F irst published in the United Kingdom in 2016 by Nosy Crow Ltd
The Crow’s Nest, 10a Lant Street
London SE1 1QR
www.nosycrow.com
ISBN 978 0 85763 618 8
The words ‘the National Trust’ and the oak leaf logo are registered trademarks of the National Trust for England, Wales and Northern Ireland used under licence from National Trust (Enterprises) Limited (Registered Company Number 01083105)
Nosy Crow and associated logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Nosy Crow Ltd (Registered Company Number 7130282)
The right of Nosy Crow and the National Trust to be identif ied as the author and Tom Percival to be identif ied as the illustrator of this work has been asserted.
The 50 THINGS TO DO BEFORE YOU’RE 11¾ campaign was designed for the National Trust by 18 Feet & Rising. Based on original concept and content by Behaviour Change with design work by N. Duncan Mills.
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A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
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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 stargazing
28. Climb a huge hill
29. Explore a cave
30. Hold a scary beast
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 rock pool
38. Bring up a butterfly
39. Catch a crab
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
GET EXPLORING
50 things to do before you’re 11 ¾
Welcome to the great outdoors . . .
In this book, there’s everything you need to have an excellent adventure! With help from kids all over the country, we’ve put together a list of great challenges; the ultimate 50 things to do before you’re 11 ¾. Are you ready? Let’s get exploring!
Who’s it for?
Whether you’re creative and crafty or you’re an active explorer, this book is packed with activities that are fun for everyone! You can do them on your own, with your friends, or with your family. And you don’t have to be under 11 ¾ – so don’t leave the grown-ups behind!
Let’s go!
You can do these activities almost anywhere you want –in your back garden, your local park or at a nearby National Trust place. To find somewhere near you, check out the 50 things app or visit: 50things.org.uk
Note to grown-ups
We recommend that you use your own judgement about what is safe and suitable for your children, and supervise these activities where necessary. If your little explorers are handling animals, don’t forget to put them back where they came from.
Meet the gang
First things first, there are a few people we’d like you to meet. Say hello to Craig, Rae and Mia . . .
CRAIG
Age: 7 ½
Likes: Running, climbing, playing . . . anything outdoors!
Dislikes: Spiders
Favourite activity: Roll down a really big hill
Explorer type: Active explorer
Map – check!
Compass – check!
Water bottle – check! That’s everything!
These guys have all the know-how you need to complete your 50 things, so keep an eye out for them inside this book. They know loads of cool facts and have some great tips for exploring outdoors!
To find out your explorer type, try our quiz on page 12.
RAE
Age: 11 ¾
Likes: Photography, tennis and animals
Dislikes: Singing
Favourite activity: Bring up a butterfly
Explorer type: Animal lover
MIA
Age: 11
Likes: Growing her own vegetables and painting
Dislikes: Ketchup
Favourite activity: Plant it, grow it, eat it
Explorer type: Creative and crafty
Don’t mind my little brother. He can be SO annoying. But he’s ok really . . . Now, say ‘CHEESE’!
Using this book
So, now you’ve met the team, let’s talk about how to get started on your 50 things. Easy, right? Just get outside and have fun! But don’t forget to take this handbook –it’s got all the tips you need for an amazing adventure, plus loads of other stuff to do!
Where to start?
You can start at the beginning, or do the activities in any order you like! And if you can’t find what you’re looking for, just turn to the index on page 94.
When you’ve completed an activity, sign your name and date at the bottom of the page –or stick a 50 things sticker over the circle. Stickers are available at participating National Trust properties.
Scrapbook
There’s notepaper at the back of this book, along with space to stick in your photos. That means you can use this as a proper explorer’s journal and fill it with notes, drawings, doodles, memories and more!
I LOVE taking photos – so my notebook’s full of all the pictures I’ve taken
Fun and games
When you’re in the car or relaxing at the end of a busy day, why not check out the quiz and puzzles in the activities section, starting on page 78?
There’s also a 50 things website and app, where you can upload pictures, tick off your adventures and find events and places near you. When you finish all 50 things, you can go online to claim your secret reward!
