There is nothing like organising an outdoor rally to raise environmental awareness among the whole family. Whether you are organising a rally for children, a school project or a team-building activity for adults, a well-designed nature rally will ensure an educational as well as fun experience. To be truly satisfied with the event, it must be well planned and prepared in advance.
A rally is basically a kind of orientation walk, often on foot, along a series of checkpoints or activities. In the case of a nature rally, participants explore a natural area, look for specific elements, solve riddles or perform certain tasks. It is a perfect way to learn about nature through play.
Follow our various tips to organise a successful, fun, educational and safe nature rally for all participants.
Summary
1. Decide on the location of the rally
First of all, you need to decide where the rally will take place. Choose a place that is easily accessible to the participants and contains a variety of elements to explore, which allows you to set up different activities. Consider a forest, park, nature reserve or even a large playground. Make sure the venue is safe and appropriate for your chosen level of audience, for example, for a rally for families or schools.
You can also choose a date that suits most participants. Avoid periods of bad weather or holidays when many people are absent.
2. Determine the goals and rules of the rally
The goals of the nature rally can vary depending on the age and interests of the participants. The goals may include:
- Discovering local flora and fauna
- Encouraging environmental awareness
- Strengthening team spirit
- Improving orientation skills
- Educational learning in an informal setting
Regarding the rules of the rally: draw these up in advance, as well as safety instructions, to ensure the safety of all participants during the event. Consider clear agreements on the use of materials, respecting nature and rules of conduct during the activities.
3. Prepare the activities
The activities should be fun, educational and adapted to the age and abilities of the participants. You should choose a theme for your rally to align the different activities with. Popular themes for a nature rally include: biodiversity, waste sorting, seasons, or local history.
Activities can include:
- Searching for specific elements such as plants or animals
- Solving riddles and puzzles
- Physical challenges such as small obstacle courses
- Taking photos as evidence tasks
- Quizzes about flora and fauna or the environment
- Creative tasks such as nature paintings or building a shelter
You can create different courses based on the chosen themes, so that everyone has a chance to succeed and the rally game is suitable for the whole family. An educational rally should include enough game elements to motivate children, while adults can also enjoy substantive challenges. Provide a balance between physical and mental tasks.
4. Prepare materials
Consider providing a route map showing all stages of the course. To evaluate the participants at the end of the rally, it is also useful to prepare a correction sheet with the correct answers.
Also provide a map of the area where the rally is taking place and number it to indicate the location of each sign. This way, participants will not get lost during the rally.
Make sure you have all the necessary equipment for the activities, such as cameras, pencils, maps and compasses, and check that everything works properly before the start of the rally. If necessary, also add aids such as magnifying glasses, binoculars or tablets for digital tasks.
Allow time for placing road markings and signage. Mark the route with arrows, signs and checkpoints. In a rally for children, it is important that the route is clear and visually appealing. Use colours and pictograms to guide the youngest ones.
5. Inform the teams
Divide the participants into teams of 3-5 people and assign a responsible adult to each team if children are participating. Teams can be formed in advance or on the spot. You can let each team choose a name to make them feel more involved in the event. This increases team spirit and creates a playful atmosphere.
Before the start of the nature rally, gather all participants to explain the rules, goals and planned activities. Answer all questions and give clear instructions, for example on how to use the equipment or fill in answer forms. Don’t forget safety rules, such as the importance of staying on the paths and not picking plants or disturbing animals.
6. Present a prize to the winning team
At the end of the nature rally, present a prize to the winning team and thank all participants for their efforts. You can provide different prize categories depending on the goals of the rally and the activities carried out.
For example:
- Best team
- Most beautiful nature photo
- Most original creation
- Most environmentally conscious team
- Greatest team spirit
You can also provide a snack moment or small party moment with healthy refreshments. Consider tapping sponsors willing to donate prizes in exchange for visibility during the event. This is a smart way to cut costs while giving your rally a professional touch.
7. Provide follow-up after the event
By offering an online registration or ticketing system, you can collect data from participants and contact them after the event. Ask them for feedback on the organisation and activities: what did they like, what could have been better, which activities would they like to do again next year?
This feedback will help you make your next rally for groups or families even better. You also show that you are committed to quality and commitment.
You might also consider sending out a newsletter with tips on conservation, ideas for outdoor activities or information on future events. This way, you build an engaged community around your environmentally conscious events.
With Weezevent, you organise your rally without any worries, all this thanks to our online solutions! You can offer your participants registration or ticketing systems in just a few clicks, for a smoother and more enjoyable experience. Whether it’s a small-scale event or a large-scale environmental festival, our tools will help you every step of the way.
