How far is your child through the list of 50 things to do before 11-and-three-quarters?
The National Trust launches initiative to get the nation’s kids outside
The National Trust has launched a nationwide campaign in a bid to encourage children to play outside and enjoy classic outdoor activities.
The 50 Things To Do Before You’re 11 ¾ initiative responds to a report commissioned by The National Trust. The research found that fewer than one in 10 children regularly play in wild places compared to almost half a generation ago, a third have never climbed a tree and one in 10 can’t ride a bike. The findings also showed that three times as many children are taken to hospital after falling out of bed, as from falling out of a tree.
The National Trust has formed a group of ‘Elite Rangers’ to help to bring the intiative to life. The rangers, who will share expert tips and their enthusiasm for the outdoors, are all National Trust staff members and include ‘Tree Man’ (a tree expert), ‘Captain Skim’ (a stone skimming expert), ‘Den-Boy’ (a hide-away building champion), and ‘The Bug Catcher’ (a minibeast expert).
These five experts will be on hand to offer advice over a Free Weekend that the National Trust is holding. On the 21stand 22ndof April the Trust will open up over 200 of it’s houses and gardens for free. It’s also offering kids a free 50 Things To Do Before You’re 11 ¾ scrapbook from participating venues.
“We’re hoping that the nation’s children will embrace the 50 things and start having their very own outdoor adventures with their family,” says Tony Berry the Visitor Experience Director at The National Trust.
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How many of the activities on the list have you and your little explorers tried?
- Climb a tree
- Roll down a really big hill
- Camp out in the wild
- Build a den
- Skim a stone
- Run around in the rain
- Fly a kite
- Catch a fish with a net
- Eat an apple straight from a tree
- Play conkers
- Throw some snow
- Hunt for treasure on the beach
- Make a mud pie
- Dam a stream
- Go sledging
- Bury someone in the sand
- Set up a snail race
- Balance on a fallen tree
- Swing on a rope swing
- Make a mud slide
- Eat blackberries growing in the wild
- Take a look inside a tree
- Visit an island
- Feel like you're flying in the wind
- Make a grass trumpet
- Hunt for fossils and bones
- Watch the sun wake up
- Climb a huge hill
- Get behind a waterfall
- Feed a bird from your hand
- Hunt for bugs
- Find some frogspawn
- Catch a butterfly in a net
- Track wild animals
- Discover what's in a pond
- Call an owl
- Check out the crazy creatures in a rock pool
- Bring up a butterfly
- Catch a crab
- Go on a nature walk at night
- Plant it, grow it, eat it
- Go wild swimming
- Go rafting
- Light a fire without matches
- Find your way with a map and compass
- Try bouldering
- Cook on a campfire
- Try abseiling
- Find a geocache
- Canoe down a river
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