Cool things to do with the kids this summer

Camping is a great way to get closer to your kids without them getting on top of you.

All that fresh air and wide open spaces means there’s plenty of room for fun and freedom and if the weather is less than ideal, with the right clothing you can still head off in search of adventure.

They’ll run you ragged, but don’t worry, they will soon make new friends on site and the vast majority of campsites are safe enough to let them off the leash a little, giving you time to unwind in the evenings.

Here are our top things to do with – or without – the kids this summer. Where are you going to start?

# DIY Springwatch

Pretend you’re Chris or Michaela and take a visit to your local nature reserve to watch the wildlife.

Pull on your wellies, grab a still or movie camera and see just how many different types of flora and fauna you can capture on film.

Log onto wildlifetrusts.org, rspb.org.uk or naturalengland.org.uk for a reserve near you, details of the sorts of creatures you’ll see and loads of ideas of what you can do while you’re there.

# Listen to the dawn chorus

The dawn chorus reaches its peak in April and May, but is still pretty impressive in June and July.

Find a campsite close to woodland and if the children wake up as soon as it gets light, suggest a walk in the woods before breakfast and marvel at the soundscape.

Try to isolate as many different calls as you can, and whoever identifies the most birds gets an extra sausage at breakfast back at the tent! For advice, locations and help with identification, go to idcd.info

# Explore rockpools

The rugged, rocky coastlines of our favourite holiday destinations are blessed with plenty of rockpools to explore once the tide goes out.

Wear waterproof sandals and take a bucket and fishing net. Better still, make your own glass-bottomed bucket for peering into the depths by cutting the bottom out of an old bucket, stretching heavy duty cling-film over the hole and securing with a rubber band.

Try the British Marine Life Study Society website glaucus.org.uk for advice and the best rockpooling locations.

# Make a proper picnic

When was the last time you had a proper picnic? With plates and cutlery and proper sandwiches and sausage rolls, strawberries and cream all laid out on a big blanket?

Roll up the picnic carpet, pick up some fresh bread, pastries, cooked meats and fruit from the local farm shop, pop it all into a big basket along with the plates and cutlery from your camp kitchen and head off to the beach or the woods… and don’t forget the teddy bears.

# Sit around a campfire

Unfortunately, many campsites discourage campfires these days, but there is a growing number of more traditional sites that permit and even positively encourage fires. Some sites even sell firewood for the express purpose of making campfires.

Before lighting up, check you are allowed to, choose a spot well away from tents or flammable undergrowth, have plenty of water to hand. Once lit, enjoy the warmth and tell ghost stories and before leaving it, make sure the fire is properly extinguished.

# Lead an expedition

Suggest going for a walk and most kids will bolt for the safety of their bedroom but ask if they want to go on an expedition and most will prick up their ears.

Dig out the binoculars, invest in a couple of small rucksacks and fill them with snacks, drinks a notebook and nature book and dust off an Ordnance Survey map of the area. Discuss the route with the children and explain where you are going and what they might see.

Try to incorporate a café, ice cream shop or child-friendly pub along the way and award points for spotting wildlife or landmarks along the way.

# Track down some mini-beasts

Head for the woods or your local lake or stream and you’re never very far away from some mini-beasts.

Root around in the leaf litter and under fallen logs to find crawly critters and turn over stones in the stream to reveal slithery things.

Many toyshops sell little plastic observation jars with a magnifying lid in which less intrepid little explorers can observe mini-beasts at not-such-close-quarters.

# Catch a fish

If you’re at the seaside, look out for charter boats taking parties on short mackerel fishing trips just a mile or so offshore.

Tackle will be provided and as long as the skipper knows what he’s doing you are almost guaranteed to catch.

Inland, many campsites have fishing ponds where you can fish for free.

# Go crabbing

This variation on the fishing theme needs no fancy tackle: a spool of string, a crude weight and some pungent bait (the smellier the better) are all you need to lure a greedy crab from the murky depths.

Piers, jetties and harbour walls are all promising locations.

# Spot shooting stars

This is a great way to while away a clear summer evening when the nights start to draw in again during August and a campsite in the middle of nowhere - well away from any light pollution - is the ideal location.

Simply drag your sleeping bag out of the tent and either lie on it or in it and gaze up at the heavens.

You might have to wait a few minutes, but be patient and eventually you will catch a fleeting glimpse of streak of light as a meteor whizzes across the sky.

Some offer little more than a quick flash, others leave a trail across the sky before burning up in a silent explosion.

# Plot the planets and constellations

If the meteors are few and far between, you could learn to find your way around the night sky by the constellations that appear above us.

You should also be able to spot the odd planet or two – especially if you have a pair of binoculars handy.

Buy a star chart from your local bookshop or log onto nightskyinfo.com

# Dive into an outdoor pool

On a hot summer’s day nothing beats plunging into the cool water of an outdoor swimming pool. Some campsites have their own of course, but if the site you’re staying at doesn’t then have a look for one in the local area.

Outdoor pools – or lidos as they’re often called – may not be as commonplace as they once were but there are still more than 150 around Britain so there’s a good chance you’ll find one nearby. Splashing around in the water or simply lazing by the pool on a hot summer’s day you can almost imagine yourself soaking up the sun in the Mediterranean – but at the same time it’s a uniquely British experience.

Lidos crop up in the most unexpected places. London has more than a dozen but you’ll also find excellent outdoor pools in small towns like Bourne in Lincolnshire, Ilkley in Yorkshire and Stonehaven in Aberdeenshire. For a comprehensive list visit the website lidos.org.uk

# Go to an outdoor event

With Covid restrictions easing, there are hundreds of outdoor events planned over the summer of 2021, no matter which part of the country you are camping.

A visit to a festival will be an unforgettable experience for your family but there’s plenty other outdoor events worth checking out.

Covid has meant many planned events have had to be cancelled but venues are doing their best to come up with alternative programmes at short notice.

The Minack Theatre in Cornwall is an outdoor auditorium perched on a rocky outcrop above Porthcurno Bay. The theatre's 2021 summer season runs until 3 October and features a variety of cultural productions.

Warwick Castle has an outdoor cinema, with a line-up of films including Grease, the smash-hit musical The Greatest Showman and Star Wars: A New Hope.

# Take to the water

Nothing says peace and quiet more than canoeing, kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding on the open water and the summer is exactly the time to try it, especially if you can combine it with a camping trip to the coast, riverside or the edge of a lake.

An inflatable craft like a Sevylor kayak is easy to bring with you on camping hoidays and is designed for family kayaking.

There are a huge number of other activities that involve water, either in it, on it or under it, such as snorkeling, waterskiing, white water rafting, windsurfing, surfing, bodyboarding and diving can all be enjoyed no matter your level of expertise.

# Visit a theme park

Theme parks are a perfect way to spend a summer day, because there's usually something for everyone, including some less-adventurous thrill seekers, no matter the weather.

Top tip: if it's a really hot day, head for the log flume!

# Camp in the garden

Campsites are packed this summer, so visiting your perfect site might not be possible.

As we discovered last year, the next best thing is to pitch a tent in the garden and let the youngsters enjoy nights under canvas without leaving home.

It’s a mini-adventure and a great way to get them used to camping if they’ve not been away that often. And if they don’t like it or the weather takes a turn for the worst it’s easy to pop back inside and spend the rest of the night indoors.

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