and cans in the receptacles by

the Visitor Center or in the parking lot. The letterboxes hidden on site are considered government property. Do not take

any of the items found in the containers and please leave the

containers in the exact spot where you found it. As part of

the National Park Service, we ask you to leave no trace and

be considerate of others.

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Sagamore Hill National Historic Site Junior Ranger Activities 5

Borrowed supplies must be returned at the end of the activity.

Do not walk on major streets. There are no clues that will take

your group across Sagamore Hill Road.

Avoid any area that has safety cones and caution tape.

Be careful of poison ivy. All letterboxes are placed in hidden

areas not in contact with poison ivy. 

Be aware of ticks, and flying insects that sting and bite. After

walking in wooded areas always check yourself for ticks. 

Watch out for yellow jackets, wasps, and hornets.

Collection of plants is prohibited.

Feeding and/or harassing animals is prohibited.

No littering. Please throw away any refuse in the proper trash

receptacles.

You are visiting a National Historic Site administered by the

National Park Service. It is important to understand that 

collecting artifacts is prohibited by federal law. Also prohibited is destruction of any historic artifact or structure. 

Leave this site better than you find it!

Letterbox

Orientation

Checklist

Before you embark on

your letterboxing 

expedition, here are 

the rules and safety

regulations you need to

follow:

Know the Rules and 

Regulations of the Game

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Sagamore Hill National Historic Site Junior Ranger Activities 6

What is a

Pace?

The dictionary defines a

pace as a single step.

When you are asked to

walk 25 paces, you

should take 25 footsteps to the next position. Each person’s pace

may be different, so 25

footsteps is an approximate figure depending

on each person’s length

of pace.

Understand directions. North, South, East and West. 

Look at the figure. North is the most important direction

to help orient yourself.

Compass Needle: This is the needle (red) that always

points to the magnetic north pole.

Compass Housing: This can be turned from the base of

the unit. On the housing will be marked letters N, S, E, and

W for North, South, East and West. There are numbers on

the housing. This is a scale from 0 to 360 and represents the

degrees around a circle.

Direction of Travel Arrow: This is the long red arrow on

the base plate. Arrow begins at the compass housing and

points in the direction you want to follow.

Example: To follow a bearing of 220 degrees, twist the

housing so 220 lines up with direction of travel arrow on the

base and hold it flat. Turn your body so you can establish

magnetic north by lining the red part of the compass needle

with the red arrow in compass housing. The direction arrow

on the base plate now points to 220 degrees southwest. Align

yourself with the direction of travel and that’s the direction

you need to go.

How to Use 

a Field Compass

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Sagamore Hill National Historic Site Junior Ranger Activities 7

How to Create 

a Rubber Stamp

Materials

Needed:

❏ Adhesive or 

non-adhesive

foam paper

❏ Pencil or pen

❏ Scissors

❏ Glue

❏ 2-1/2" x 2-1/2" wood

block

1. Trim the piece of foam paper to the size of one side of the

woodblock provided.

2. With a pencil or pen draw an image with wide bold lines.

This image can be anything you want. For example if you

draw a flower, have it look like the flower in the picture. The

lines should be sketched a few times to instill a good image

on foam paper. Remember to reverse the image if there are

words involved. Then, using the scissors provided, cut out

the image following the drawing you have created. 

3. Now attach your cut out image to a wooden block. This is

done by peeling off the backing paper on the adhesive foam

or gluing the foam paper to the block.

4. With a stamp pad and paper you are ready test your 

new rubber stamp. If it looks good then you are ready to 

letterbox.

Test Your Stamp Here:

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Sagamore Hill National Historic Site Junior Ranger Activities 8

1. Head in a southwest direction along the paved walkway. 

2. Walk along the pathway until you get to the large sign on

your right. 

3. Face a bearing of 280 degrees and head in a westerly

direction.

4. Look for the object that promised water from the power

of the wind. 

Name that tall object: ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

1 23 4 5 678

5. Go around that object and with your back to that tall

object walk west up the hill towards the house. You will be

following a course of 270 degrees. (Walk approximately 50

paces just passing the small eight-sided house.) 

6. Turn left on the brick path. Face the house and look for: 

“A door that guests would never use, only those who 

cooked and cleaned and shined the shoes.”

Who used this entrance? ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ 

9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

7. Continue on the brick path to the other side of the house.

This path is between the main house and the

___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___.

17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

(Find the answer at the sign along the path.)

You’re almost there! Turn right and pass the main entrance 

of the house. To find the box stand by the southwest corner

of the porch. Hint: Do not look up! 

Use the letter bank above to help you solve the following

word puzzle.

Theodore Roosevelt used Sagamore Hill as the first 

___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ 

9 22 5 5 19 11 1 20 17 15 10

___ ___ ___ ___ ___ . 

20 21 22 9 19

Activity 1 –

Meet the

President

Start at the door next

to the public telephone

outside the Visitor 

Center. (Visitor Center

is to your back.)

Use this space to 

place the stamp you 

have found. 

Don’t forget to stamp the

register in the letterbox and

inscribe with your name and

date. Be sure to put all the

items back in the box and

replace it in its original spot.

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Sagamore Hill National Historic Site Junior Ranger Activities 9

1. Start at the sign for the carriage house and head north

across the walkway on to a grass and gravel path. 

2. As you continue on the path, to your right you will see a

section where some of Mrs. Roosevelt’s favorite flowers

flourished. This is part of what was once the vegetable and

flower ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ . (Stop at the sign for the

answer.)

3. Face a bearing of 280 degrees and head in a northwest

direction.

4. Head to the little building. What was this building used

for? (Answer on the sign.) 

___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ____ 

___ ___ ___ ___

5. Branching off in a northwest direction walk approximately 25 paces to a big, tall and oldest living thing on the

property. At this point you should be directly under this tree.

This 150 year-old hardwood is an ___ ___ ___.

(Hint: leaves are lobed and smooth, and little 

critters love to eat the acorns.) 

6. Go around tree to its west side and with your

back to the tree, turn and face a bearing of 260

degrees and head west. Cross the asphalt and head

through the sugar maple patch. Continue west

until you see ahead of you a large tree that

remains forever green.

7. When you get to the tree turn and face a bearing of 320 degrees and visit the little shrine made

out of stone.

You’re there! Just look behind the Humble Stone

of the Family’s Faithful Friends!

What is this area called? 

___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ . 

Do not walk on any major roads!

Activity 2 –

A Humble Stone

Use this space to place the stamp you

have found. 

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Sagamore Hill National Historic Site Junior Ranger Activities 10

Activity 3 –

What Every

Roosevelt Must

Know

1. Begin by the “Farm Tools” sign next to carriage house. 

2. With your back to the “Farm Tools” sign, make a right on

the small path then a left on walkway. 

3. Proceed west along walkway. (Carriage house sign is

behind you.) 

4. Walk about 50 paces or until you reach the bench on your

right. 

5. Face a bearing of 300 degrees northwest. You’ll see a tree

with green needles. Walk past the tree.

6. Face a bearing of 320 degrees and walk approximately 30

paces or until you reach a sign to your right.

7. Turn 180 degrees and proceed west across the walkway.

8. Continue walking pass the gray birch (white-barked tree)

until you see a gray gravel path. Then head south along the

path towards the house. 

9. As you approach the house from the path, turn right and

walk towards the white bench.

You’re now on a path of blue flagstone. Continue towards

the porch. 

When you reach the porch steps look up to read the Latin

inscription above the side door entrance to your left. 

Write the inscription over the door here:

___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ 

___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

You are in sight of the letterbox. Notice where the

lattice meets the bricks. Look for the box by the

third column of bricks.

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Sagamore Hill National Historic Site Junior Ranger Activities 11

This phrase is the Roosevelt family motto from

their coat of arms. Use the following activity to

help you translate the Latin text:

Theodore Roosevelt was the 26th U.S.

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ and he had served

1234 5678 9

as an officer the in the Spanish American __ __ __ .

10 11 12

TR named this property

___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ .

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

TR had a daughter with his first wife, and

___ ___ ___ ___ children with his second wife, Edith.

25 26 27 28

Fill in the letters using the numbers assigned from above to

translate the text. 

___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

21 3 10 21 18 21 14 13

___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

1 23 16 8 936

___ ___ ___ ___ ___ 

13 21 11 23 24

___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

1 2 3 4 3 2 27 3

Why do you think that the Roosevelts should know this

motto?

Do you think that this motto was an influence on Theodore

Roosevelt?

Use this space to 

place the stamp you 

have found. 

Don’t forget to stamp the

register in the letterbox and

inscribe with your name and

date. Be sure to put all the

items back in the box and

replace it in its original spot.

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20 Sagamore Hill Road

Oyster Bay, New York 11771

EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICA

Explore and enjoy all the Junior Ranger Activities 

currently offered:

National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

Sagamore Hill National Historic Site

Home of Theodore Roosevelt

TM

1. Theodore Roosevelt and His Sagamore Hill Home

This activity is completed following a visit to the home of the 26th

president. Children may do this when they visit with their families,

or it is administered as a take-back-to-class activity for school

groups who have visited.

2. The Theodore Roosevelt Museum History Hunt

Be a history detective and test your powers of observation. 

This activity is administered to young people and their families 

or during a site visit by school groups. For many children this 

will be their first Junior Ranger experience.

3. Letterboxing Adventures at Sagamore Hill

An activity in which you are the detective in search

of a hidden letterbox using clues in this booklet.

Letterboxing is known as The Outdoor Treasure

Hunting Pastime and involves use of compass

orientation and puzzle solving.

4. The Wonderbook of Nature: 

Exploring Natural History at Sagamore Hill

This activity book is a field guide to some selected species of plant

and animal life found at Sagamore Hill. The activity teaches 

children to use a printed guide book to identify plants and animals.

The Sagamore Hill Series: Connecting America’s Children to Theodore

Roosevelt and His Sagamore Hill Home. It is the purpose of this series to use

historic photos, artifacts, political cartoons and the like, to tell the story at age

appropriate language to reach young people and to serve as a platform and

entry point for additional exploration and discovery via print and web-based

distance-learning activities.

These materials were developed by the professional and volunteer National

Park Service staff at Sagamore Hill NHS, Oyster Bay, New York, to mark the

centenary of TR’s Presidency in 2006.

Your name(s)

The National Park Service cares for

special places saved by the American

people so that all may experience 

our heritage.

Thanks to the Friends of Sagamore Hill

for their financial assistance in 

creating and printing these materials.

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