In autumn 2023, an interdisciplinary team of scientists, social scientists and environmental educationalists from Global Link in Lancaster, Loughborough University, the Environment Agency and Girlguiding North West England teamed up on a NERC funded engagement project. Reimagining Rivers involved working with a group of Brownies in Lancaster to explore the science of river flooding, response to flood risk and ideas for community resilience building.

Science experiment from Reimagining Rivers workshop

During our workshops, which comprised games, science experiments, field site visits and creative arts, we piloted an exciting new activity that explores the risks of flooding. Flooding Mucky Dip! will be added to Girlguiding North West England’s recently launched Challenge Pack on emergencies called Ready Steady Help, but it can also be run as a standalone activity with any school or youth group.

The Brownies also co-developed a ‘flooding fortune teller,’ a playful way to think about ways we can all be better prepared for flooding. You can download and play the Reimagining Rivers fortune teller here.

Flooding fortune teller