As the famous Jackson song proclaims, ABC is, “easy as 123” so rather than write a numbered list of suggested ideas, hints and tips for family adventuring we thought we’d offer some thoughts using the alphabet. Here we focus on Q to S.

Question how you spend your time. Look for ways to maximise quality time with the family.

“It’s a terrible thing, I think, in life to wait until you’re ready. I have this feeling now that actually no one is ever ready to do anything. There is almost no such thing as ready. There is only now. And you may as well do it now. Generally speaking, now is as good a time as any.”

We all love a bit of sunshine; it lightens the mood and provides essential vitamins but we also know that that big ball of fire in the sky is dangerous so it’s important to protect ourselves when and where necessary. Young children in particular must take care of their skin when outside because a couple of incidents of sunburn can increase the likelihood of melanoma when older; sunburn is not only painful and uncomfortable but can have long lasting effects.

The simple act of putting on suncream adds a layer of protection from the harmful UV rays. Wearing clothing, hats and sunglasses also help protect the body. Check out the advice and information given on the Outdoor Kids Sun Safety Code: http://oksunsafetycode.com/

Shelter is one the basic human needs for survival. Whilst you might never find yourself in a survival situation, the skills for building shelters could come in handy. When out in the woods, build a den or shelter from sticks, branches and leaves that you could then sleep in. There are all kinds of shelter design that could experiment with.

Sheltering from the sun at certain times of the day is important, particularly for young children. More and more people have sun shelters (pop-up tents that have an open sides.

This isn’t about sleeping but where you choose to sleep out and how. Escape the comforts of your bed and sleep under the stars. There are various different options from sleeping in a tent, bivvy bag, Tentsile (see below), hammock, bothy, yurt, tipi, igloo…the list goes on and on!

No, not the animal type but a safari in the local area using a scooter or sledge (in snowy conditions) as transport. Pack up some provisions and take off for a few hours exploring.

Don’t wait for summer or warmer weather to go camping; venture out in the other seasons. Gnarly adventurers that trek across the Antarctic have to deal with sub-zero temperatures and so can you, even if it is in the safety of your own back garden. Wrap up warm with lots of layers and you’ll soon feel like you’re a gnarly adventurer too.

Share ideas with other people and learn from each other. Get tips and advice as well as inspiration from like-minded people.