Field notes

Stories from the trail

Ideas for getting outside with curious kids, how Scout works, and what we're learning from families on real walks.

How Scout works

Scout Walks: real nature walks near you, sent to your child as an adventure

Scout Walks finds real wild places near you, shows what's been seen there this month, and lets you send one to your child as a mission, with a reward from you.

9 min readHow Scout works

How Scout works, from the walk to the big reveal

Everything Scout does, explained properly: the nature model on the camera, why it names groups and families on the walk, why the real answer waits for home, and Scout HQ, with its cards, map, Ask Sophie and the nature journal.

9 min readGet outside

Bug hunt for kids: where to look, what to bring and how to tell minibeasts apart

Plan a bug hunt for kids: the best places to look, a safe homemade pooter, a simple minibeast ID table, and how to handle every creature kindly.

6 min readGet outside

Night walk with kids: bats, moths, owls and glowing eyes to find after dark

A night walk with kids: how to see in the dark, where to find bats, owls, moths and slugs, what glows when, what's out in fall, and how to stay safe.

7 min readBehind the scenes

Screen time vs outdoor time for kids: what the research says, and a screen that points outward

Screen time vs outdoor time for kids: what research says about time outside, what it doesn't, and practical ways for families to find a balance that works.

7 min readGet outside

12 nature walk games for kids that 9 to 13 year olds actually enjoy

Twelve nature walk games for kids aged 9 to 13, from sound maps and micro-safaris to camera challenges, with twists that keep older kids interested.

6 min readGet outside

Tide pooling with kids: when to go, how to stay safe and what you'll find

Tide pooling with kids: how to read the tides, stay safe on slippery rocks, find crabs, sea stars and anemones, and leave every pool as you found it.

5 min readGet outside

Nature gifts for kids aged 9 to 13 that actually get them outside

Nature gifts for kids aged 9 to 13 that get used, not shelved: binoculars, hand lenses, bug pots, journals, memberships and nights out, with how to choose.

6 min readGet outside

Things to do outside in the rain with kids: a rainy-day nature walk

Things to do outside in the rain with kids: what comes out when it's wet, puddle science, a DIY rain gauge, the smell of rain, and how to stay safe.

8 min readGet outside

10 nature photography tips for kids (that also help you identify what you found)

Ten simple nature photography tips for kids aged 9 to 13: get close, hold steady, use the light, be patient with insects and take photos that help with ID.

6 min readGet outside

Leave No Trace for kids: turning the rules into habits for every walk

Leave No Trace for kids: the official version, what it really means on a family walk, and simple habits children can remember and explain to others.

5 min readGet outside

How to start a nature journal for kids (and keep it going as a family)

How to start a nature journal for kids aged 9 to 13: a simple kit, three prompts that make it easy, drawing tips for non-artists and pressing leaves.

6 min readHow Scout works

Why a camera of their own beats a nature identification app for kids on your phone

A nature identification app for kids on your phone is free, but the phone brings distractions. Here's why a camera of their own makes a better nature walk.

9 min readGet outside

How to get kids interested in nature (when they'd rather be on a screen)

How to get kids interested in nature when they'd rather be on a screen: practical ideas for 9 to 13 year olds that start from what they already love.

7 min readThe campaign

How does Kickstarter work? How to back Scout, step by step

How does Kickstarter work? A plain guide to backing Scout: making an account, choosing a reward, when you're charged, and what "all or nothing" means.

5 min readGet outside

A fall nature scavenger hunt: 20 things to find (with points)

A free fall nature scavenger hunt for 9 to 13 year olds: 20 things to find, a points system, photo and sketch challenges, and simple safety rules.

6 min readHow Scout works

How to photograph plants for identification: find the part that gives it away

How to photograph plants for identification: the parts that give a plant away, a what-to-photograph checklist for kids, plus mushrooms and minibeasts.

7 min readGet outside

Pond dipping with kids: kit, safe technique and what you'll find

A friendly guide to pond dipping with kids: the kit you need, how to dip safely, what lives in the net, and how to put every creature back gently.

5 min readHow Scout works

A nature camera for kids? Honest answers to the questions parents ask us

Thinking about a nature camera for kids? Straight answers on screen time, free phone apps, lost interest, privacy, cost and what you need at home.

6 min readHow Scout works

Kids camera privacy: what really happens to your child's Scout photos

Kids camera privacy, step by step: where your child's Scout photos go, why photos with faces stay on your family's devices, and what we don't collect.

6 min readHow Scout works

How Scout knows what it's looking at

The science behind Scout, in plain words: a quick guess on the walk, a careful answer on our own secure servers, a guide that only speaks up when it's sure, and why children's photos stay at home.

5 min readGet outside

Urban nature walk with kids: how to find wildlife in the city

An urban nature walk with kids, made easy: plants in sidewalk cracks, lichen air clues, city birds, street trees and the animals that share our streets.

7 min readGet outside

Signs of spring for kids: 13 things to find, and how to record the first ones

Signs of spring for kids to hunt for this month, from skunk cabbage to spring peepers, plus how to keep a first-sightings record scientists can use.

5 min readGet outside

Why are there so many spiders in the fall? The real reasons

Why are there so many spiders in the fall? Garden spiders are fully grown and house spider males go looking for mates. Here's what's happening.

7 min readGet outside

How to teach kids about nature when you don't know the names of anything

How to teach kids about nature when you don't know much yourself: questions to ask instead of answers, a simple routine, and free ways to find out.

7 min readGet outside

How to identify trees by their leaves: a simple guide for kids

How to identify trees by their leaves: the six clues to look for, a table of common trees near you, and a leaf detective game for kids aged 9 to 13.

7 min readGet outside

Winter backyard birds to spot from your window (and how to feed them safely)

Winter backyard birds made easy: the ones kids can spot from the window, one simple clue to name each bird, and how to feed them safely all winter.

6 min readHow Scout works

How are species named? How scientists name living things, explained for curious kids

How are species named? Two-part Latin names, Linnaeus, the ladder from kingdom to species, and why a UK robin and a US robin are different birds.

6 min readGet outside

Citizen science for kids: how your child's sightings can help real scientists

Citizen science for kids: how a child's nature sightings help real research, the best projects to join through the year, and the age rules for apps.

6 min readGet outside

Bird songs for beginners: learn five songs first, with easy memory tricks

Bird songs for beginners: the five songs to learn first in the UK or the US, memory phrases that make them stick, why birds sing and free tools to help.

5 min readGet outside

What to look for in nature each month: a year of wildlife, January to December

What to look for in nature each month, January to December: a kid-friendly calendar of wildlife to spot in the UK and the US, with when and where to look.

7 min readGet outside

Mushroom hunting with kids: where to look, what to notice, how to stay safe

Mushroom hunting with kids: where and when to look, what to notice, easy ones to spot, and the one rule that matters most: look, but never pick.

7 min readHow Scout works

Meet the Scout guides: the nature app for kids with characters who explore too

Scout is a nature app for kids with characters: eight guides, each with their own personality and voice. Hear every one of them, find the one that suits your child, and tell us who you'd like to see.

5 min read