Local Explorer Challenge 2021: Young Explorers

Are you up for a challenge?

This year we are asking you to get out and explore your local area with the return of our Explorer Challenge. Take a walk around your local area, with friends or family, to find lots of interesting things located in your neighbourhood.

What is the Explorer Challenge? For 2021 we have created a bingo style card with lots of different things to find, specifically for under-16's. This includes street art, mural, statue, graffiti or a modern mosaic featuring children, a place named after a person and a Victorian school sign.

Can you get a full row, a column, or even a whole sheet? We'd love to see how you get on! Share your progress and photos using the #LocalExplorerChallenge hashtag or by emailing us (or ask an adult to help out).

The Star Item Challenge - this year, each challenge has a "star item" which is extra hard to spot. If you find one, ask an adult to send us a photo via social media, using the #LocalExplorerChallenge hashtag, or email [email protected]

Young Explorer Challenge list

1. A structure which has changed use A phone box which houses a defibrillator, a church that’s now a theatre – what has stayed the same but changed its use near you?

2. Narrow streets, passages, ginnels, alleys Small pedestrian routes through towns and cities – what are they called where you live?

3. Victorian school sign Victorian schools were often split into two sides and boys and girls would enter via separate gates. Many school buildings of that era still have boys and girls signs over each entrance.

4. Painted playground floor games Like hopscotch, snakes and ladders or a racetrack for example.

5. A place or street name which indicates what activity used to happen there

6. Town hall A town hall, city hall or guildhall was often the centre of administration and local government. These civic buildings were often designed to impress. It still counts if it has been converted to a different use since.

7. Post box The classic red post-box design is a well-known part of the British streetscape. Can you tell the age of one near you?

8. Railway station In the nineteenth century, railways changed transport forever. How old is your closest railway station?

9. Skateboard, rollerblade or scooter ramp

10. Blue plaque Blue plaques on buildings mark places with a connection to famous historical people, for example where they lived or worked, or were born or died. They recognise all kinds of different people: authors, inventors, politicians, sports people, actors and more.

11. Street art, mural, statue, graffiti or modern mosaic featuring children

12. Bird feeder, bee box or bug hotel Find the ways in which people encourage wildlife near them.

13. Industrial structure Any building or structure connected with industry – maybe a mill, factory or mine.

14. A place named after a person Saints, local celebrities, ancient kings – can you find a town, street or building near you which is named after a person?

15. A gravestone that predates 1800 Finding gravestones is an easy task – finding one that dates earlier than 1800 is a bit more of a job! Make sure you take an adult with you when exploring a graveyard.

16. Star Item Women’s contributions to history can be overlooked. Can you find a statue, blue plaque, or other public memorial which commemorates a woman? If so, share your photo with us by email or on social media – we'd love to see!