Junior Challenges
The Explore Kent Junior Challenges are a fun way to help children get active, build confidence and enjoy the outdoors. Our Junior Walking Challenge and Junior Cycling Challenge encourage young people to explore their local area, discover new places and feel proud of what they achieve. Families do not need to use our suggested routes or inspiration. Children can take part anywhere in Kent as long as they are walking or cycling and can provide the required evidence, which is explained in each challenge link. Both challenges are free to join, simple to get started with and a great way to spend more time outside together.
Taking part helps children build healthy habits from an early age. It gets them excited about being outdoors, supports their physical wellbeing and gives them a sense of adventure. Whether they prefer walking through woodlands or cycling along traffic free trails, both challenges make it easy for families to enjoy Kent’s beautiful green and blue spaces.
Our Challenges:
Kent’s country parks and green spaces are perfect places for completing activities in the Junior Challenges. Families can walk, cycle or scoot around safe, well-maintained paths that are suitable for children of all ages. The parks offer play spaces, waymarked trails, woodlands, lakes, open meadows and plenty of wildlife to spot along the way. They also make great start or finish points for challenge activities because they usually have parking, toilets and cafés. Whether visiting for a short stroll or a full day outdoors, Kent’s country parks are ideal for getting active as part of the cycling or walking challenge.
Country Parks and Green Spaces to Visit:
There are plenty of family friendly routes across Kent that can help children complete their challenge distances. Shorter options include easy circular walks through local woodlands, buggy friendly paths along rivers and flat cycling trails around country parks. Families who want to go a little further can choose routes such as traffic free cycle paths, coastal promenades, woodland loops or gentle countryside trails. These routes are flexible, so they can be shortened or extended depending on how much your child wants to do. They are also perfect for building confidence, exploring new places and making each challenge feel achievable and fun.
Challenge Route Inspiration:
The Explore Kent Junior Challenges are a brilliant way to encourage children to get moving, discover new places and enjoy the outdoors throughout the year. Whether families choose to complete their activities at country parks, through local green spaces or on walking and cycling routes close to home, the challenges help children build confidence and develop positive habits that last. With so many beautiful places to explore across Kent, every walk or cycle ride can become an adventure. We hope these challenges inspire young people to get outside, have fun and feel proud of what they achieve.