When asked what skills parents feel the next generation had lost, lighting a fire and map reading were among the highest-rated outdoor activities that their children simply did not know. While 83% of parents claim they think it is important to teach their kids these skills, almost half of the respondents admitted that they would not feel confident teaching them the basics, including reading a map, or identifying a flower.
Showing a greater reliance on technology in their everyday lives than ever, nearly 60% admitted that they would turn to the Internet to show them the basics, while 32% would even rely on their grandparents to show them what to do.
While many 40-60 year olds may have gained some experience of the cubs, scouts, sea cadets, ATC, OTC and even the Boys’ Brigade, although the wondrously engaging Bear Grylls, as the Chief Scout, can do little to stem the decline in that organisation’s membership. However, ask the 6-16 age group what occupies their time after school, or at weekends and, sadly, the majority will state that there is ‘nothing’ to do!
To inspire families to rediscover these dying skills, Vauxhall has teamed up with adventurer and Olympian James Cracknell to encourage parents to get their kids roaming for real to reignite their passion for the outdoors.
The top ten outdoor skills parents feel are dying out:
- Map Reading
- Reading a compass
- Identifying flora (and fauna)
- Lighting a campfire
- Bird watching
- Foraging
- Putting up a tent
- Tying a knot
- Fishing
- Toasting marshmallows
Vauxhall loaned a new Combo Life model, which is perfect for getting out with the family, to James. His two children, Kiki (9) and Trixie (7), put down their tablets and took to the Great British outdoors to try their hand at some of the nation’s top lost skills, whether they wanted to, or not!
Speaking about their adventure, James said: “We all have such busy lives and, for us, as a family, it’s really important to get outside for some quality time together, whether jumping into the car for a Sunday adventure in the countryside, or a weekend away at our house in North Devon. It’s been great to explore more of the outdoors with my girls and showing them a few skills has shown them how much fun you can have when you go back to basics.”
James Cracknell has some ‘how-to’ tips for easy outdoor activities with the family. The following is his recipe for lighting a real campfire outside:
- Collect the firewood. For this you will need a mix of small sticks, or dry leaves, known as ‘tinder’ for the base and bigger, dry sticks (‘kindling’) for the top.
- Arrange the kindling over a base of the dry leaves/sticks.
- Light the fire. This is one for the parents (with children’s supervision, naturally!). Grab your matches, or create a spark to light the tinder. Be careful, as the flames get very hot.
- Now that the fire is burning, it is time to toast the marshmallows. Enjoy with a hot chocolate for the perfect campfire experience.
Across the nation, families are eager to head to the great outdoors and set up camp. With 60% of parents from the East Midlands and Wales saying that erecting a tent is one of the highest-rated skills they would want to pass on to their children. Snowdonia, the Brecon Beacons and the rolling Pennines of the Peak District are the perfect locations to pitch up, as there is an abundance of scenic countryside and ideal places to camp and enjoy the great outdoors the UK has to offer.
The Vauxhall Combo Life provides an abundance of storage, huge boot space (1,355-litres), high levels of safety equipment and enough room for the whole family, as well as a state-of-the-art touchscreen infotainment system including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, to make it the perfect partner for a family weekend away.
