By Emily Hibbs

Adventures don’t have to be big or far-flung to be exciting – there’s plenty for you and your little ones to discover in your own back garden or in a local nature reserve. Here are five mini-adventures to try together this summer.

1. Search for singers at sunrise

The loudest dawn choruses happen in April and May, when returning migratory birds join our residents in early-morning song as they search for mates. Still, throughout the summer, the early hours ring with the chatter of beaks hidden among the branches. At the crack of dawn, pack some breakfast, wrap up warm and set out together in search of these secret singers. You could even suggest that your little one take a pen and notebook to jot down all the different voices they hear and see if they can work out who’s who. The RSPB has a brilliant birdsong guide for beginners to get you started.

Did you know? Robins and blackbirds are among the earliest birds to begin singing, normally just before sunrise. Sometimes robins will perch beneath streetlights and sing all night long.

2. Go on a garden minibeast safari

Picture credit: The Ladybirds’ Adventures

Forget finding the “Big Five”, searching for creepy crawlies in your own back garden or local park can reveal heaps of incredible creatures. A minibeast safari is a great way to encourage your child to use their detective skills, first to discover the bugs and then to work out what they are. You could try sifting through soil to spot wriggling earthworms, gently shaking a branch to find ants, beetles and aphids, and peering under stones or rotten wood to unearth woodlice and millipedes. It’s also a good activity to try on a damp day, as slugs and snails often slip out after rain.

The Woodland Trust have a great guide to the kinds of garden visitors you might discover together.

Watch out! If your little one is picking up bugs, make sure they are gentle and put them back where they found them. Don’t let them touch hairy caterpillars, as some species irritate the skin, and watch out for bees and wasps – fun to spot, but less fun to be stung by.

Did you know? Because worms are so good at concentrating nutrients in their bodies, the waste they push out is ten times more nutrient-rich than the vegetation they put in, helping to keep our soils healthy.

3. Create a hidden wildlife den

However grown up you are, there’s something magical about spending time in a den. You could pitch up a beach tent and cover it with dark-coloured tarpaulin or use sticks and old bedsheets to make a simple shelter. Choose somewhere tucked away, but with a good view of the surrounding area, such as behind a tree trunk. Encourage your child to look out for the little things, like beetles and butterflies, as well as watching for bigger creatures. For the best chance of spotting rarer wildlife, you could try setting up your den at dusk downwind of a badger sett or among the trees at the edge of a wood.

Did you know? Badgers regularly clean out their setts, airing the dry grass, bracken, moss and leaves they use for bedding in the sun, before bringing it back inside as the sun sets.

4. Discover the secret life of ponds

Ponds are teeming with weird and wonderful life. For this mini-adventure, throw on some old clothes and wellies, grab a light-coloured plastic box (like an old ice cream or butter tub) and set out to a nearby pool. Encourage your child to sweep the tub through the water to fill it, then take a good look inside. Can they spot anything swimming or scuttling? Try dipping the tub in different areas of the pond (though it’s probably a good idea for you to take over for the deep bits, to avoid any splashtastic accidents). You might even be lucky enough to sweep up a tadpole or newt! Use a pond dipper’s guide, like this one to help with identification.

Watch out! Make sure your child washes their hands with soap and warm water after touching stagnant water. Never leave young children on their own near a pond.

Did you know? Dragonfly nymphs can live in ponds for several years, moulting multiple times before emerging for the water for their final moult to become winged adults.

5. Set out on a star-spotting adventure

Picture credit: ©vchalup — **Picture credit:** ©vchalup

Staring at the starry skies on a clear summer night can feel like one of the wildest adventures out there. With a blanket and a torch, set out for somewhere with minimal light pollution and see what you and your little one can spot. Don’t worry if you don’t know Pisces from Polaris, there’s no need to be put off just because you’re not an expert. There are plenty of websites and apps that provide handy real-time guides to what you’re seeing in the sky. Check out SkyView for a child-friendly augmented reality panorama of the heavens. There’s plenty of nocturnal wildlife to keep an eye out for too: listen for the squeaks of bats as they echolocate and the flutter of moths as they visit night-blooming flowers.

Did you know? A pipistrelle bat, the UK’s most common bat species, can eat up to 3,000 insects in a night!

And finally, here are a couple of amazing organisations supporting wild adventures for young people:

Black2Nature:

Set up in 2016 by birder Mya-Rose Craig (also known as Birdgirl), runs nature camps for inner-city children and teenagers from diverse backgrounds and campaigns for equal access to nature for all. Find out more: https://www.birdgirluk.com

The Wilderness Foundation:

Supports vulnerable young people and adults and connects people to the natural world through trail experiences, one-on-one wilderness therapy and other outdoor adventures. Find out more: https://wildernessfoundation.org.uk

About the Author

Emily Hibbs is a children’s book author living in Bristol. Her book Tales from the Forest, a collection of twenty bedtime stories from nature, is out in October 2020 from Stripes Publishing. She tweets as @emily_hibbs.