Getting children outdoors over the summer holidays can feel like a battle, yet the payoff is real. More than nine in ten children in England agree that being in nature makes them very happy, according to Natural England. The trick is to make the outdoors feel like an adventure instead of another fixture on the holiday timetable.
- Turn a woodland walk into a storybook adventure
A plain walk in the woods rarely excites a restless child, but a themed trail changes everything. Choosing a route with a story or a set of clues gives little legs a reason to keep going. This summer is a good moment to try one: Forestry England is running an interactive Room on the Broom trails at forests across England, complete with activity packs and in-person meet-and-greets. Following a map, hunting for characters and solving puzzles turns an ordinary stroll into a proper quest.
- Set off on a family motorhome adventure
For a bigger adventure, a motorhome turns getting outdoors into a multi-day expedition. Instead of returning to the same four walls each night, you can base yourselves near forests one day and beaches the next, letting the children wake up somewhere new and wild. It suits families who like to roam, swapping woodland trails for coastal paths without the faff of packing and repacking. Just handle the practicalities first, from checking the vehicle to sorting out your motorhome insurance before you set off.
- Give children a summer nature challenge
Children love ticking things off a list, so turn the holidays into a nature challenge. The National Trust's '50 things to do before you're 11¾' is a ready-made source of ideas, from building a den to skimming stones and going on a really long walk. Let each child keep their own tally, and the summer becomes a series of small missions rather than empty afternoons. The sense of completing something keeps motivation high right through to September.
- Swap the usual playground for forest adventures
Older or more adventurous children often want a clear purpose, and a woodland setting can provide it. Orienteering, family cycling and disc golf all give a forest visit a goal beyond simply being there. It fits a wider shift, too: children's activity levels in England are now the highest since Sport England began measuring them, with more youngsters walking, cycling and scooting than seven years ago. Give them a challenge with a finish line and the woods become an adventure playground.
The best summers outdoors are not about grand plans. A themed trail, a nature checklist or a few days on the road can be enough to turn fresh air into genuine adventure, and to send children home tired, muddy and happy, with stories to tell and memories that outlast the school holidays.
