Report Copyright Infringement View in OSM UK

Description

Learn about how adventures can impact the environment and make some pledges to be more aware on your next adventure.
Source: https://www.scouts.org.uk/activities/adventure-responsibly/

Resources

Coloured pens or pencils
A4 card
String
Scissors
Craft materials (for example, tissue paper, pipe cleaners, stickers)
Sticky tape
Poly pockets
Computer or device with internet access, as needed

Instructions

Before you begin
Use the safety checklist to help you plan and risk assess your activity. Additional help to carry out your risk assessment, including examples can be found here. Don’t forget to make sure all young people and adults involved in the activity know how to take part safely.
Make sure you’ll have enough adult helpers. You may need some parents and carers to help if you’re short on helpers.
This activity works best if you’ve already completed some adventurous activities. Newcomers will need some idea of what activities the group have completed as part of your programme, so try to fill them in.
This activity could also be run in the run-up to an adventurous activity you’re doing, to prepare everyone.


Plan your pledge
Introduce some different adventure activity or action examples, like climbing a hill, to the group by running a quick game.
You could try Okay, no way!, Recreation stations, charades or Pictionary.

Once this is finished, split everyone into small groups and have each group choose an activity that they’ve all taken part in.
This could be hillwalking, camping, climbing or kayaking, or even something like hovercrafting or mountain boarding, so long as it’s something they’ve done recently or that they’re planning on doing soon.

Give each group paper and writing materials, and have them find a space to work. They should now think about the ways the activity they’ve chosen might affect the environment. This should account for all aspects of running the activity, from getting ready to taking part. Note down each stage of how the activity was run and have a think about them.

Start making environmental responsibility pledge cards. Each person should take a sheet of card and use their list of actions to come up with a way of reducing the impact on the environment caused by the activity. They could use the examples below or go online and do some research. Remember, it is about making better environmental choices, not about being perfect.

On one side of the card, they should write a checklist of things to do while packing or before they set off on the adventure. This could include planning to carpool, cleaning and mending equipment or packing food in containers to stop any rubbish being dropped.

On the other side of the card, they should divide it into a 2x2 grid by drawing central horizontal and vertical lines. In each square, write an action that they should do while taking part in the adventure. This could include picking up any litter or sticking to footpaths. Everyone should be creative with this and try to think specifically about the activity their group is working on.

Decorate the cards and slot into clear poly pockets. Seal the open tops of the pockets with some sticky tape.

Thread through string, so that the cards can be tied securely onto a rucksack.

Run the game from the beginning again (step 1), but this time use actions or activities that are good or bad for the environment in the game.

Encourage everyone to remember to look at their card on their next adventure, both while they’re packing and getting ready, and while they’re taking part to make sure they reduce their impact.


ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT EXAMPLES:
Travel to the activity location together or use public transport
Repair old clothing or find some suitable second-hand clothes you could use
Stick to footpaths and set routes
Don’t overcrowd popular locations
Take litter home and compost it if it’s biodegradable
Don’t feed the wildlife
Keep the noise down – don’t disturb wildlife or other people
Get rid of any single-use wrappers before you leave so you don’t litter
Keep a safe distance from wildlife
Check the access rights to the land you’re using
Take care not to trample plants, fungi or animals
Only take photos away with you, don’t remove other stuff
Clean your boots before you set off
If you’ve been on the water, clean your equipment afterwards too
Donate to organisations who look after the land you’re using
Don’t build any cairns (piles of stones) or damage any wildlife habitats
Do a two-minute litter pick while you’re out

Tags

(none)

Badge Links

• Adventure - Environment
• Creative - Activity