1. Build a den

You don’t have to be in a country park to do this. There are sticks everywhere and lots of other stuff too. A great activity for anywhere where people aren’t going to care if things are moved about a bit.

2. Go wayfinding

How good are you at finding your way WITHOUT help from a smart phone? Can you get somewhere new without looking at a map? What’s your sense of direction like?

If you’re not sure start small. Can you go a different way to the nearest shop? Is there another route you could take to school? How can you work out which route is best?

3. Using nature to make art and craft

There’s an awful lot of free stuff out there which is brilliant for crafting and art works. Not sure where to start? Think about stones and sticks, fallen leaves, feathers and things you can pick.

Why not go out and pick (or pick up) 5 different things you like. Then see what you can make with them.

4. Skim stones

You don’t have to be by the sea, any water will do. How many hops can you get? Can you improve on that? Get to be the person who can do 7 plus and have a sure fire way to impress friends for years to come.

Hint: You want really flat stones, ideally slate. It helps if you can find someone good already to give you tips and show you how.

5. Try grass whistling

Something you can do almost anywhere when bored. Get a bit of grass and hold it between your thumbs. Blow and see if you can get it to make a noise. You’ll know if you manage it.

Apparently every blade makes a different sound.

6. Find a pet stick

Can you find the perfect stick? It can take a bit of hunting. What sort do you want? One that flips and catches easily? One you can walk with? Something that you can use as a grabber? How about one that’s been in the sea and is really smooth?

When you’ve found your stick how will you mark it? You could write your name on it? Decorate it? Carve it? Dress it?

Will you name it?

7. Go on a scavenger hunt

Do you know where to find pine cones in your local area? Blackberries and acorns in late summer? Conkers in autumn? Feathers? Twigs? Colourful autumn leaves?

A great way to explore your local area and get to know it really well. Think of the thing you want to find and see if you can track any down. If you run out of ideas the new seasons will bring more as they swing round.

8. Paint a stone

Then leave it for someone else to find. You could create a whole shop or play ‘hunt the stone’ with friends around town. Also a great way to pass on positive messages to strangers.

9. Have a “no electronics” day

Can you talk your family into going without electronics for a whole day? Who misses what most? Did you find anything new to do you enjoyed? Where did you go?

How extreme will you be? Phones, TV, laptops, games consoles, are all definite no’s. What about kettles and ovens? Lighting? Agree beforehand and see if you can stick with it for 24 hours.

10. Discover a secret place

Can you find a secret place anywhere? You’re looking for somewhere you can be hidden in and still have room to do things. Inside big old conifer trees are worth checking out. And little paths that seem to lead nowhere. A great place to spy on the world from.

11. Can you find a natural fidget?

One year I picked up a little acorn in it’s shell and put it in my pocket. It was the best fidget I’ve EVER had. As it dried you could move it round the shell but it couldn’t come out. It saw me through quite a few stresses and I was really sad when it finally broke.

Every year I check out the baby acorns in the hope of finding another.

12. Climb a tree

Maybe the best activity EVER. Trees are brilliant to sit in and watch the world go by and also great for exercise. It took me YEARS to work out it’s all about finding the RIGHT tree. You can’t climb all of them but if you keep an eye out there’ll be a brilliant one just waiting for you somewhere where you’ve never noticed it before. A great place for hanging out with friends, chatting or just having some time out.