Hello, and welcome to Exploring with Jack!

Ever since I was a young boy, I’ve been obsessed with the natural world. I used to spend hours researching and drawing all the different things I found out! Now, when I’m not doing the Funky Chicken, I love going on explorations around the world. I’ve been on some pretty amazing adventures – and now, you can come exploring with me!

I’ve entrusted you with the secrets of the Magic Map. This map can take us anywhere! In this series of videos, you can join me on adventures all over the world. We’ll meet some weird and wonderful animals, see some beautiful landscapes – and one thing’s for sure, be prepared to ask some strange questions!

With our journals in hand, join me on an adventure…

In Episodes 8 and 9, I’m joined by Iona – who I found hiding inside my map! Join us for some incredible outdoor imaginary play adventures in Exploring with Jack & Iona!

Outdoor Imaginary Play!

Episodes 7, 8 & 9

Episode 9: The Kingdom of Woodland

In our latest exploring film, a tiny Iona falls out of Jack’s Magic Map (again!) and into 🌲The Kingdon Of Woodland🌲

Join her as she makes a sleeping mud potion for an ancient Wolf and plays the tree orchestra!

There are limitless adventures in #imaginaryplayoutdoors! What will you discover? 🎈

📒 Send us a drawing of your explorer’s journal when you get back from your adventure!

Episode 8: Along the Riverbank

When Jack got his Magic Map out this week, there was a big surprise waiting for him… it was IONA!

They decided to go on an adventure together, so they were both excited when they landed and found themselves somewhere utterly magical – The Land of the River People! 🌊

Follow their imaginative adventure as they watch the ⛵ RIVER PEOPLE bobbing along in their boats, find 🌸 DANCING flowers with magic dust (you won’t be able to stop dancing!), see 🌿 EXPLODING plants, and find the ancient city of the ⛰️ MOUNTAIN PEOPLE…

If you live near a river why not go out and have your own adventure? There’s SO much to see and do on the riverbank!

Episode 7: The Isle of Arran!

Jack is BACK with another amazing adventures that he’d love to tell you all about! Why not watch the video and go with Jack to ARRAN?! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🛥️ Arran is a very beautiful island off the coast fo Scotland, so you have to take a ferry there, which is great fun!

🌲🕷️🐑 While he was there, Jack saw some enormous magical stones, found out about a very special spider, and saw waterfalls, sheep, forests and a cave… but you’ll find out all this for yourself! Grab your Magic Map, get your Explorer’s Journal ready, and join Jack on his latest adventure!

Episode 1: The Pacific Ocean

Episode 2: Paris

Episode 3: The Bolivian Rainforest

Episode 4: Antarctica

Episode 5: Egypt

Episode 6: The Scottish Highlands!

Do you want to explore more about the topics you’ve seen in these videos? Maybe you’d like to do a project on them, or look them up on the internet yourself and find out even more. Here are some of the links that I used myself to explore these fascinating places online – take a look for yourself, and find out even more!

Episode 1
The Pacific Sea – Nettle Jelly Fish 

🔗  Interesting links
aquariumofpacific.org/onlinelearningcenter/species/pacific_sea_nettle
aqua.org/explore/animals/pacific-sea-nettle

📹 Videos
VIDEO Jellyfish swimming (Footage: Brian Fediuk)

Episode 2
Paris

🔗  Interesting links
toureiffel.paris/en/the-monument/history
louvre.fr/en/visites-en-ligne
primaryfacts.com/1819/river-seine-facts-and-information/

📹 Videos
VIDEO Paris Walking Tour (Footage: Silent Walker)
VIDEO Eiffel Tower elevator ride (Footage: Wanderlust Travel Videos)
VIDEO Climbing the Eiffel Tower stairs (Footage: Daily Night Society)

Episode 3
Bolivian Rainforest

🔗  Interesting links
britannica.com/place/Yungas
worldwildlife.org/ecoregions/nt0105
activewild.com/blue-morpho-butterfly-facts/
rainforest-alliance.org/species/blue-butterfly
nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/group/spider-monkeys/
activewild.com/what-is-deforestation-for-kids-information-and-facts/
whiteleewindfarm.co.uk/whitelee-windfarm-about-us

📹 Videos
VIDEO Butterflies and monkeys (Footage: pedromariposa)
VIDEO Aerial view of Whitelee wind farm in Glasgow (Footage: AeroPixel – Scotland)
VIDEO Amazon deforestation news report (Footage: BBC News)

Episode 4
Antarctica

🔗  Interesting links
discoveringantarctica.org.uk/challenges/sustainability/impacts-of-climate-change/
coolantarctica.com/Antarctica%20fact%20file/wildlife/whales/humpback_whale
livescience.com/21677-antarctica-facts.html
nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/g/gentoo-penguin/
oceanwide-expeditions.com/to-do/wildlife/gentoo-penguin
nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/e/emperor-penguin/
bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zx234j6/revision/4

📹 Videos
VIDEO Antarctica in 4K (Footage: 8K Videos HDR 60FPS)
VIDEO Antarctica drone footage (Footage: Luke Bell)
VIDEO Humpback whale song (Footage: Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute)
VIDEO Glasgow recycling centre walk-through (Footage: Viridor)

Episode 5
Egypt

🔗  Interesting links
museedelhistoire.ca/cmc/exhibitions/civil/egypt/egca12e
bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/zg87xnb/articles/z6x2382
lonelyplanet.com/egypt/cairo/attractions/pyramid-of-khafre/a/poisig/406390/355225
history.com/topics/ancient-history/the-egyptian-pyramids#section_4
discoveringegypt.com/pyramids-temples-of-egypt/madinat-habu-temple/

📹 Videos
VIDEO Ancient Egyptian monuments in 4K (Footage: Amazing Places On Our Planet)
VIDEO Drone footage of pyramids (Footage: Drone Snap)
VIDEO Pyramids of Giza walking tour (Footage: Prowalk Tours)

Episode 6
Highlands 

🔗  Interesting links
scotland.org/live-in-scotland/where-to-live-in-scotland/the-highlands
visitscotland.com/info/towns-villages/glenfinnan-p236571
atlasobscura.com/places/glenfinnan-viaduct
scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/species/grey-seal/
eileandonancastle.com/about/history/
visitscotland.com/destinations-maps/loch-ness/

📹 Videos
VIDEO Highlands time lapse (Footage: Mattia Bichi)
VIDEO Drone footage of Highlands and Skye (Footage: John David Verolme)
VIDEO Aerial film of Skye (Footage: Nature Relaxation Films)
VIDEO Drone footage of Eilean Donan castle (Footage: madhaggis)
VIDEO Loch Ness by air (Footage: Adrian MH)

These videos are just the beginning of your own adventures… Now you’ve been inspired, what else can you do with your newfound knowledge? 

🗒️ Make your own Explorer’s Journal

It’s easy! All you need is a notebook and a pen, to write with… or maybe a pencil, to draw with… or maybe some nice bright crayons to make a colourful drawing of what you saw on your travels. It really depends on what you like to do best!  

🌐 Research the topics on the internet

Now you’ve been all the way to the Bolivian Rainforest, why not look it up on the internet and see what else you can find out about it? Which other animals live there? Write them down in your Journal so you don’t forget! What about deforestation – can you type that in, and see what comes up? What sort of images do you see? Can you draw them yourself? Or maybe you could print the pictures and make a collage, to tell your family about it?

🗺️ Go on your own adventure 

Now you’ve got your Magic Map – why not use it to go somewhere really exciting?! You know what to do. Stand in the middle of your bedroom, take out your map, shout 3… 2… 1… and you’ll be off! Let me know where you end up!

Exploring Nigeria with Zainab!

Visit Zuma rock, Lagos’s Tarkwa Bay, the Yankari Nature Reserve…and watch out for that African Elephant!!

Grab your Magic Map and join your wonderful guide – Lickety Leader Zainab!

Exploring Tanzania with Zainab!

Zainab is BACK and this time she’s taking you to TANZANIA!

Enjoy traditional dance & music in the state of Zanzibar 💃 watch out for that leopard 🐆 and other big cats in the Ngorogoro national park! What other animals can you spot? But first stop, it’s Mount Kilimanjaro! 🌋

Exploring Djibouti with Zainab!

One of our Lickety Champions and member of our Children & Families Network, Zainab is back with this inventive, creative and fascinating video exploring Djibouti, the third smallest country in Africa. Look out for…

🦈 Whale Sharks
💧Lac’Assal – Crater Lake!
🏝️ Moucha Island
Many thanks to Zainab for another fantastic video! #OverToYou

Jack’s Journal!

Do you want to share anything you’ve written in your journal? Or how about a picture of what we saw together? If so, we’d love to see it and display it in our gallery! All you need to do is email your picture to cfn@licketyspit.com or send it in a text message to 07413 800 342. Don’t forget to let us know the story behind it.

Join us on social media

If you don’t want to miss the next episode of Exploring With Jack, join us on Facebook or Twitter. We’ll post each new episode every Saturday, and you might also find some other videos you’ll enjoy, such as Cooking With Taz and Making With Iona.

Join our network

If you’re a parent and want to hear more about what Licketyspit does, connect with other families, and get an email update with videos, news, and all sorts of fun, why not join our Children and Families Network?

To join, all you need to do is any one of the following:

Email cfn@licketyspit.com
Text 07413 800 342
Fill out the Children & Families Network sign-up form

Send us a Journal Drawing