42 things to do in a summer

8/18/2019 42 Things to Do in a Summer

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Week one:

1. Do some light painting. Make some amazing art with the aid of nothing more

than a camera and some coloured lights. Why not create your own light graffiti

tag?

2. Build your own catapult. Scouts are great at constructing all manner of things

from sticks and rope; an activity called pioneering. Check out this great

resource from Discovery Channel which will teach you how to !uild an ama"ing

catapult.

3. Make a sock monster. #ecycle odd socks and make a fearsome creation of

your own to play with. Download $o!!ycraft%s creative activity pack for

instructions.

4. Go geocaching. $unt for caches in your local area. &ll you need is a '(S deviceor a smartphone. #ead Scout )eader *ddie )angdown%s essential guide to this

addictive activity.

. !ace "alloon rockets. &ll you need are drinking straws card !alloons clothes

pegs and string. Download this great activity pack from #olls+#oyce to find out

how to make your own !alloon rockets.

#. Build a "ird "o$. (roviding a place for garden !irds to nest is a great way to

help conservation of local wildlife. Check out this great %how to% video from

Scouts% partner ,-.

&. Go "utter'y spotting. Do you know an *sse/ Skipper from a #ed &dmiral? Can

you spot a $olly ,lue or a Ca!!age White in your garden? Butter'ies are some of

the 01%s most striking and distinctive mini!easts 2 see how many types you can

identify.

Week two:

8. Play pooh sticks. 3his timeless game was invented !y &. &. Milne author of the Winnie

the (ooh !ooks. Choose a distinctive stick each and on the count of three drop them off the

upstream side of a !ridge. #un to the downstream side and see whose stick appears first.

9. Dine in the great outdoors. Camp out light a fire and get stuck in to some !ackwoods

cooking. Why not toast marshmallows make dampers 4dough twists5 or even ponass a

trout?

10. Build a bug hotel. 3he 6ational 3rust the 6atural $istory Museum and 3he Wildlife

3rusts all support the Cu! 6aturalist ,adge. 3ry out their 'bug hotel' activity to provide a

home for all sorts of insects from !eetles to !ees.

11. Form a human table. 3his one needs four friends and good teamwork7 Sit on four

stools arranged in a tight s8uare. )ean !ack so that each person%s head is resting on the ne/t

person%s knees. 3hen lift your hips off the stools and get someone to slide them away. $owlong can you manage to stay up?

http://magazine.scouts.org.uk/getactive/light-painting/https://members.scouts.org.uk/discoveryhttps://members.scouts.org.uk/discoveryhttps://members.scouts.org.uk/hobbycrafthttp://magazine.scouts.org.uk/getactive/cache-in-hand-2/http://scouts.org.uk/rolls-roycehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qf5c2-PoJ6Yhttp://www.wildlifewatch.org.uk/images/Downloads/spotters/butterfly%20detective%20spotting%20sheet.pdfhttp://magazine.scouts.org.uk/getactive/ponassing-trout/http://magazine.scouts.org.uk/getactive/ponassing-trout/http://www.wildlifewatch.org.uk/images/activity_sheets/insect_hotel_activity_sheet.pdfhttp://magazine.scouts.org.uk/getactive/light-painting/https://members.scouts.org.uk/discoveryhttps://members.scouts.org.uk/discoveryhttps://members.scouts.org.uk/hobbycrafthttp://magazine.scouts.org.uk/getactive/cache-in-hand-2/http://scouts.org.uk/rolls-roycehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qf5c2-PoJ6Yhttp://www.wildlifewatch.org.uk/images/Downloads/spotters/butterfly%20detective%20spotting%20sheet.pdfhttp://magazine.scouts.org.uk/getactive/ponassing-trout/http://magazine.scouts.org.uk/getactive/ponassing-trout/http://www.wildlifewatch.org.uk/images/activity_sheets/insect_hotel_activity_sheet.pdf


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1. !ake a mini cork ra"t. 3hree corks some string a few twigs and a large leaf or piece

of scrap paper makes a great raft. #ace them in a shallow stream and see who can sail

farthest.

1#. $et "it and have "un !y visiting an adventure playground a trim trail or an outdoor

gym. Challenge your kids to !eat their personal !est.

1%. &earn ho to spot animal tracks and sign. $ead into a local park or woodland and

see if you can spot signs of animals with our essential tracking guide from !ushcraft

e/pert (aul 1irtley.

Week three:

1(. )eave a survival bracelet. )earn to tie the co!ra weave with &ustin )ill%s easy step*

by*step instructions and then make survival !racelets from paracord. *ach !racelet costs

less than 9 to make.

1+. $o on a bat hunt. Did you know there are 18 di""erent species o" bat in the 01alone? rganise an evening walk or even a night hike near waterways and ponds to see if

you can spot !ats in flight. Don%t forget to take a torch and a camera<

1,. !ake a bodrill set. Making fire !y friction is one of the most ancient outdoor skills.

ne of the most efficient methods is to make a bodrill set consisting of a !ow a drill a

!ase !oard and a !earing !lock. =t takes lots of practice !ut is an impressive skill to master.

18. $o crabbing. &lmost any har!our wall pier or 8uayside can !e a good location

forcrabbing. &ll you need is a line and some !ait 2 pieces of !acon chicken or cat food all

work well. 1eep cra!s in a !ucket of sea water and remem!er not to overcrowd the !ucket.

&lso release them carefully to avoid distressing the cra!s.

19. !ake up a ild poem. >ind a peaceful place and spend some time o!serving nature

then try to come up with a descriptive poem that e/presses how you feel at that moment.

Write it on a leaf scratch it onto a stone or use a stick to write it in mud.

0. Blo bubbles. Mi/ a !u!!le solution in a tray using part washing+up li8uid to parts

water and part glycerine 4you can get this from a pharmacist5. Scoop off any foam and

leave for two hours. Make !u!!le wands !y threading two straws onto string and tying the

ends together to form a s8uare. Dip the wand in your !u!!le solution and gently pull through

the air to form ama"ing !u!!les7

1. Be a cloud spotter. Stratus cirrus nim!us and cumulus are @ust some of the di""erent

types o" clouds you might see in our skies. 3heir distinctive shapes are fun to spot and can

also help you to predict the weather.

Week four:

. Put together a pi-ata. 3his hollow structure filled with sweets is an essential

part of traditional Me/ican cele!rations. 3hey are often made in the shape of an

animal%s head such as a donkey or an o/ !ut you can make a simple

version from papier+mAchB sculpted around an inflated !alloon.

#. ake on a hittling pro/ect and fashion something from a piece of wood 4or

for younger ones a !ar of soap5. 3ry carving your favourite animal. ou only need a

small pocket knife 2 remem!er to use it safely.

http://magazine.scouts.org.uk/getactive/on-the-right-track/http://magazine.scouts.org.uk/getactive/paracord-projects/http://magazine.scouts.org.uk/getactive/paracord-projects/http://www.bats.org.uk/pages/uk_bats.htmlhttp://paulkirtley.co.uk/2011/bowdrill/http://www.crabbydays.co.uk/http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/learning/clouds/cloud-spotting-guidehttp://www.metoffice.gov.uk/learning/clouds/cloud-spotting-guidehttp://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Pi%C3%B1atahttp://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Pi%C3%B1atahttp://magazine.scouts.org.uk/getactive/on-the-right-track/http://magazine.scouts.org.uk/getactive/paracord-projects/http://magazine.scouts.org.uk/getactive/paracord-projects/http://www.bats.org.uk/pages/uk_bats.htmlhttp://paulkirtley.co.uk/2011/bowdrill/http://www.crabbydays.co.uk/http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/learning/clouds/cloud-spotting-guidehttp://www.metoffice.gov.uk/learning/clouds/cloud-spotting-guidehttp://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Pi%C3%B1atahttp://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Pi%C3%B1ata


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%. !ake a stick lantern. Create a framework from sticks and stick them together

with masking tape then add a tea light or an )*D light and use (& to cover the

lantern with tissue paper.

(. &ook "or buried treasure. ,ecome an archaeologist for the day and mark outa space to dig in a garden or field. 3ry to find a space where there%s a good chance

of unearthing some interesting artefacts. Common finds includes pieces of glass

pottery !roken pipe stems animal !ones coins and much more.

+. onstruct a ormery. =nvestigate the living world and see worms in action

!y making your own wormery from an empty drinks !ottle. Download #olls+#oyce%s

scientist activity pack for instructions.

,. &earn circus skills with homemade /uggling balls and poi. 3hey%re cheap to

make and lots of fun7

8. !ake a bird ball "eeder. 1not a short length of rope and then mi/ lard nuts

and !irdseed together. Mould the mi/ into a !all around the end of the rope and

hang it in your garden.

Week five:

9. Dra and animate your on characters !y constructing a simple "oetrope.

Come up with a cartoon strip and make it move !efore your very eyes7

#0. tage a scavenger hunt. Can your kids race to find a list of items in your

house garden or local park? Make sure you%ve got a pri"e for the winner<

#1. !ake a rubber*band helicopter from card lolly sticks paperclips an elastic

!and and a plastic propeller 4which can !e !ought online for a!out EFp5. $ow high

can you fly? $ereGs a great step+!y+step instructa!le.

#. ry "ree running. =tGs one of the world%s fastest+growing sports and can !e

seen in almost every new $ollywood action movie. et all you need is a pair of

trainers. Start small and gradually !uild up your repertoire of moves to stay safe.

Check out freerunning e/pertDan *dwardes% take on the !enefits of this all+action

pursuit.

##. $o beachcombing. =t%s ama"ing what washes up on our shores. 3ake

advantage of a trip to the seaside to see what flotsam and @etsam you can find.

Collect some and use it to create some cool !each art.

#%. kim stones. =t%s a classic pastime that never fails to amuse. $ow many

%skips% can you manage? Which stones are !est for skimming?

#(. arve an atlatl. 3his is a traditional throwing spear which can !e made from a

straight stick and a forked !ranch. 3hrow them at targets or !alloons !ut never at

other people or animals.

http://scouts.org.uk/rolls-roycehttp://magazine.scouts.org.uk/getactive/big-top-tricks/http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Zoetropehttp://www.instructables.com/id/Rubberband-Helicopters-step-by-step/http://magazine.scouts.org.uk/getactive/parkour-running-free/http://scouts.org.uk/rolls-roycehttp://magazine.scouts.org.uk/getactive/big-top-tricks/http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Zoetropehttp://www.instructables.com/id/Rubberband-Helicopters-step-by-step/http://magazine.scouts.org.uk/getactive/parkour-running-free/


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Week si/:

#+. &earn a magic trick. World Magic Shops sponsors of the Scout *ntertainer

!adge have produced some ama"ing video tutorials to teach terrific tricks with

simple props like a pack of cards. isit them online and you%ll !e as good as

Dynamo in no time.

#,. Fly a kite. Check out this step+!y+step guide from Scout &ctivity Centres to

!uilding your own kite. 3hen all you need is a windy day to get up up and away7

#8. ake on the doughnut challenge. 3hread doughnuts on a rope and tie it

!etween two trees. See who can eat their doughnut the 8uickest without using their

hands. 3his one makes a great party game7

#9. 2D a tree. 3rees are everywhere !ut do you know one species from another?

)ook up some common leaf patterns and see how many types you can spot in your

local area. Why not press some leaves and start a nature scrap!ook? 0se it to drawcommon trees and record where you saw them.

%0. Be a ladybird detective. $ave you noticed that many lady!irds look slightly

different? 3hat%s !ecause there are EH types of true lady!ird found in the 01 and

they come in many different si"es and patterns. 0se a spotting sheet to help

identify any that you find.

%1. Build a natural shelter. & simple shelter in the woods can !e created from

sturdy !ranches foliage and leaf litter. & well+constructed shelter makes a great

den and knowing how to !uild one is a vital survival skill.

%. &ay a trail. Signs and arrows can !e made from stones and sticks to make a

trail for others to follow. =t%s a traditional Scouting skill that makes a great day out

in the woods.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=538482832870735&set=a.529513933767625.1073741831.236373856414969&type=1&theaterhttp://www.naturedetectives.org.uk/NR/rdonlyres/C9E20381-6D85-42A0-B9EF-86C03BF8973E/0/leaves.pdfhttp://www.wildlifewatch.org.uk/images/Downloads/spotters/ladybird%20detective.pdfhttp://members.scouts.org.uk/documents/Sponsors/Naturalengland/shelter_scouts_1.pdfhttp://www.scoutbase.org.uk/library/hqdocs/facts/pdfs/fs170058.pdfhttps://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=538482832870735&set=a.529513933767625.1073741831.236373856414969&type=1&theaterhttp://www.naturedetectives.org.uk/NR/rdonlyres/C9E20381-6D85-42A0-B9EF-86C03BF8973E/0/leaves.pdfhttp://www.wildlifewatch.org.uk/images/Downloads/spotters/ladybird%20detective.pdfhttp://members.scouts.org.uk/documents/Sponsors/Naturalengland/shelter_scouts_1.pdfhttp://www.scoutbase.org.uk/library/hqdocs/facts/pdfs/fs170058.pdf

42 things to do in a summer

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