‘The Stick’ – the original smart device – comes with unlimited applications, endless battery life and is available for all to test this summer.
- New research reveals a growing trend for ‘app-venturing’, with families using digital tools to enhance and facilitate time in nature.
- Ahead of the school holidays, nearly all (94%) of parents and carers said they would like their family to spend more time in nature this summer, highlighting a growing desire to reconnect with the great outdoors.
- Vodafone’s ‘The Stick’ campaign launches in partnership with the UK’s National Parks and features a ‘Stick-tionary’ – the ultimate guide to enjoying nature’s original smart device, packed with ideas to inspire outdoor play and exploration.
Vodafone has today announced the launch of ‘The Stick’, billed as the ‘must-have handheld device’ for this summer, to encourage families everywhere to swap screen time for green time.
Available to test for free in all parks across the UK, ‘The Stick’ features endless applications and is designed to inspire outdoor play for people of all ages.
Released as part of VodafoneThree’s partnership with the UK’s National Parks, ‘The Stick’ launches alongside a beautifully designed ‘Stick-tionary’ – the ultimate guide to enjoying nature’s very own smart device.
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Packed with ideas to encourage curiosity and adventure, plus tips on how technology can support learning and connection in the great outdoors, the ‘Stick-tionary’ is designed to help families get the most out of nature and use tech to enhance real world experiences, while celebrating the humble stick as the original multi-purpose device at the heart of imaginative play.
It comes in time for the summer holidays, and as new research from Vodafone reveals 94% of parents and carers would like to increase the time their family spends outdoors this summer, with over half (55%) saying that nature-based trips make up some of their most memorable family experiences.
App-venturing
The study, which polled parents, carers and children, also showed a growing trend for families – dubbed ‘app-venturing’ – where devices and digital tools are used to enhance and facilitate time in nature, rather than replace it.
Just over one in two parents surveyed (51%) said they use their devices to encourage their children to get outside more often, with more than two-thirds (68%) doing this more now than they did five years ago.
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In contrast to passive scrolling, ‘app-venturing’ helps families feel more confident getting out and exploring nature, with 83% of parents saying they feel safer knowing they can stay connected in an emergency.
As well as offering peace of mind, parents use their devices in practical ways to enable time outdoors such as checking the weather (63%) or for navigation (48%).
A large number are also using it to support their children’s learning by looking up answers to curious questions about nature (31%) and identifying plants, insects and birds (27%). The majority (77%) of parents also opt to take their device on outdoor excursions to capture memorable family moments.
Nicki Lyons, Chief Corporate Affairs & Sustainability Officer, VodafoneThree, said: “Helping people build healthy digital habits has long been a priority for us.
“We’re excited to see families using technology in purposeful ways to swap screen time for green time – sparking curiosity, building confidence and encouraging more time outdoors.
“That’s exactly what The Stick campaign with the National Parks is designed to support and we hope families enjoy our Stick-tionary this summer.”
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When it comes to supporting healthy digital habits, 46% of parents said being in nature helps them cut down their own screen time, while half (50%) said their children are less likely to ask for screens when busy playing, building or creating outdoors.
A further 30% stated that natural materials like sticks, feathers and stones are the objects that take a central role in their child’s imaginative outdoor games, with parents saying their kids turn sticks into multiple things like swords (51%) wands (49%), walking sticks (44%) and even microphones (18%).
Gavin Capstick, CEO, Lake District National Parks and Learning, and Engagement lead for the National Parks, said: “Some of the best outdoor adventures start with the simplest things. A stick can become almost anything a child wants it to be, and that’s exactly why it’s such a powerful tool for imagination and play.
“National Parks are places where families can spend time together, build confidence, connect with and learn more about nature and create lasting memories. We’re delighted to be working with Vodafone to encourage more families to get outside and discover what’s on their doorstep this summer.”
And it isn’t just parents looking for balance between screen time and green time, 81% of children surveyed agreed this balance was important, while half (50%) said being outdoors makes them feel happy. Playing outside with friends and family also ranked top of their favourite ways to pass time.
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Professor Helen Dodd, Professor of Child Psychology, Exeter Medical School, added: “When children have the opportunity to direct their own play, they’re doing much more than simply keeping themselves entertained.
“These everyday moments, like playing outdoors and re-imagining the use of a stick, help children build independence and resilience, while giving them the freedom to engage with the world in ways that feel meaningful and enjoyable to them.”
The VodafoneThree and National Parks partnership focuses on protecting ecosystems, supporting communities and using connectivity to help more people access and enjoy nature.
Through ‘The Stick’ campaign, Vodafone is championing a balanced approach to using technology, one where digital tools can enhance real world experiences. Parents can download the ‘Stick-tionary’ and other digital parenting resources to help stay safe online here.
Professor Helen Dodd’s top tips for app-venturing this summer
Make it an adventure
Children have a natural drive to explore and push boundaries. Because of this, framing a walk as an ‘expedition’ or an ‘adventure’ is often much more appealing to children and can help generate more enthusiasm. Get them to help pack supplies, try a new route or create a simple nature treasure hunt to make time outdoors more exciting.
Let the kids lead
Feeling trusted and capable helps build confidence and supports wellbeing. So, look out for opportunities to let children lead and have autonomy. Take a map and let them make decisions about which way to go. This communicates to them that you trust them and believe they can do it.
Make space for play
Leave time for building dens or splashing in streams. Adventurous play in nature can support good mental health - research shows that the more time children spend playing outdoors, the lower their symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Build a connection with nature
Feeling connected to nature has been linked to greater happiness and wellbeing, so encourage children to notice what they can see, hear, smell and feel, and interact with nature by identifying birds and trees together or picking up pine cones. Even if you don’t know the names of things, there are some brilliant apps that can help you learn together.
Map out the day
Set clear expectations, plans and limits. Making plans clear in advance means children know what they will be doing and when. This can help with transitions for example from screen-based play to going outdoors. Predictability reduces uncertainty, which in turn reduces anxiety. It also gives children more of a sense of control.
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Notes to Editors:
The research was conducted by Censuswide, among a sample of 2,002 parents aged 19+ with kids aged 4-16 AND their children. The data was collected between 24.06.2026 – 30.06.2026. Censuswide is a member of the Market Research Society (MRS) and the British Polling Council (BPC), and a signatory of the Global Data Quality Pledge. We adhere to the MRS Code of Conduct and ESOMAR principles
About the VodafoneThree and National Parks partnership
The partnership will run for an initial three years and will include the following projects:
Delivery of AI-powered habitat mapping across all fifteen National Parks. VodafoneThree will leverage its innovative technology solutions to provide analytics on user geolocation and footfall data, as well as use IoT sensors and smart wireless cameras, undertake geospatial mapping, and use Network as a Sensor data to support UK National Parks with real-time, high-resolution data.
A new engagement programme in Northumberland National Park which will engage individuals from a diverse range of backgrounds, collaborating with them to ensure they can enjoy, learn and protect nature, to improve their health and wellbeing.
The restoration of drystone walls and hedgerows in Eryri National Park: a key feature of Eryri is the patchwork field systems created by traditional boundaries (hedgerows and drystone walls), which are essential for local habitats to flourish. Restoring and repairing these hedgerows will benefit water quality and habitat connectivity, enable carbon sequestration and have pollinator benefits, while drystone walls will support toads, lizards, snakes, stoats and butterflies.
Together, these projects will demonstrate how technology can support nature and ensure more people feel connected to it. Further projects will be announced throughout the three-year partnership.
About National Parks UK
National Parks UK represents the UK’s 15 National Parks, bringing together National Park Authorities to champion their collective value and impact at a national level.
National Parks are living, working landscapes where people and nature come together. They are vital places for restoring nature, tackling climate change and supporting communities to thrive. Across England, Scotland and Wales, the National Park Authorities protect and enhance landscapes, wildlife and cultural heritage; while improving access so more people can experience and enjoy the outdoors.
National Parks work with partners, communities and government to deliver practical solutions at scale. This includes restoring habitats, improving biodiversity and creating more opportunities for people to connect with nature and support their health and wellbeing.
National Parks are for everyone. They are places to explore, learn, work and live, and they play a crucial role in creating a fairer, greener and healthier future.
For more information, visit National Parks UK website.
