#MuddyPuddleChallenge

What is the Muddy Puddle Challenge?

The outdoor industry is challenging YOU to get your feet wet for a good cause! Get your welly boots on and make a splash to take part in the #MuddyPuddleChallenge.

#MuddyPuddleChallenge raises awareness for the outdoor education and adventures that have been missed out on over the last year by children nationwide, alongside the #SaveOutdoorEd and #GetKidsOutside campaigns. It’s time to put our foot down (in puddles) to bring attention to the importance of our industry!

Since March 2020, outdoor centres have been unable to run residential school trips. Thousands of children have missed out on formative experiences that residential trips provide. Mount Cook alone usually sees up to 3000 school children come through our doors each summer, the majority from Derbyshire and our surrounding areas. In the upcoming months while we regain normality, overnight trips away from parents, and tackling new adventures in a safe, controlled environment will be vital for re-building confidence in young people.

The outdoor industry is still waiting for an official date from the Department for Education for school residential trips to be able to resume. The sector has already presented a Covid-19 safe operating protocol, to the DfE and Public Health England, to allow centres to operate safely.

Mount Cook CEO, Steve Turner tells us; “As restrictions ease, we believe that access to the outdoors for all children and young people is absolutely critical to their recovery and wellbeing. We are part of the solution and we want to get back to work as soon as possible, doingwhat we do best, which is bringing a sense of discovery and joy. We want to do that before it’s too late for our sector and our young people are further damaged by a lack of access to that natural healer, the great outdoors.”

It is recognised that being outside is beneficial for preventing the spread of the virus, and even on a residential young people spend the vast majority of their time outside. It stands to reason that residential trips should be able to go ahead. Many centres have spent the last year introducing safety measures such as reducing capacity and social distancing, and our entire industry is based on mitigating risk.

How can you help?

The Department of Education will review their position on residential trips in March. We need all our supporters to raise awareness in the run up this.

Upload a video of yourself or your family and friends doing their best splash in the biggest muddy puddle you can find Tag us in your #muddypuddlechallenge and we will share your splash and give a shout out to the most epic puddle jump in your own Facebook post!

Copy and paste the following into your post:

Post a pic/video of your best muddy puddle splash - create your own puddle if your need to and don’t be afraid to get creative!

Sign the petition to financially support the outdoor industry – https://t.co/5DYUZ9uJ1T

Share these steps in your caption, use the hashtag #muddlepuddlechallenge & nominate 3 friends to take on the splash!

I was challenged by.......I challenge.......

Please also write to your MP using this letter template: https://campaigns.thebmc.co.uk/save-outdoor-centres