Family-Friendly Educational Adventures in the UK

When you have kids, adventures can be more time-consuming, stressful, and exhausting, but it doesn't have to be this way. It starts for most people with what they choose to do. To cultivate a successful adventure, every member of the family should be interested in what you are doing. It also helps the kids if there is an educational aspect involved. Well, you're in luck. There are plenty of family-friendly activities in the UK that provide fun and education at once, keeping the parents interested and the kids content. Read on to find out about what is available to you.

The Dormouse Survey

In Somerset, the National Trust's working holidays involved various outdoor activities including plant and animal surveys. You can volunteer and identify plants, monitor bats and birds, survey wildflowers and butterflies. There are plenty of options for science-based nature activities, but coming up is the Dormouse Survey in September. On 12,000 acres of moorland, woodlands, and beaches, you can survey these tiny creatures. Taking place in Exmoor national park, you will be surrounded by beautiful land and adorable little mice. The survey is vital to sustaining the population, their numbers have declined by a third since the year 2000.

The Big Forest Find

The country's largest survey of wildlife is Forestry England's Big Forest Find. Volunteers download the iNaturalist app and use it to take photos of plants and animals. Then they upload the photos and identify the species. Species include lichen and other types of fungi, birds, and mammals. Observations are verified by experts and added to the national records on biodiversity. Taking place until the end of October, this survey can be a very fun activities for adults and young ones alike.

The Rock Pool Project

If you or your children are interested in marine research, you can combine this activity with rockpooling in day trips around Falmouth and St. Mawes. This offers the chance to discover the Cornish coast and survey its local wildlife. Volunteers take part in helping build a map of rock pool diversity. Those who participate are given waterproof cameras to take photos documenting the rock pools. There is a two-hour guided experience and at the end participants collect their findings and attach the species' names.

Visit the Natural History Museum

Visiting the Natural History Museum in London can be the perfect family outing during the summer. Get close to nature, learn new things, and enjoy all the fun the museum has to offer. There are family exhibitions, hands-on activities, and action-packed school holiday progammes. At the Natural History Museum, there is something for everyone. This is an activity everyone can enjoy. Children, young people, and adults all seem to love it.

Silurian Research Expeditions

Silurian Research Expeditions offer an in-depth science experience. Through the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust, they offer research-based boat trips between seven and 12 days. This is a bit more interactive, but it can be an incredibly inspiring trip for kids interested in science. The project monitors dolphins, porpoises, and whales. They even monitor basking sharks off the coast of Scotland. While a week is a long time, these expeditions can be near-life changing.

The Mull Otter Group

While otters are elusive creatures, the Mull Otter Group can provide a fantastic experience spotting otters. It encourages visitors to record otter sightings on its website, which helps the group understand the animal's biology and ecology. Though sightings are not guaranteed, this is your best bet if you’re trying to see some otters. It can also be a great way for the family to get outside.

EU Visitors

When Brexit becomes official, EU citizens will have a harder time visiting the UK for these family-friendly activities. According to the site MoneyPug, which is used to compare travel insurance, the UK government is recommending that all EU tourists take out travel insurance since there is a lot of uncertainty surrounding visas. With so many family activities available in the UK, it remains to be seen what will happen with the situation after Brexit.

If you are looking for a nature and education-based activity to do with your family, you have plenty of options to make everyone happy while learning new things and seeing some lovely nature.