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Summer 2021 family insert ideas - Coggle Diagram
Summer 2021 family insert ideas
Family-friendly woods around the UK
Highlight some of our woods with family-friendly features eg trails and natural play features.
I think something similar has appeared in Broadleaf before, but it might be worth exploring again. Many families will be holidaying in the UK this year due to Covid travel restrictions, so interest in places to visit might be high. Some families will want to escape crowded tourist attractions too, so quieter, peaceful areas in the fresh air could be a real draw.
We might just need to be aware of increased visitors on our estate. Site managers may not want to promote woods - as is happening with bluebells.
Wildlife tracking
The ultimate Nature Detectives activity - it gets kids outdoors developing their observational skills and increasing their knowledge of wildlife. Grown-ups could learn a lot too!
Animal footprints.
Poo - fox scat, rabbit and deer droppings are all quite recognisable. Splatters around a hole in a tree trunk could indicate a bat roost.
Fur and feathers.
Animal-made trails/paths eg badger, deer.
Scratch marks on bark - badger claws.
Animal homes - holes in trees or the ground, dens, nests etc.
Signs of browsing eg stripped bark, torn leaves and twigs. Other signs of eating eg nibbled nuts or fungi.
Scents eg fox
Owl pellets
Families could start their own tracking diary / field journal to record their discoveries, and add to it on each adventure.
Storytelling
Encourage families to make up a story together based on a woodland visit.
As they explore, note down interesting sights, sounds, smells and feelings. They can collect natural treasures that catch their eye too.
Find a fallen tree, log or stump to become the special storyteller's seat. Family members take turns sitting in it to tell and add to the story.
The whole family can take part - creating characters and adding events. Use the prompts they collected while exploring to help inspire and shape the story.
Families could write it down, record it and share it, retell it at home, continue to add to it on future adventures...
We could also repurpose the story stick/journey stick ND activity.
Crafts
Blackberry tie dye bunting
/ pennants - great decorations for gardens this summer. Simple - just need an old cotton pillowcase, string, scissors and blackberries.
Hammer wild flower prints
- use a hammer to release flower pigment onto fabric. Again very simple - just need an old cotton pillowcase, some garden flowers and a hammer. Different flowers an leaves will have varying levels of success, so good for kids to make predictions and evaluate their results. It could be incorporated into the tie dye activity above, or as a separate activity.
Shadow art
- lay paper on the ground so leaves or wild flowers cast shadows onto it. Trace the shadows, then paint or colour them in. You could even create a scene based on the shadows. The whole family could get involved with a large sheet of paper to create some family artwork. It could be tied into leaf ID - looking at the silhouette shapes of leaves.
Woodland Olympics
Loosely tie into the Tokyo Games and feature woodland-based physical challenges. We could highlight the physical and mental health benefits of woods for all ages.
An
obstacle course using natural features
- eg leap over tree stumps, crawl under low branches, run all the way around a huge ancient tree, splash through muddy puddles, tip toe across fallen trees, zig zag through an avenue of trees...
Log balance beam.
Find a sturdy log or fallen tree to balance on. Competitors could be timed to see who can balance on the tree the longest.
Pine cone shot put / twig javelin.
Gather some fallen pine cones and see who can toss them the farthest. (Make sure you throw them in a clearing well away from other people.)
Twig relay race.
Whole family can compete. Split into teams and find a sturdy stick to be the baton. Choose an open space to run in, free from trip hazards like tree roots and brambles.
Animal-themed races
- eg crawl like a caterpillar, scamper like a squirrel, hop like a jay, leap like a hare...
Families could even make their own medals using string, twigs, fallen leaves and petals.
Families could meet up with other families or friends for a bigger competition.
Picnics
Waste-free / plastic-free - this is a big area of concern for families. Children in particular are keen to take action and reduce their plastic consumption.
Recipes
Games to play
Wildlife spotting
Trees. They're in full leaf so it's a great time to use their leaves for ID. This could be turned into a family competition - who can find and identify the most. It could also be linked to the leaf swatch book and tree ID app.
Daytime moths.
Grasshoppers and crickets - encourage children to gently capture one in their hands to get a closer look
Butterflies - could link in with craft activities
Woodland wildflowers - an ID activity could be linked to some of the crafts below.
Generic top summer spots.
Night moths - could be tied into a wine rope / night light activity to attract moths for further investigation.
Froglets / toadlets - emerging from ponds in their hundreds!