See also: Nature

Getting out and about offers lots of learning opportunities. This section covers getting out using pedal and pedestrian power, both of which are great for seeing nature and wildlife, while not forgetting visits to your local museum or library. Have a look out for the Heritage Open Days (www.heritageopendays.org.uk) during September each year, when hundreds of hidden places are open to the public – discover, learn and have fun.

Cycling and walking

Bikeability

www.bikeability.org.uk

Great resource for cycling, including family cycling and cycling to school.

Bikeability: just for fun

www.bikeability.org.uk/cycle-more/family-cycling/just-for-fun

Not quite outdoors but some fun family activities to do related to cycling.

British Cycling: cycling activities for kids and young people

www.britishcycling.org.uk/young-people

Canal & river explorers

www.canalrivertrust.org.uk/explorers/resources

This has a wealth of downloadable resources (175 individual topics in fact!) looking at: Canals; Waterways; Rivers; Birds; Locks; Aqueducts; and every named lock and aqueduct in England and Wales. Many of the resources have been linked to the curriculum covering History; Geography; Citizenship; and Science. It includes a filter facility for searching. Some resources are available in Welsh.

Cycling Scotland: nursery and schools resources

www.cycling.scot/resources/nursery-school

This has a wealth of resources for schools, parents/carers and children. It has a useful booklet called Cycling Games, which gives instructions for cycling activities. It is a must for developing confident cyclists and great fun too. Excellent.

HSBC UK Ready Set Ride

www.readysetride.co.uk

Quick and easy games to teach children to pedal created by HSBC UK British Cycling.

let's Ride Local

www.letsridelocal.co.uk

HSBC UK Let's Ride Local provides ideas and inspiration to encourage family rides in local areas as well as hundreds of route listings. Find a route by searching by a chosen area.

living Streets: learning resources

www.livingstreets.org.uk

Living Streets is the UK charity for walking and supports schools, families and communities to encourage walking every day. There are resources and documents to support walking initiatives for primary and secondary schools as well as parents, which includes the Family Walk to School kit.

Sustran cycling

www.sustrans.org.uk

This provides information on the National Cycle Network, the UK-wide network of signed paths and routes for walking, cycling, wheeling and exploring outdoors.