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Description

Test your map reading skills and eye for detail by navigating a route and spotting things along the way.

Courtesy of The Scout Association
https://www.scouts.org.uk/activities/eye-to-i-spy/

Resources

Pens or pencils
A4 paper
Camera or phone
Weather appropriate clothing
Map of the local area

Instructions

Before you begin
- Plan a route for everyone to follow. It should start and end at the same place (your meeting place may work best), and it only needs to last about 10 minutes.
- As you plan your route, make a list of things you see on the way, for example, buildings, signs, monuments, post boxes, and adverts. You can even add on some trickier items, like ‘the colour blue’ or ‘the number five’.
- Copy the route onto the map.


Prepare to spot
In a meeting before this activity, everyone should talk about what they’ll near to wear, and what they may need to bring with them. They should make a list (with words or pictures) and check it with the person leading the activity. People might want to think about:
- What time of year is it? What clothing do you need in this season? What clothing don’t you need in this season but might need at another time of year?
- Do you need to check the weather forecast before you get ready? Why? What will it tell you?
- Do you need any specialist equipment for this activity? What specialist equipment should you leave behind (for example, this isn’t the time for buoyancy aids)?
- What might happen if you wear the wrong sorts of clothes for an activity? Would you enjoy it less? Could it be dangerous?
- What extra things do the adults need to have with them (for example, a list of everyone’s emergency contact numbers)?


Spotting the items
1. Split into groups. Each group will take it in turns to complete the challenge, so they’re not all walking at the same time.
2. Check that the first group is sensibly dressed, and that they have any equipment they might need.
3. Give the first group the map with the route on it, and the list of things to spot along the way.
4. The group should follow the map, and try to take pictures of everything on the list.
5. Groups should take it in turns to follow the route and take pictures.
6. Once all of the groups have finished, the person leading the game should check everyone’s pictures. The group who have taken pictures of the highest number of items on the list are the winners.


Reflection
This activity was a chance to value the outdoors. Did you enjoy being outside? What did you need to do first to make sure it was enjoyable (for example, make sure you had the right clothes)? Did you feel comfortable walking around? Did having a list of things to spot help you see and appreciate more? Did you spot anything exciting that wasn't on your list? Which of your senses did you use to spot things?

This activity also helped you practice being a team player. Did everyone have the same role, or did different people do different things? Did you take it in turns to do things that were really fun, such as taking the photos? How did you make a decision if two people disagreed about which way to go? Did you make any wrong turnings? Did anyone do anything that was especially helpful for the team?


Change the level of challenge
- If you have more time, make the route longer.
- Include some items that are easy to spot, and some that are trickier.
- Adapt the items to your area – are there buildings and bus stops, or plants and footpath signs? If you want, you could theme this around a holiday or celebration. People could take pictures of decorations, or you could hide items such as chocolate eggs along the route.
- If you can’t take photos for any reason, everyone should draw or write a description of what they spot. You may want to remind everyone about being honest, and only drawing what they actually see! Alternatively, you could give people questions that they can only answer by visiting the places on the list (for example, ‘how many miles does the sign say it is to the next town?’).

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Badge Links

• Navigator - Equipment
• Navigator - Use map