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An arty expedition

Go on an expedition, then make something inspired by your experience.

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You’ll need

  • Map
  • Bag (optional)
  • Notepad (optional)
  • Pen/pencil (optional)
  • Cameras (optional)
  • Suitable clothing and equipment for your planned exploration
  • Suitable equipment for the art form you choose

Before you begin 

  • Use the safety checklist to help you plan and risk assess your activity. Take a look at our guidance to help you carry out your risk assessment, including examples.  
  • Make sure all young people and adults involved in the activity know how to take part safely.
  • Make sure you’ll have enough adult helpers. You may need some parents and carers to help if you’re short on helpers. 

Planning and setting up this activity

  • If you’re collecting natural materials, make sure your items are responsibly sourced and never disturb nests. Always check local or UK laws, and always have landowners' permission before taking items from nature. It’s best to choose things that have fallen. Alternatively, you could use craft versions of natural items, such as shells, leaves, pebbles, moss, bark, play sand and pinecones from a local craft store.
  • You may wish to run this activity over several weeks, with one week to plan, one to explore, one to create and one to share.

Running this activity

  1. Ask if anyone knows what an expedition is. Explain that an expedition is a journey undertaken by a group of people with a particular purpose, such as exploration or research.
  2. Ask if anyone’s been inspired by art to explore somewhere new and what made them want to go there.
  3. Tell everyone you’re going to go on your own expedition to explore somewhere new, then you’re going to make something to remember it.
  4. You may want to look at expedition artwork or photos for inspiration. You could talk about why they may have chosen the images or style they did, how the art tells the story of their journeys and if it shares a particular message. Some examples are:
    • Dwayne Fields and Saray Khumalo have shared photos from their expeditions.
    • Artist Alexandra Gould documented the Five Deeps Expedition (the first manned expedition to the deepest point in each of the five oceans)
    • Artist Danielle Eubank’s painted every ocean in the world.
  5. Together, everyone should choose a local area you haven’t explored to visit.
  6. Before you visit, think about what you’d like to create to remember your expedition. This could be:
    • A sculpture
    • Something made of items you've collected
    • A collage, such as photos or paper
    • A short video
    • Alphabet photography 
    • Macro photography
    • A drawing, painting or creative map of the area
    • A soundscape (collection of sounds)
    • Artwork with a message, such as the environment, wellbeing or accessibility
  7. You’ll need to plan how you’ll gather materials or record ideas, thoughts or feelings, or inspiration. You could make notes, draw sketches, collect items, take photos or use audio recordings. Make sure you gather and take anything you need.
  8. When you’re ready, head to your chosen area, take your time and start exploring.
  9. There’s lots of ways to explore. You could:
  10. If you need to, safely and carefully gather any other materials you need.
  11. After the exploration, create your piece of art and bring your vision to life.
  12. Finally, share your art with someone else.  You could explain what inspired you, how your art represents your expedition, or the message you wanted to share. You could host a mini gallery for people to come and look at your art too.

Reflection

This activity was all about going on an expedition, exploring a new place and creating something inspired by that experience. You all had to choose somewhere to go. Why did we decide to visit where we went? Think about what it meant to you. How did it feel to go somewhere you hadn’t been before? What did you notice? What inspired you or stood out to you while you were there - sights, sounds, textures, or even feelings? How did you try and be creative? 
 
Now, think about your creative process. What did you decide to make, and why? Did this change during or after the visit? How does your artwork represent what your expedition? Does it share a message? Were there any challenges you faced?

People may have featured the same topic or area in their art. However, they’re likely to be slightly different. What are the similarities or differences between them? What does that tell us about explorations and about art? Lots of people may go to the same place, but see or feel it differently and have their own experiences, just like in art when people may choose the same subject, but be connected to it or see it differently from another angle or perspective. 

Safety

All activities must be safely managed. You must complete a thorough risk assessment and take appropriate steps to reduce risk. Use the safety checklist to help you plan and risk assess your activity. Always get approval for the activity, and have suitable supervision and an InTouch process.

You must run your activities in line with the Safeguarding Code of Conduct for Adults (Yellow Card) and report any concerns to the UK HQ Safeguarding Team.

Visits away from your meeting place

Complete a thorough risk assessment and include hazards, such as roads, woodland, plants, animals, and bodies of water (for example, rivers, ponds, lakes, and seas). You’ll probably need more adult helpers than usual. Your risk assessment should include how many adults you need. The young people to adult ratios are a minimum requirement. When you do your risk assessment, you might decide that you need more adults than the ratio specifies. Think about extra equipment that you may need to take with you, such as high visibility clothing, a first aid kit, water, and waterproofs. Throughout the activity, watch out for changes in the weather and do regular headcounts. 

Hiking and walking

Follow the guidance for activities in Terrain Zero, or the guidance from our adventurous activity pages.

Gardening and nature

Everyone must wash their hands after the activity has finished. Wear gloves if needed. Explain how to safely use equipment and set clear boundaries so everyone knows what’s allowed.

Scissors

Supervise young people appropriately when they’re using scissors. Store all sharp objects securely, out of the reach of young people.

Glue and solvents

Always supervise young people appropriately when they’re using glue and solvent products. Make sure there’s plenty of ventilation. Be aware of any medical conditions that could be affected by glue or solvent use and make adjustments as needed.

Craft: Unusual substances

Supervise young people appropriately when they’re using unusual substances, such as powdered paint, ash or dirt. Be aware of any medical conditions that could be affected by what’s being used. Make sure you follow all relevant safety guidance or manufacturers guidelines, where available. Make sure you dispose of it appropriately too, in line with safety guidance.

Make it accessible

All Scout activities should be inclusive and accessible.

Explorers Exploration Activity Badge