The family friendly navigation challenge Xplorer is returning to two award-winning Mansfield parks this summer.

Mansfield District Council will be running summer themed sessions from 11am to 1pm at Titchfield Park on Tuesday 2 and Tuesday 16 August, and at Yeoman Hill Park Mansfield Woodhouse on Tuesday 9 and Tuesday 23 August. Participants can arrive and take part at any time during the two hours.

Xplorer is a popular FREE outdoor navigation challenge for all the family. It’s perfect for primary and pre-school children and older children and adults can join in too. Using a simple map, participants have to find markers located around the park and identify what is pictured and learn a fun fact.

Older children can compete against friends and family to see who can complete the course in the quickest time and younger children will enjoy the excitement of finding the markers. Everyone who completes a course will get a certificate.

Xplorer is based on orienteering, which is an adventure sport that exercises both the mind and body. No experience of map reading is necessary and you can walk, jog or run the course at your own pace. The event is being run in conjunction with British Orienteering.

Portfolio Holder for the Environment Cllr Andrew Tristram said: “The Xplorer events are a great opportunity for families to get out into the fresh air and have fun together. This navigation challenge has proved to be very popular in the past with hundreds of people taking part. Entertaining children in the school holidays can be very expensive, but Xplorer is totally free.”

The sessions are dependent on the weather and will not take place if it is very wet. Check the council’s website www.mansfield.gov.uk facebook.com/mymansfielduk and twitter feed @MDC_News for the latest news.