Summer holiday ideas

With long weeks stretching out over the summer holidays, it's time to plan some adventures and activities that are fun AND help people, animals and the environment. So get creative, go on a wildlife safari, have an adventure with your friends, read some inspirational books, and have fun!

1. Start a wildlife book club

There are loads of brilliant wildlife books out there, packed full of advice, stories, guidance and inspirational people and stories. So why not discover and share new ideas by forming a book club with a group of friends?Either pick one book for everyone in the group to read, or ask each person  in the group to pick a different book. After enough time to read the book, or some of it, arrange to meet up either in person or online. Choose some topics to talk about, and discuss the book or books. For example, you might want to think about what ideas for conservation you've got from the book, or ideas for action you could take.Looking for book inspiration? Check out our list of some of the best environmental books for kids.

2. Go on safari... in your neighbourhood!

You don't need to go far to discover something new and amazing. We often don't really pay attention to the familiar surroundings of areas closer to us, but by taking some time to really explore, you might find fascinating things. For example, you might spot animals, plants and insects that you'd not noticed before. Perhaps you'll find hidden paths, alleys, parks or gardens. Sometimes, something as simple as exploring a new route can be exciting. The more we appreciate what's around us, the more we connect with it, the more we want to protect and conserve it.Our Local Safari activity is a great guide on how to do this, and you might even want to create a 'treasure map' that marks all the local places of interest.

3. Get crafty

Rain in the summer holidays is inevitable, and it's the perfect opportunity to get creative indoors. There are plenty of things you can do, from creating posters to upcycling materials into something new and useful, and lots of these can be done with bits and bobs you have lying around the house already.Here are a few ideas:

• Create mini plant pots out of toilet roll
• Create a radio advert
• Transform PET plastic bottles into something new
• Create a poster to reduce, reuse and recycle

4. Do a litter pick

There's something really satisfying about a litter pick - it's great to remove waste from the environment, and feel like you've achieved something, plus it's a great activity to do when you're outdoors. Whether you do it on your own, with your family or with friends, and in your local park, on the beach or elsewhere, try and fit in a litter pick this summer.You'll need a rubbish back, and litter pick stick or grabber, or gloves. Be careful not to pick up anything that might cause injury, so avoid glass and metal. Some locations, like beaches, will often have litter pick equipment available to borrow, which is even better!

5. Create some landscape art

Landscape are is where you use natural materials to create a piece of art specific to the location it's in. For example, creating pictures out of leaves in a forest, or weaving long grass next to a pond into a shape, or creating a little archway out of rocks to frame a view.One of the most magical things about this kind of art is that it's transient; it will fade or blow away, changing as nature does, leaving only memories and photographs... so don't forget to take one! Another thing to ensure is that nothing is damaged: use only fallen leaves, don't pick plants, and done break up stones or rocks. It's also important to ensure it's safe - for example, not making a big pile of stones that might fall and hurt someone!Outside of this, you can go wild! We'd love to see what you create.