We love our National Trust family membership. It’s great fun going out for the day exploring, and with an annual family membership we can take up to 10 children. If you’re looking for inspiration for things to do outside with the kids the National Trust has updated its list of 50 things to do before you are 11 ¾.
It’s a great way to get out and explore even if it’s only in your back garden. You don’t need to be a member of the National Trust to download the list and you can download a copy by clicking the list below
50 things to do before you’re 11 ¾ Categories
Remember the activities are split into 5 categories which are:
- Adventurer – If you’re a brave adventurer then these challenges should be right up your street. From tree climbing to den building via stone skimming and kite flying there are heaps of activities to keep you busy outdoors.
- Discoverer – these include going on a long bike ride, making a trail with sticks and making a mud pie.
- Ranger – ranger style activities will keep you outside having fun. They include visiting a farm, making a grass trumpet and going stargazing
- Tracker – If you can’t wait to get outside, then these are some of the best activities to find and meet creatures. Make sure if you meet any creatures you’re kind to them and carefully put them back where you found them.
- Explorer – for all those explorers there are some brilliant activities that will keep you discovering loads of new things. From growing your own fruit or veg to rock climbing or cooking on a campfire.
Part 2 Of Our 50 Things To Do Before You’re 11 ¾
In part 1 of my series on 50 things to do before you’re 11 ¾ I wrote about tree climbing, blackberry picking, building a den, building a dam and going for a long bike ride.
Part two covers another 5 things the boys have ticked off 50 things to do before you’re 11 ¾ list.
6. Ranger – Explore Inside a Tree (no 22)
The boys love climbing trees and they also love exploring any hollows they find in trees. It’s usually older trees where some parts of the tree have rotted away and left a space big enough to explore. Although you’ll also find lots of healthy trees have holes which are usually occupied by living things.
Lots of insects live inside hollows in trees, like beetles who eat rotting wood. There could also be ants, spiders, wasps or even bigger creatures like birds or mice in holes in trees.
When we were in the Forest of Dean the boys found lots of trees to explore. One of them had been struck by lightening and almost split in two and they were able to put their arm all the way through.
7. Ranger – Visit a Farm (no 23)
Living in rural Oxfordshire means that there are lots of farms near us and the boys love going along to the lambing open days. During March the Earth Trust near Little Wittenham has https://earthtrust.org.uk/whats-on/lambing-weekend/
8. Tracker – Hunt for Bugs (no 31)
Our littlest Grandson loves hunting for bugs and small creatures. Even when he’s out in the garden he’s lifting up stones and pieces of wood to see what insects are hiding underneath them. He’s not frightened of spiders and will happily pick up worms.
On our visit to Chedworth Roman Villa they had bug hunting packs available to use which included a magnifying glass and notebook to write down what had been caught. The boys had great fun looking for the bugs.
If you do go bug hunting remember to be careful as they are usually very tiny and always put the back where you found them.
9. Tracker – Catch a Falling Leaf (no 33)
Catching a falling leaf may be tricky as they float around in the wind so you need to watch carefully and make sure you’re good at catching. Obviously the best time to catch falling leaves is in the Autumn.
The Park at Blenheim Palace is a great place to catch a falling leaf as there are so many trees.
10. Explorer – Go Swimming in the Sea (no 42)
This was an easy one for the boys to tick off the list as we always go on a family holiday to Croyde Bay every year and the boys love going in the sea. The sea temperature in England is usually a bit chilly so they do usually wear a wetsuit.
Swimming in the sea isn’t the same as swimming in a pool so you need to be very careful. The sea at Croyde Bay is fairly safe but they always have lifeguards on duty and we make sure the boys stay between the flags.
That was part 2 of our 50 things to do before you’re 11 ¾ that the boys have ticked off so far. It’s great for kids to get out and about exploring nature but just make sure they do it safely. The national trust has safety information guide
You don’t have to go far to do the activities and you don’t need any special equipment for most of them so they’re an ideal way to spend a couple of hours outside. I’d love to know how many you’ve ticked off the list and if you have any helpful tips of where to go to do them?
