50 things to do before you’re 11 3/4

Have you climbed a tree? Eaten an apple freshly picked? What about built a raft? or how about caught a crab? The UK National Trust has put out a website and list of 50 things every kid should do before they’re 11 and three quarters. It’s a fun, simple plan to get kids outside and having fun in the outdoors.

While some of these ideas are obvious they’ll bring back memories of your childhood and give great ideas of activities that you can take your own kids or nephews and nieces on this Summer. Hats off to the UK National Trust for putting together a great site and great checklist.

Something I really liked about the list is how it is divided up into different types of kids. No two kids are the same, but if you find your kid likes one of the activities, they’ll almost certainly enjoy the other ones in the same category. The categories are, “Adventurer”, “Discoverer”, “Ranger”, “Tracker” and “Explorer”.

Here’s a copy of the list. Which ones do you remember most from when you were a kid and which ones do you want to share with your own kids/nephews and nieces?

Adventurer

1. Climb a tree
2. Roll down a really big hill
3. Camp out in the wild
4. Build a den
5. Skim a stone
6. Run around in the rain
7. Fly a kite
8. Catch a fish with a net
9. Eat an apple straight from a tree
10. Play conkers

Discoverer

11. Go on a really long bike ride
12. Make a trail with sticks
13. Make a mud pie
14. Dam a stream
15. Play in the snow
16. Make a daisy chain
17. Set up a snail race
18. Create some wild art
19. Play pooh sticks
20. Jump over waves

Ranger

21. Pick blackberries growing in the wild
22. Explore inside a tree
23. Visit a farm
24. Go on a walk barefoot
25. Make a grass trumpet
26. Hunt for fossils and bones
27. Go star gazing
28. Climb a huge hill
29. Explore a cave
30. Hold a scary beast

Tracker

31. Hunt for bugs
32. Find some frogspawn
33. Catch a falling leaf
34. Track wild animals
35. Discover what’s in a pond
36. Make a home for a wild animal
37. Check out the crazy creatures
in a rockpool
38. Bring up a butterfly
39. Catch a crab
40. Go on a nature walk at night

Explorer

41. Plant it, grow it, eat it
42. Go swimming in the sea
43. Build a raft
44. Go bird watching
45. Find your way with a map and compass
46. Try rock climbing
47. Cook on a campfire
48. Learn to ride a horse
49. Find a geocache
50. Canoe down a river

 

Check out the site and sign up for more fun and tips.