Fly a kite and climb a tree... the National Trust's 50 things to do before you're 12

 
To illustrate the differences between the outdoor activities of 'our' generation and our kids generation, the National Trust have put together this list of suggested things to do before the age of 12.
 
I wonder how many you can tick off? And your kids/grandkids
 
 

 
 
 
Article from the Daily Mail:
 
There are some experiences you just can't enjoy on your Playstation or X-Box.
 
Shinning up a tree, rolling down a grassy hill and cooking on a campfire are among a list of simple outdoors pleasures that has been compiled by the National Trust, called '50 things to do before you're 11¾'.
 
The so-called 'bucket list', documenting outdoor adventures every child should experience, has been developed to combat the rise of computer games and help children connect better with nature and their environment.
 
Research shows that fewer than one in ten of today's children have played in a wild place compared to half of their parents' generation.
 
So the National Trust decided to take it back to basics and highlight some of the fun activities children can enjoy and which their parents often took for granted, such as building a den, flying a kite and hunting for frogspawn.
 
But there are also more difficult ones including abseiling, lighting a fire without matches and 'geocaching' – a hi-tech form of hide and seek. The campaign will launch on April 21 when 200 National Trust properties will be opening their doors to offer different activities.
 
Stephen Moss, a naturalist and broadcaster working for the Trust, recently compiled a report calling on parents and particularly grandparents to pass on their experience of the outdoors – before the traditional childhood is relegated to the history books.
 
Fiona Reynolds, director general of the National Trust, said many adults remember a time when, as children, they roamed around unsupervised all day – something unthinkable for many youngsters today.
 
She said: 'Children today are completely unfamiliar with that feeling.
 
'They need to be given the confidence and the skills to go into the wood and build a den or climb a tree. The outdoors is a treasure trove, rich in imagination.
 
'It brings huge benefits that we believe every child should have the opportunity to experience. And there are huge costs when they don't.'
 
The list of 50 things was compiled by a panel of experts from a shortlist of 400 ideas submitted by staff at National Trust homes who were asked to 'share their childhood memories which gave them a love of nature'.
Helen Meech, of the National Trust, said: 'We wanted a mix of activities so younger children can get involved, but also harder ones for those near to 11¾.
 
'Research has shown it is important for children to have a love of nature before the age of 12.'
 

they should make a video game of those challenges

I can honestly say that I have done (as a child) a fair number of the things on that list. Some of them intentional and some not.

LOL Craig!

Great post Steve!!
I truly believe that children should experience as much outdoor/natural activities and non-electronic stuff to appreciate life more. Although I grew up in city suburbs, we always enjoyed doing outdoor things. This is one of the reasons I'm moving the family to Florida so that they can enjoy nature much more.
All the electronic stuff will always be there, but that should be a secondary or further down the line.

Thanks for posting this. 

 
The only ones I haven't done are:

• 17 - Snail race
• 29 - Get behind a waterfall (sadly never had the opportunity)
• 30 - Feed a bird from my hand (apart from an auntie's budgie)
• 34 - Track wild animals (don't get too many of them round here)
• 38 - Bring up a butterfly
• 48 - Abseil (not got the bottle )
• 49 - Geocache
• 50 - Canoe down a river (been out in a rowing boat on the Severn many a time though... and I have driven an inshore minesweeper*, but I was 16 at the time)

 
 
 
* HMS Aveley:
 

SteveStrummerUK


 

 
 
* HMS Aveley:
 

Are you that short guy in the middle?

Is the answer to #44 petrol bomb? (with or without digital display)

Karyn


Is the answer to #44 petrol bomb? (with or without digital display)

Oh my

16 - Dam a stream. That was my favorite until it got out of hand

Steve we lived outside. That is a short list for the group
I kicked with.
For many on the list I could expand.
For example; Rolling down a hill.
In a tire. On a car hood (in the snow). In a wagon (homemade).
In a barrel.

With my kids and grandchild.. the list shortens but for reasons
beyond control.

FastBikerBoy


I didn't see it - but is dogging on the list?

I knew I recognized you from somewhere.  I just couldn't put my finger on it.

(or could I?)...

FastBikerBoy


I'm surprised no one has mentioned #31. Sonar users can surely cross that of the list with a resounding, found some, can't they?

I just hide mine behind a screen set.

FastBikerBoy

Jonbouy

FastBikerBoy


I'm surprised no one has mentioned #31. Sonar users can surely cross that of the list with a resounding, found some, can't they?

I just hide mine behind a screen set.

As wonderful as they are, even they can't do that..... in fact I can think of at least one caused by them.

Exactly, with Sonar you don't 'hunt' for bugs, you get confronted by them.  That's what distinguishes Sonar from any other app I use.

Glass half empty, glass half full, it's still half a glass.

Jonbouy


37 - Check out the crazy creatures in a crock pool.

So they advocate visiting the CH it seems.

Good news.

Fixed.