Get OWT!: Outdoor activities to connect with families

Outreach Mission Partner Rachel Gotobed (Family Ministries) and Captain Ellie Shakespeare (Carshalton) share how getting out is bringing people in.

How did Get OWT! get started?

Rachel The original Get Outside with Toddlers! resources were put together by Captains Nick and Shelley Ward (Mitcham) while they were at Middlesbrough. They wanted to maintain their good connections with their parent-and-toddler families during the Covid-19 pandemic. These resources have now been revised, rebranded and relaunched for the post-pandemic territory.

What’s included in the relaunch?

Rachel New material for 2025 includes an Easter session and a six-session series called Love the Earth, which reflects the Army’s care for creation mission priority by connecting with the story of Creation.

What does it look like to Get OWT!?

Rachel It can be as often or as infrequent as required – as a one-off, a regular feature or during school holidays. It can work well in different settings and is easily adapted for older children.

Ellie At Carshalton, we did Get OWT! all year round, with between 50 and 70 children attending every week. When it’s colder we run Create and Play, which is a Get OWT! session at our hall with activities indoors and in our outdoor space. This year, we plan to host six sessions over summer and a weekly Thursday session.

We ran it on a Sunday once, which was amazing because we engaged with a totally different community. Sundays are a quieter day for families, and we found that parents came and engaged. The dads really liked it and built a little community of their own. I’d love to explore the idea of doing it regularly on Sunday mornings.

Why are these resources relevant at the moment?

Ellie The concept of outdoor play is fashionable right now. It appeals to families. That includes families that the Army hasn’t historically connected with, such as those who don’t have an urgent point of need. For some parents, Get OWT! is a way to do activities they might not try at home.

Children are spending much less time outdoors, even those with gardens. We’re recognising the effect that has on mental wellbeing and motor skills.

Rachel It’s holistic for the whole person: body, mind and spirit. As a team, Family Ministries wants to encourage families to be outside together and to join in doing something in God’s creation.

Why do families come to Get OWT! sessions?

Ellie Get OWT! offers something different. At Carshalton, our shared outdoor space meant people could enjoy nature and connect with other families. It created a memorable experience for parents and children.

There’s a feel-good factor because you’ve done something worthwhile. Parents can disconnect from the distractions of daily life and spend quality time with their children.

And, being in the park, new families are discovering us. It’s a great way to connect with families outside your hall.