How to have adventures when we can’t go far from home

Through our new partnership with the Royal Navy, who are sponsoring the Explore skills builder, we’re giving girls the chance to experience adventure.

There are still ways to have adventure even though we can’t go far from home at the moment. Together with the Royal Navy, we’ve come up with these fun activity ideas which can be shared in meetings or with girls to do in their own time.

So, whether it’s putting their navigational skills to the test or having a go at making a paper boat to see how it floats, when we’re able to go further afield, girls will be ready for their next big adventure!

Take a trip around the world

You’re off on an adventure around the world and you’re travelling by sea. Where would you go? Which countries would you visit?

1. Write down a list of five countries you’d like to go to by sea
2. Which seas and oceans would you have to cross to get from one to the other?
3. Which direction would you have to travel?
4. Create a map of your route
5. Now your route’s planned, you’re off! Can you find out something you didn’t know about the countries you’re visiting? What language do they speak and how many people live there? If you’re travelling by boat, which port would you arrive at?

Create a navigation chart

A navigation chart is a map of the sea and coast. They’re used by sailors to help them find their way and avoid hazards like rocks. Navigation charts give information about:

• The depth of the waters
• What the seabed is like, for example whether there’s sand or rock
• The names of places along the coast such as beaches and towns
• Where the harbours are and what they’re called
• Hazards such as rocks or shipwrecks
• When there are high and low tides
• Speed restrictions
• The tidal currents sailors need to be aware of

Imagine you’re a sailor. Have a go at creating your own navigation chart. Start by drawing a coastline. You could do this by looking at a map and choosing part of the coast or you could use your imagination.

Show where the sea is and mark places on land like seaside towns and villages. What hazards will your boats have to look out for? Are there rocks or shipwrecks beneath the water? What’s the name of the harbour? How deep is the water?

Make a compass

All explorers need to know the direction they’re travelling, especially at night or in foggy conditions, and they have different equipment and aids to help them. Have a go at making a toy compass to play some games at home.

Cut a piece of string and tie the ends together to create a circle. This will become your compass, but first you need to know where north is. You can use the sun to help you do this.

When you’re in your home, where does the sun come from in the morning? This is east. In the afternoon, can you see where it sets? This is west. Write the letters E and W on pieces of paper and add them to the string to show which way is east and which way is west. Now you know where east and west are, you can add north and south.

Once you’ve figured out the compass points, can you play a game with your household and see if you can navigate your way to hidden treasure? Perhaps you could also figure out the directions you need to travel to go to nearby places, like your friend’s house or the park?

Build a boat

All boats need to be built correctly so they float. Try making a boat out of paper and then test it on water. You could put water in a sink or a bucket.

If you use different sized pieces of paper, how well does each boat float? Are some more stable than others?

Even more ideas

For further activities, use the badge finder to find out more about the Explore skills builder. The activities are among those that have also been adapted to do virtually or with  social distancing when restrictions allow.