Dance of the Sugarplum Fairies

This box was planted for the 2008 Michigan Spring Gathering, Faeries of the Forest, at Bertha Brock County Park near Ionia, MI. A trail map is strongly recommended and can be found online.

Getting There…

Follow M-21 east from Grand Rapids. A few miles after passing through the town of Ionia, the park will be on your right.

Clues…

All the world is a stage and tonight’s performance on the 10-11 stage is the beloved “Dance of the Sugarplum Fairies”. Enter stage south and proceed to the red sign marking the reserved seating area. Walk along the raised green corridor for 12 paces @ 300 degrees to the empty seat at the end. Enjoy the show!

Lake Michigan Chicken

This box was planted for the 2007 Michigan Fall Gathering (”It’s a Wing Thing”) at Pigeon Creek Park in West Olive, MI. A trail map is strongly recommended and can be obtained from the Ottawa County Park Commission. Trail maps are also posted at the park.

Getting There…

U.S. 31 north from Holland or south from Grand Haven. East on Stanton for about 3 miles to the park entrance.

Clues…

Down on his farm near the Lake Michigan shore Old MacDonald is distraught and puzzled. His beloved chicken has flown the coop! For some reason that darn bird thinks she is a pigeon and has headed over to Pigeon Creek Park. But in the hen house, she left some clues… a nesting box with numbers and letters scrawled on the eggs, and a hand-written note (hope her chicken scratch isn’t too difficult to read).

Wings of Beauty

This box was planted for the 2007 Michigan Fall Gathering, It’s a Wing Thing, at Pigeon Creek Park in West Olive, MI. A trail map is strongly recommended and can be obtained from the Ottawa County Park Commission. Trail maps are also posted at the park.

Getting There…

U.S. 31 north from Holland or south from Grand Haven. East on Stanton for about 3 miles to the park entrance.

Clues…

• 310°
• 26
• 6
• 360°
• 3

Heading north from ________, watch for Mark/Dave/AL. See a ________-trunk tree with one naked limb standing at ________. Find beauty ________ steps at ________ in the “Y” of a fallen log.

Sand Dune Sunsets

Getting There…

Go to the Ruckel’s Bridge day use area of Silver Lake State Park. There is a small amount of parking available here.

Clues…

From the picnic area, follow the northerly trail. This is a lovely hike that skirts the base of the sand dunes in several places. If you are feeling ambitious, take a detour to climb one of these hills for a fantastic view of the Silver Lake Sand Dunes and Lake Michigan. Back on the trail, cross over the way of the sunset tours, picking up your trail again on the other side. When the trail ahead of you lies at 55 degrees and a very large standing oak with many dying arms is on your right, make your way at 130 degrees for about 50 paces to the stump which hides the letterbox.

Ruckel’s Bridge

Getting There…

Go to the Ruckel’s Bridge day use area of Silver Lake State Park. There is a small amount of parking available here.

Clues…

From the picnic area, follow the easterly trail along the channel. At the point where the trail squeezes between a dead birch and a double oak, follow the trail at 270 degrees for about 25 paces to a fallen birch on your left. At 285 degrees see a standing double- (or maybe its a triple-) trunked relative about 25 paces off the main trail. From here, 25 paces at 350 degrees leads you to the letterbox.