WARM-UP ACTIVITIES
KIT
•Suitable clothing and footwear for the
weather conditions.
Risk assessment
TIME
Walk over the area to check for broken
bottles, dog mess, rabbit holes, low
branches, litter, etc.
Each one of these can be for as long as you
want. Mix and match - you will know when
the group is tired or fed up!
•Flags or markers for boundaries
First Aid kit
If this is a very large area you could mark
the boundaries, especially if this is used by
the public.
Tarpaulin/Parachute
Invisible Assault Course
Good on a cold day to get the group moving and
warm.
Numbers: Lots! Could be an individual activity or
group work.
• Discuss/demonstrate possible activities: barrel roll,
cargo net climbing, under a cargo net, river crossing,
zip wire, tyre crossing........
• Line up -Have a finishing line. Create your own
assault course.
• You could do this again in groups if it’s cold weather.
Alternatives:
You decide the activities by shouting when they
should change.
Treasure Game
There are lots of variations of this game.
• Spread out the markers over a course. (For older
children the blue markers are sapphires, red rubies, green - emeralds, white - diamonds, yellow gold).
Game 1 - put into teams of four or more depending
on numbers. Decide, as a team, what colour you
want to collect. One at a time run and collect one
cone.
Game 2 - Granny’s necklace. Use the rules of the
game above but using two colours to make a
necklace for Granny.
The longest wins!
Parachute or Tarpaulin Race
Spread out the parachute(or tarpaulin) on
the ground. Stand around it and pick up the
parachute, keep hold of it and try to make
patterns in the air. A wave, Mexican wave,
one side high-one side low, etc. Call out a
child’s name (or a few children) they must let
go of the parachute and run around the
group - best to choose which way before
you start!
Put a jumper or coat on the parachute and
try to keep it in the air.
Why not collect your own treasure (pine
cones, sticks,etc). A great game for
teamwork and getting warm.
On the spot Olympics
Choose different events to compete in; on the spot running, high jump,
throwing, cycling!, swimming, etc.
Wednesday, 4 September 13
Animal Sport’s day.
This could be on the spot or in a larger area. Have rabbit hopping, horse
jumping, cat stretching, snake crawling, monkey swinging, etc.
GL
Initial Forest Activities
Setting boundaries:
Instructor: Write a generic risk assessment beforehand. Before any activity walk over
the ground again to check for changes and put down boundary markers. These could be simple
flags, material, high visibility vests. Set up a central area, this could be around a circle of stones
(like a fire pit), this is where the group will collect and be ‘home’. If the weather is wet - or
very hot and sunny - put up a tarpaulin for shelter - older groups will be able to do this for
themselves or help.
Kit: This could be kept in a rucksack and checked before use. Some of this will be for your
comfort - a happy leader is a good leader!
First aid kit
Spare clothing - jumper, coat
Food/drink
Insect repellant, sun screen, etc.
Other kit will depend on the qualification of the leader
(knives, fire lighting equipment, etc).
Group activities:
Make the first visit interesting. Welcome them into the forest, walk them around the site and
ask them about the forest. If there are nettles, brambles, fungii, berries etc, see how much they
know and ask what happens if they touch/eat them. You might want to do a follow up activity
in the forest/classroom. Show them the boundaries - the more times you go into the forest
the more they will get used to it. Show them the ‘home’ base and leave any kit here.
Initial Forest Activities
Story Telling:
There are endless activities you could
do here are just a few:
1. Read a story in the forest - such as the
Gruffalo, or Room on The Broom.
Re-enact the story or find a log to sit on
whilst telling the story.
2. Find a piece of ‘treasure’ in the forest and
tell a short story about it. (A stone could be
a precious jewel).
3. Build a boat, castle, car - and tell a story.
Art
Make a picture with natural materials. Make a face, an animal, landscape, clothes, etc.
A tree mobile.
123! Where are you?
Make ‘dinner’ for your friend.
This is a progressive activity and depends on the age of the group.
1. In small groups (they must keep together) and stay inside the boundaries - find
a place to walk.
You shout, “123 - Where are you?”. They must reply, “123 - I’m here!” Do this as
often as you like - it’s helps you and your assistants to identify groups.
(Make sure everyone does reply and keep reinforcing this).
You then shout, “123 - Come Home!” They reply “123 - I coming!”
When all are home progress.
2. In small groups find a hiding place and repeat 123 etc. You can send your
helpers to try and find them.
3. When you and they are confident that they understand the rules it can be
done individually. Some still might want to stay in groups.
4. Ultimate 123- children wear a high visibility vest to make it more of a
challenge.
Mud pies, sausages, stew with gravy
......anyone interested?
Wednesday, 4 September 13
At the end of the day:
(Mix and match)
1. In a circle go round and ask what has been their favourite part of the day.
2. To keep it short have a piece of ribbon/string and talk about your day as you
wrap it around your finger.You have to finish talking when there is no more
ribbon left.
3. Make a memory stick - find a short stick and wrap or tie items to it to remind
you of the day - take this home - it’s a good talking point when they get home..
GL
Boggles
Great fun for all....
Find a patch of mud - or make some yourself. Making the mud can be just as
much fun as finding it.
1. Find or make your mud
2. Mix with a stick
3. Find a tree you like and sculpt the ‘Boggle’.
3. Decorate
Additional activities:
Use play dough instead of mud
Link it to a story/theme e.g.. dragons
Tell a story about your Boggle.
‘Advertise’ your work of art to the group
Have a ‘Boggle’ auction - use leaves for currency
Kit
Sound Cards
This is an excellent activity to calm down a group. It might take a few attempts
to get them to listen for longer periods, but it’s well worth it.
Have sounds cards and a pencil - OR clear an area where sitting and draw with a
stick.
Find a nice tree to sit under and listen to the sounds around you. Draw a picture
or write down the sounds you can hear.
Sound Card
Kit
Water if the ground is very dry.
Play dough
Hand washing, rinsing facilities.
A good sense of humour.
Sound cards/pencil
Time
Risk Assessment
As long as you want!
Risk Assessment: Check the area for litter, bottles, dog mess, low branches,
public access. Have hand washing facilities.
Wednesday, 4 September 13
Time
This depends on the age of the group, but listening skills will increase.
Low branches, keep inside the boundaries
GL
House Building
Resources
House Building
Set the boundaries, walk around the sight and point out/mark any major hazards.
Hide a selection of stuffed animals/fairies/toys in the woods inside the set
boundary.
Deliver/leave a tiny envelope and letter asking for help building a shelter. See the
templates.
Find the animal or make up your own imaginary creature and make a house
using woodland materials. (Sticks, leaves, grass, cones).
Help! My house has been
washed away in a storm. Please
build me another one. I am in the
wood, come and look for me.
Woodland Helper
3 Oak Tree
Harrogate
Extensions:
1. Build a garden.
2. ‘Sell’ your house as if you were an estate agent. How many rooms? Building
materials used, view, neighbours, potential, price, etc.
3. Progress to building bigger shelters
Kit
Selection of small toys. Or they could make their own - see Boggles.
Suitable clothing/footwear
Time
Depending on the age of the children this could last for an hour.
Risk Assessment
On previous visits discuss nettles, berries, sharp leaves, fungii, etc
Low branches, loose branches, uneven forest floor, brambles, berries/fungus, dog
mess, splinters, Public Access,
GL
Wednesday, 4 September 13