Belgrad Forest Children Orienteering Experience

Treasure hunt in nature for kids in Belgrad Forest

Belgrad Forest, located in the north of {SEHIR}, is one of the closest gates to the city for children to get acquainted with nature. The high shade formed by beech and oak trees leaves a cool atmosphere even on summer mornings; this means a non-tiring and enjoyable environment for participants between the ages of 7-12. In this approximately two-hour experience, we tell children about orienteering not as a sport, but as a real treasure hunt. We give them a colorful map and a small compass around their necks and ask them to find the orange-white control flags hidden in the forest one by one. Streams, aqueducts, and wide forest roads are distinct signs that can be easily read on the map; when the child sees these signs in the real world, they discover for themselves that the map is not a toy, but a useful tool.

The trail network of Belgrad Forest is wide and legible. The intersecting roads allow the child to make choices without fear of getting lost. We consciously keep our routes short: each control point is a few hundred meters apart, and the entire route stays within a small piece of the forest. Our guide determines the group boundaries in advance and shows these boundaries to the children on the map.

Map reading, compass, and control card game

We start with a short introductory tour. We explain to children that the green area on the map means trees, the white area means sparse forest, and the blue line means water, all through play. We try together why the red tip of the compass always looks in the same direction; everyone takes turns learning to turn the map north. Then, a small control card is distributed. The child who stamps the marker on each orange-white flag on their card earns the right to move on to the next point. This simple rule encourages the child to make their own decision, choose between two paths, and see the result of their choice.

The gains are not limited to just a sense of direction. The child soon moves away from the screen, focuses on a real task, and accumulates a small sense of achievement with each flag they find. Discussing and making decisions with group friends, noticing the sounds of the forest, and treating nature with respect are also a natural part of the experience. We discuss not moving the flags, not leaving trash, and not picking plants from the very first minutes.

Information and preparation for parents

Our groups are small; an experienced guide is at the head of each group, and children are never left unattended at any stage. Parents can either accompany the group or wait in the starting area. We recommend that you bring a closed and sturdy sports shoe, at least half a liter of water, and a hat for sunny days. Thanks to the shaded structure of Belgrad Forest, the program also passes comfortably in the summer months. If you want your child to have a fun and educational two hours in nature, our quota is limited; please create your registration early.