G
Games
There are far too many good games for us to list, both indoor and outdoor – probably the best idea is to equip yourselves with a couple of good books.
Parachute games are good for building trust, and you can hire and sometimes buy silk or synthetic parachutes from the Children’s Scrapstore.
It’s worth assembling a few good games for long journeys.
Issue-based games can be used to explore difficult issues, or raise topics. Bwerani have a mobile library of multi-cultural toys, etc, that you could use for this type of game.
Or get hold of a copy of one of these good books on games:
- The New Youth Games Book, by Alan Dearling and Howard Armstrong, Russell House Publishing Ltd, UK, ISBN 1 898 924 007 - an invaluable source of games.
- Everyone wins - cooperative games and activities, by Sambhava and Josett Luvmour, New Society Publishers, US, ISBN 9 780 865 711 907
- Cooperative games, Peace Pledge Union, London ISBN 0 902 680 44 1
- Working together - a handbook for cooperation, Peace Pledge Union, London ISBN 0 902 680 44 7
Gardening
Got any space? Why not build yourselves a garden? Or rent an allotment off the Council, T: 0117 922 2000, and get your young people growing their favourite flowers and vegetables.
Growing confident people - Psychiatrists and physical therapists agree that gardening is an excellent way to relieve stress and get good exercise. As one says: “Gardening increases self-esteem, builds confidence, offers basic and social skills and for some even leads to qualifications and the opportunity to move into employment.”
Try contacting the following organisations for more ideas and activities, such as creating ponds, building an activity space, working as a conservation volunteer, etc:
The Growing Schools site has been designed to support teachers and practitioners in using the "outdoor classroom" as a resource across the curriculum for pupils of all ages.
Bristol’s Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) provides information for community groups on local environmental initiatives.
Buried Treasure based at The Park offers training, support & work experience in organic gardening, composting and recycling issues.
The Conservation Volunteers (TCV) based in the Create Centre, runs youth projects for those aged 11-19 and help hundreds of thousands of people each year to reclaim local green places through their own environmental projects and through their network of 2,000 community groups.
For smaller gardening endeavours, try bean sprouting, cress growing or creating miniature gardens in a bowl … all great for younger children. Jam-jar and saucer gardens: a garden in your bedroom by Arnold Darlington is a wonderful book for small growing projects and is full of good ideas.
Go-Karting
A perennial winner with the teens, and probably a whole day outing, regardless of the weather or the season.
Check out http://www.karting.co.uk for comprehensie info on the sport or ring the centres below for more info and prices.
Swindon Carting (indoor karting), Swindon
The Raceway (indoor karting), Bristol
SupaKart (indoor karting), Newport
Clay Pigeon Kart Raceway (outdoor track), Dorchester, Dorset
Combe Karting (outdoor track), Chippenham
Hullavington (outdoor track), near Corston, Wiltshire
West Country Karting (outdoor track), Bristol - also does mini-quads
Kartworld (outdoor track) Nr Liscard, Cornwall