Adventure playground
Age:
4+
Climb, slide, balance
Get climbing, sliding, jumping and balancing in play areas locally.
Overview
Give the monkey bars, spider webs, slides and swings a go. Too easy? Challenge yourself to do better than before. Get to the top of the spider web or across all the monkey bars!
This activity is for Rainbows through to Rangers. If doing this activity with the older sections, talk to them about how you could make it more challenging and adventurous to make sure they're still being taken outside of their comfort zone.
Note that zip lines are different to zip wires, can be found in local parks or in playgrounds and are only a few feet off the ground. These don't require a qualified instructor to operate.
If you want to go even higher, try out a high ropes or zip wire activity.
Planning checklist
If you're working with an external provider or external instructors to run this activity outside the unit meeting space, follow these extra steps.
- Arrange for a home contact. Leave any route or other relevant details with your home contact and complete a home contact agreement form. Let them know if you make any changes to your plans.
- Tell your local commissioner.
- Tell the activity provider about the ability and experience of the participants and any disabilities, access needs or health conditions that need to be considered when running the activity.
- Choose a reputable and licensed activity provider (where applicable).
- Check the qualified adults hold the correct qualification to be able to run the activity (see the information below).
- Get copies of the instructor qualifications and public liability insurance of the activity provider before you book.
- Ask for a copy of the providers' safety guidelines and risk assessment.
- Make sure you have the correct ratio of participants (girls and volunteers) to qualified adults (those running the activity). This is different to the ratio of leaders to girls.
- Check with the venue that they have the correct equipment and, if needed, specialist clothing that will meet the requirements for your group.
- Source any specialist equipment or clothing needed to run the activity not provided by the venue, and make sure this is in good condition and fit for purpose.
- Check that any equipment is suitably insured by the provider and agree what happens to the equipment if it gets damaged.
Some venues might ask for a disclaimer or waiver to be signed for each person taking part in the activity. This is something which parents/carers must sign on behalf of their child. You can do this along with the consent form. Parents and carers should be given sufficient information from the provider along with the waiver so they can make an informed decision to sign it or not. Leaders can only sign disclaimers and waivers for their own personal participation.
No formal qualifications needed for adventure playgrounds.
Zip lines are different to zip wires, and can be found in local parks or in playgrounds and are only a few feet off the ground; these do not require a qualified instructor to operate.
Girls must be supervised by an adult.
Ensure girls wear appropriate clothing, remove loose jewellery, and wear closed toe shoes.
If looking to use a zip line at a playground, the girl must be able to climb onto the apparatus unaided and reach the zip line handles by herself. Leaders are able to assist with collecting the zip handle, pulling it back to the start of the zip line, or holding the handle while the girl climbs on.
If due to mobility issues, a girl requires further support in order to climb the apparatus or hold onto the zip line handle, 2 adults are required to assist. They must be positioned with one adult on either side of the girl helping hold her across the duration of the zip line.
The ratios below are given as a maximum and ratios must be considered as part of the risk assessment, this may lessen due to any medical conditions or other factors.
Leadership team ratio
As this activity will take place outside of your usual meeting place the leadership team adult to girl ratio is mandatory.
Rainbows 1:5 (minimum of 2 adults)
Brownies 1:8
Guides 1:12
Rangers: N/A