Last week saw the last of this summers “Wild Days Out” activity days – this time with a team challenge theme for the older age group and simply outdoor, “wild” play for the younger ones the following day. The weather was kind to us on both days and fun was definitely had by all!
Our Wild Challenge began with deciding our teams and warming up with some riddles, anagrams and team flag making. It was then out for some problem solving games and activities before competing to be the first to light a small fire, boil a “Kelly Kettle” and make the leaders the best cup of tea ;o)
After lunch the fun really began as we headed over to our den building area, not to make dens, but rather to attempt to construct ballista/catapults (from the den building poles, rope and old bicycle inner tubes) in preparation for battle!
Our teams came up with quite different designs, both effective, but neither catapult could compete with Sammy’s inventive use of his own legs and feet in conjunction with the inner tube for projectile distance!
With inventions completed, tested and fine tuned, our teams were armed with sponges and buckets of water and the Great Battle of Blashford commenced!
And I wasn’t going to just sit around supervising letting them all have the fun!
The following day our Wild Play began in the same den building area, this time with den building, tree climbing and leafy art and clay creations.
After lunch some of the children asked about pond dipping – something that everyone joined in in the end (you can’t beat a good pond dip when your 6!). Those waiting a turn or ready for something else spent a lovely time playing in the sand pit or bug hunting – the “tunnel” at the back of the centre was a child magnet in this respect, festooned with spiders and large white butterfly caterpillars as it was!
This filled most of the rest of the day so we finished up by taking down the dens and had just enough time left for another water fight, this time dispensing with catapults and settling for simply cobbing wet sponges at each other!
A bit soggy, the children left tired and happy and the leaders were dry by the time they locked up at the end of the day!
The next Wild Days Out are scheduled for October half term with Autumn themed activities – event bookings on “Eventbrite” will be opened next week:
BIG Autumn Adventure for 7-12 year old children on Tuesday 29th October – https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/wild-days-out-big-autumn-adventure-tickets-70779598685?aff=ebdssbdestsearch
little Autumn Adventure for 5-8 year old children on Thursday 31st October – https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/wild-days-out-little-autumn-adventure-tickets-70765239737?aff=ebdssbdestsearch
Blashford Lakes Nature Reserve 
Reblogged this on New Forest Education and commented:
I consider myself fortunate enough to have enjoyed a “free range” childhood in a different time when cars were slower and fewer, and the countryside and roads that I explored with my friends or on my own were quieter. I am convinced that my own fascination for, and love of wildlife, nature and the outdoors generally, comes from this time I spent mucking about in village ponds, den making in little hedgerow copses and climbing old agricultural chalk quarry faces. In my view one of the most important functions of my role as an Education Officer is to attempt to give today’s outdoor play disenfranchised children similar experiences and the ideas and confidence to create and enjoy their own wild play in whatever outdoor space they can, so that they too have an opportunity to appreciate our wildlife in the same way I do. Wild Days Out are how we do this at Blashford Lakes each school holiday:
I think its brilliant what you guys do for the children and totally agree with you on the type of childhood we had and allowing current youngsters and their future generations to experience such freedom too. 🙂
Thanks Gail !