Nature Play sets the holiday challenge

A new website listing 360 free, healthy, outdoor activity ideas is aiming to keep Western Australian children entertained this summer holidays.

The website is linked to Nature Play WA's 'Passport to an Amazing Childhood' which has already been distributed to more than 85,000 WA primary school children, who receive outdoor 'missions' via the internet.

The 360 missions were divided into three age groups (0-5 years, 6-9 years and 10-12 years) and 12 categories, including beach missions; parks missions; suburban missions; messy missions; rivers and lakes and national parks; and extreme missions.

Western Australian Sport and Recreation Minister Terry Waldron explains "it's no mystery that playing outdoors is good for children, the only mystery is how you make it exciting enough to get them interested in the first place.

"The approach Nature Play have taken is to make electronic play a powerful ally rather than an unbeatable enemy, with the website becoming a bridge between the virtual world and real world play."

Nature Play WA Chief Executive Griffin Longley said the new website incorporated elements common to many popular electronic games and opportunities for children to win prizes, including surfing lessons; science packs from the Water Corporation; Anaconda vouchers; a Yanchep adventure caving experience for eight from the Department of Environment and Conservation; and bike safety equipment from Travelsmart.

Longley explains "children using the website create a cartoon avatar and earn virtual points for it when they do real world outdoor missions.

"The points can then be traded for accessories for their avatar and move them up a leader board of all kids using the site.

"Nature Play WA passports are free and can be ordered for groups of more than 20, through the Nature Play WA website where you can also find a list of locations to pick up individual passports or you can simply use the website and receive the missions without having a passport at all."

For more information go to www.natureplaywa.org.au

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