Ever dreamed of building your own raft as a child? Well, now’s the perfect time to turn that childhood adventure into a brilliant family project. With just a few simple steps, you can create your very own mini raft together — and the kids will be absolutely thrilled. It’s a wonderful way to spend time outdoors and make the most of summer, with plenty of splashing, laughter, and discovery along the way.

What you will need:

• 10 equally thick, straight, dry sticks. Hazel, ash, maple, or elderberry are good options. Be careful not to cut any fresh branches. With a bit of luck, you'll find something suitable on the ground.
• Several thinner branches for the mast and the boom (the crossbar that holds the sail)
• A tear-resistant cord made of natural fibers, such as jute, hemp, or cotton
• A small piece of fabric or a large maple leaf for the sail
  

Here's how to make your mini raft:

1. Cut all sticks to the same length.
2. Tie them together with the strong string. To do this, at one end, alternately thread the string over and under the sticks until they are firmly held together. Repeat on the other end.
3. Next, two crossbeams are attached to the bottom of the raft at three points each to make it even more stable.
4. For the mast, carve a slightly thinner branch on two sides at the bottom so that it fits nicely in the middle between the fifth and sixth sticks (the middle sticks).
5. To stabilise the mast, attach two cords that are tied diagonally between the mast and the four corners of the raft.
6. Now tie a shorter branch to the mast and attach the sail there. We chose a piece of fabric.
7. Fix the sail at the bottom with a cord.
8. Still want to continue building? Carve a small crew for the raft. Or how about flags? An anchor, or even a small shelter? Get creative!