Could you survive the Ice Age? Do you know what creatures live at Creswell Crags, both now and 50,000 years ago? Have you got the know-how to become an archaeologist? And do you know what lurks within the meadow pond at Creswell Crags?

If youngsters and their families spend their summer holidays at Creswell Crags they could discover the answers to these questions and more, as the onsite team inspire the paleontologists, archaeologists, and ecologists of the future with a variety of activities.

Visitors can go on a Stone Age Safari from Monday 24^th to Sunday, 30^th July and discover how palaeontologists learn about Ice Age animals just from examining their bones. After finding out about Ice Age animals and their bones, families will have a chance to rebuild a real animal skeleton.

Pond dipping sessions run from Monday, 31^st July to Sunday, 6^th August. Rangers will talk about the pond ecosystem and demonstrate the best net technique, so families can have a go at pond dipping and see what invertebrates they can find.

Challenge your family to build the best Ice Age shelter during Survival Skills – Shelter Building from Monday, 7^th August to Sunday, 13^th August. In this fun hands-on session, families will have a go at Stone Age survival skills and see if they can build a suitable shelter to call home. Using real reindeer fur, faux-leather and sticks, families will work as a team to see if they have what it takes to survive the Ice Age.

Discover Ice Age fashion with a Stone Age jewellery making workshop every day from Monday 14^th to Sunday, 20^th August.  Find out about the types of clothes and jewellery people wore in the Stone Age and how they used this to express themselves, much like we do today. The team will also teach children how to make their very own piece of Stone Age jewellery to take home.

Visitors can also hunt for minibeasts in the meadow area on a Minibeast Safari from Monday 21^st to Sunday, 27^th August.

In the last week of the school holidays the team will be asking families if they can dig it like an archaeologist! During a fun mini excavation activity, families will discover what bones, rocks and objects might have been found at the end of the Ice Age. The team will introduce participants to the different layers of history and how to identify the ages of objects, and the difference between archaeology and palaeontology. Can you Dig It? Become an Archaeologist runs daily from Monday, 28^th August to Sunday, 3^rd September.

Hannah Steggles, head of public engagement, said: “Families are always looking for things to do during the school summer holidays and we wanted to use this time to inspire children about everything that makes Creswell Crags unique. We have a brilliant team here that includes archaeologists, palaeontologists and ecologists, and they’re eager to share their expertise with the next generation this summer through a range of fun family activities themed around their work. And hopefully we might inspire a few young minds to become the next generation of experts!”

The Summer Holiday Activities run every day from Monday, 24^th July to Sunday, 3^rd September.  For details of the different themed weeks, times, prices and booking information visit https://www.creswell-crags.org.uk/events-listings.