Discover OAA: Outdoor Adventurous Activities for Skills, Confidence and Fun
Outdoor Adventurous Activities (OAA) give young people the chance to explore, challenge themselves, and build confidence in the outdoors. From navigating woodland trails to working together on climbing challenges, OAA encourages teamwork, resilience, and problem-solving while connecting participants with nature.
If you're looking for inspiration, guidance, and ready-to-use resources, visit our Activity Hub OAA page for ideas and materials to help you get started. You can access a whole Year 3 Unit of OAA on our two-week free trial.
Below are some popular OAA activities along with useful resources to help you plan and deliver them.
1. Orienteering Challenges
Orienteering is a fun way to introduce navigation skills while encouraging exploration and teamwork. Participants use a map (and sometimes a compass) to locate a series of checkpoints placed around an outdoor area such as a field, park, or woodland. Each checkpoint might include a marker, a clue, or a task to complete before moving on. Activities can be adapted for different ages and abilities, ranging from simple picture maps for beginners to timed challenges that test navigation accuracy and decision-making.
2. Knot Tying Skills
Knot tying is a practical outdoor skill that supports many adventurous activities, including climbing, camping, and shelter building. Participants learn how to tie and recognise different knots, understand their uses, and practise them until they can do them confidently. Activities can include knot-tying races, matching knots to their uses, or challenges where participants must use the correct knot to secure equipment or build something useful.
3. Scavenger Hunts
Scavenger hunts encourage participants to explore their surroundings while paying closer attention to nature and the environment. Individuals or teams are given a list of items, clues, or features to find. These could include specific plants, natural objects, shapes, or colours. This activity promotes observation skills, curiosity, and movement outdoors, while also offering opportunities to learn about wildlife, habitats, and the natural world.
4. Problem-Solving Team Challenges
Outdoor problem-solving challenges encourage participants to work together to complete tasks that require communication, creativity, and teamwork. These challenges might involve building a structure, transporting objects without touching them, solving physical puzzles, or completing a timed group task. The focus is often on collaboration and reflection, helping participants learn to share ideas, plan strategies, and support each other in reaching a goal.
Ready to Try More OAA Activities?
Whether you're planning a short session or a full outdoor adventure programme, you’ll find more ideas, guides, and downloadable resources in the OAA Activity Hub.