By Naomi & Iam Walmsley
Button books £14.99
ISBN: 978-1-78708-152-9
Out in time for the school summer holidays this will encourage families to get out into the great outdoors. Created by a couple who run a bushcraft and stone age skills experience in leafy Shropshire and who have actually lived off grid for a five month period as a stone age couple in the States, this has plenty of activities and games with the key word being controlled. This is for all conditions and let’s face it there will be rainy days ahead so there are a dozen and a half activites included for such eventualities.
There are five main sections: connecting with nature/fire food and shelter/nature crafts/games/rainy day activities.
Although there are sharp objects in some of the activities there are guidelines here and obviously which activities to choose are down to parents but common sense, when applied to just a dash of ‘lets see what they can do’ should create a safe environment and the safety first approach is not ignored here. They are also applied to such topics as picking (above the level where animals releive themselves, not near roads, permission etc).
Within these 150 or so pages in full colour with plenty of photos you will find recipes for toast marshmallows, baking bread in a can and even toasting apple. Shelters are built and you can collect tinder for a camp fire. Games include catch the rabbit (not a real one), find the tree, building a stick tower (odd shaped yenga) and so on.
Aimed at parents and helpers this is full of activities that can be done with children whether on a camping trip or just a day trip. It is aimed to assist with the development of a range of skills and will be useful for years to come.