A walk along the waterfront

If there's one thing there's a lot of in our local areas, it's water. The Glomma, Norway's longest river, runs through our region, and the Halden Canal runs t the border municipalities through like a blue thread.

There are also plenty of small and large lakes and forest lakes.

A walk along the water's edge invites you to enjoy a myriad of activities and there's plenty of room for everyone!

A universe all of its own

Water fascinates and invites wonder and exploration. Walking along the water's edge and looking down into the water is like discovering a whole new world. Up at the water's edge, the water is teeming with bugs and beautiful treasures. And just below the water's surface is a universe all of its own.

We've gathered some fun activities for kids and adults to do together on a walk along the waterfront.

Keep it simple and let the kids explore at their own pace. Lower your shoulders and don't stress. It's okay to linger. Remember that safety is important when children are by the water, so you as an adult must always keep a close eye on the children during play.

Make your own bark boat and sail away

Making a bark boat is both fun and exciting. Find a nice piece of pine bark and make beautiful bark boats. You don't have to go wild on a tree. You're sure to find nice pieces on the ground. If the bark is the right shape, you can use it as it is.

Using a riving knife, you can shape the boat exactly the way you want.

If you use your imagination, you can create lots of fun and different boats. Once you're happy with the shape, make a hole in it and find a stick to use as a mast. The sail is important because it's what gives the boat speed! A piece of paper or a leaf works perfectly. Remember that the bigger the sail, the faster the boat goes!

Now it's time for the launch

Which boat is the fastest and who will cross the finish line first?

Remember that the bigger the sail, the faster the boat goes!

Ring game

Find some suitable sticks and place them in the sand. Find a piece of rope on the beach, or make rings out of branches or anything else you can find. Stand 3-5 meters away from the sticks and throw the rings onto the sticks.

Agree in advance on how many times to play.

One point for each hit. Who gets the most hits? The player who has accumulated the most points at the end of the game is the winner.

Peasant chess

Peasant Chess is a simple game of being the first to get three in a row. Create a grid of nine squares in the sand. Two players play against each other. One uses stones as O and the other uses sticks as X. The players place X or O differently each time until one of you has got three in a row.

Kim's game

There are lots of things that drift ashore at the water's edge. What you find along the way will be an excellent starting point for Kim's play.

Hide the different items under a blanket or sweater.

Remove the blanket for 20-30 seconds before putting it back on, and let everyone in the family try to remember as many things as possible.

Fish splash

Find the perfect stone and throw it across the surface of the water so that it falls flat and bounces up in several jumps. How many bounces can you do? The world record is apparently 51 bounces in one throw. You can beat it!

Food is a must....

Use your imagination and think of alternatives to the usual slices of bread or grilled sausages when you go on a trip. If you do some of the preparation at home, you can serve up a real gourmet dinner outside.

At home before you go out:

Mix together all the dry ingredients. Add the oil and water and mix to a smooth dough. Add flour if the dough is too sticky. Put a little oil around the dough and place it in a bread bag.

When you're out:

Find suitable sticks in the forest. Twist the dough around the sticks and bake the loaves over the embers of the fire.