Be a Nature Explorer at London Wetland Centre

There's plenty for kids to do outdoors at the London Wetland Centre in West London during the heatwave this summer 2015. Not only are there the usual activities to amuse children - from the playground to the zip wires to the kids-friendly climbing wall and giant water vole tunnels - but at the end of July and throughout August, children can become chose to partake in additional mini adventures to become a Nature Explorer.

After picking up a Nature Explorer passport, children have eight wildlife themed activities to complete, with a sticker prize for each one completed that will make them an official Nature Explorer. Children join wetland wardens, who help the kids complete some of the challenges, from pond dipping to animal tracking (and identifying animal poo) and admiring the insects that can fly better than helicopters.

Later, children can also explore the Pond Zone is the new high tech version of a village pond where they can operate an underwater camera to see up-close what's living in the pool, from frogs to water scorpions. Or if they prefer, they can grab a net and join in the stuff-led pond dipping session and get up-close and personal with newts and fish living in British countryside.

Click here for more on what to do with kids outdoors this summer