Outdoor Explorer Club launches at Killerton

The National Trust is launching an Outdoor Explorer Club for kids at the Killerton estate near Exeter. The club is all about adventures and exploring – with no parents allowed.

The importance of outdoor experiences in childhood is part of the National Trust’s strategy to engage young people with nature as part of its Land, Outdoors and Nature programme. One of the goals the Trust has set itself is to re-connect children with nature, which benefits physical and mental wellbeing.

Rebuilding the connections between children and nature is also vital to ensuring we can continue to protect wildlife, habitats and the environment in the future. This is because, in the words of David Attenborough: “No one will protect what they don’t care about; and no one will care about what they have never experienced.”

Andy Bramwell, Visitor Services Officer said: “At Killerton we want to make the outdoors relevant via fun and engaging activities for visitors and local communities. It’s also the best part of our job as we can create something that will give kids a memorable outdoor experience, and sow the seed of caring for the environment and nature.”

Andy continued: “We created Outdoor Explorer Club with exactly this in mind; lots of fun in the outdoors for youngsters that we hope they’ll remember for a long time. We are working in association with the experts from Exeter Outdoors to create activities that will change with the seasons, explore all parts of the parkland, and give kids an independent experience away from their parents.”

Outdoor Explorer Club will start on Saturday 16 April, and run on the third Saturday of the month until 17 September. You can drop your kids off in the care of qualified instructors from Exeter Outdoors, who will take them on a 3 hour adventure in the parkland and woodland at Killerton, teaching them all sort of bush-craft skills, spotting wildlife and building dens.

The club is aimed at children between 7 and 12, and spaces are limited so booking is recommended. Each session cost £25 per child, and you can buy all six for £125. Call 01392 881345 to book or see http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/killerton/whats-on/outdoor-explorer-club for more details.