BEAR’S TEN TIPS TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR FAMILY TIME THIS SUMMER

1 EXERCISE TOGETHER

I love to train outside. I use British Military Fitness. Great organisation, ex-military instructors training regular people in the parks. They’re starting to do family training, so you can take your kids along. Training outside in the park, with your kids, in a family class, is an epic thing to do.

2 VOLUNTEER

One lesson I’ve learned as Chief Scout is that the happiest people I meet are those who give up time for other people. Volunteering changes people’s lives. We just launched this new initiative with thousands of Scouts going into homes and helping those with dementia. Lead by example as parents. I’m not very good at sending my kids out to go and do something. I’m much better at saying: ‘Kids, come and join me, let’s do something all together.’

3 DIG IT

A vegetable patch is great. There’s nothing better than growing your own, even if it’s just watercress. It’s primal and makes you feel good inside.

4 DOWN ON THE FARM

Visit an open farm. It’s a really interesting day out.

And it’s important for kids to actually see what happens with animals and to understand a bit about where food comes from. You’re outside, you’re educating them, it’s fascinating. The parents win. The kids win. The farmer wins. Everyone wins.

5 ON YOUR BIKE

There’s a network of incredible bike trails all over the country. Cycling’s always fun to do together. There are places now where you can just turn up, rent a bike for a few hours and do some downhill descents. But even in the city, going along a canal in Manchester or London, kids never tire of riding bikes.

6 PARK UP

National parks are the under-appreciated heroes of our country. I’ve travelled all over the world but I still come back and go: ‘Wow!’ We really, truly live in the most beautiful country. So get into the National Parks and just explore and use your imagination a bit.

7 GO DOWN TO THE WOODS

The forest is where you get to camp, to sit by the brook, to look at the birds. And like Hansel and Gretel, make sure you mark your route when you go in and go out. There’s nothing better than saying to kids: ‘Every 200 metres we’ve got to build a little cairn of twigs in the shape of an arrow to point the way we’ve come, so we can get back.’

8 SLEEP UNDER THE STARS

Spend the night outdoors – it can even be in your own garden. It’s amazing how many people have never actually slept outside. Even if it all goes wrong and pours with rain, you get soaking wet and end up running for cover, you’ll end up laughing about it.

9 WATCH A FILM OUTSIDE

Make an outdoor cinema. Pin out a sheet between two trees. Get a little cheap projector and show a great movie. There’s something great about doing that sitting outside with a drink, with your family, on beanbags.

10 CLIMB A MOUNTAIN

There’s something symbolic for man, woman and child, just standing together at the top of a mountain.