Natural sculptures
You’ll need
- Natural materials (for example, leaves, twigs, feathers)
- Access to outdoor space
Use the art and music of nature to inspire creativity and celebrate what nature means to you.
Before you begin
- Check the location you plan to use. If there aren’t already a variety of natural items (like leaves, sticks, stones, grass), collect some for the activity.
Imagination game
- Everyone should stand in a space and close their eyes.
- Everyone should imagine they are walking through an outdoor space, like a wood or a field. As they walk, they come across a sculpture.
- Everyone should imagine their sculpture. It should be small, and only made of natural materials that you might find on the ground outside – such as leaves, sticks, stones, grass. The sculpture should feel like it is meant to be there because it makes the natural area even more interesting. Make sure everyone can imagine their sculpture in detail.
- Everyone should get into in pairs and describe what they imagined. What did it look like? What was it made from? Did it have any meaning?
- Each pair should use the natural materials available to make their own sculpture, capturing both of their ideas. Before they start creating, they should talk about what to make and the materials they need to find or gather.
Reflection
This activity was about valuing the outdoors and being happy. During the activity you used your imagination and the amazing things we find in nature to create unique pieces of art. Nature is the best artist, but did you come close? What is it about your sculpture that you like the most? If we leave the sculptures outside where we made them, what will happen to them over the next few weeks?
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.
- Outdoor activities
You must have permission to use the location. Always check the weather forecast, and inform parents and carers of any change in venue.
- 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.
Can you recreate a man-made sculpture with natural items they see on their walk?
- Make sure your chosen area is suitable for everyone in your group. Consider collecting natural materials to bring to a more accessible meeting space.
- Make sure you gather or have access to a range of natural materials, with different sizes and textures so there is something for everyone.
All Scout activities should be inclusive and accessible.
Could you recreate your sculpture with materials from the recycling bin?
Encourage everyone to come up with their own ideas, no matter how farfetched. There are no right or wrong answers.