2. …
  3. Children

Let's Go Outdoors

We've got lots of ideas and activities to help you and your family have fun in the outdoors by our canals and rivers.

Canals and rivers are great places to get active and enjoy a healthier life. Use the Canal & River Trust map to find your local canal or river and start exploring.

Canal corridors

Put on wellies and go for a muddy walk along the towpath and try this experiment to see which plants 'travel' easily.

Leaf crown

Make a crown fit for a king or queen!

Waterside bingo

Canals and rivers are full of interesting things to spot. Who will get a full house first?

Stick frame

Make a picture frame out of sticks

Clean up treasure hunt

Our canals and rivers are precious - they need looking after and protecting. Organise a clean up with your family.

Making marks

Natural materials found along towpaths make great ‘tools’ for art projects. Go for towpath walks and gather materials such as twigs, seed heads and feathers.

Minibeast hunt

See if you can find which minibeasts live in different habitats.

Natural art

Set up a natural art gallery of special objects you find along the towpath.

Build a trail

Use the online trail builder and design a trail for your local canal or river. Then head out on an adventure.

SketchCrawl

Visit your local canal or river and sketch the interesting things you see.

Duck illustration

Feed the ducks

We all love to feed the ducks but did you know that bread – especially white bread – is BAD for them? Feed the ducks a healthy lunch with these duck food ideas.

Hopscotch

A favourite game with boaters children. Organise a hopscotch tournament for your family.
Illustration of a swan and cygnets

Water bird spotter

Take this spotter sheet with you on a trip to a canal or river. Make a tally of the birds you spot!

Blackberry mess

Canal towpaths and riverbanks are a great place to look for blackberries. Forage along your local canal or river and make this delicious pudding.

Journey stick

Make a secret map of a towpath or riverbank with details that only you have noticed.

Canal and river yoga

Try these canal and river themed yoga poses.

Underwater viewer

Check out what lives in your local canal or river with this underwater viewer.

Map in a matchbox

All good explorers can read maps - but how about making a map? Try making this map in a matchbox of your local canal or river.

Lie detector

Who can come up with the most imaginative lie about a natural object? Play this fun five-minute game with your family.

A collection feathers

Why not make a collection of feathers? Canal towpaths and riverbanks are a great place to look for them.

Leaf creature

Collect leaves from along the towpath and make a leaf creature.