January 2024
Find activity ideas for occasions and events in January.
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Find inspiration for occasions and events to plan into your programme in January. You can view the PDF version of our January calendar or find even more ideas on this page.
- New Year's Day (Monday 1 January)
- World Braille Day (Thursday 4 January)
- Lohri (Saturday 13 January)
- International Kite Day (Sunday 14 January)
- Appreciate a Dragon Day (Tuesday 16 January)
- Popcorn Day (Friday 19 January)
- World Religion Day (Sunday 21 January)
- Squirrel Appreciation Day (Sunday 21 January)
- Burns Night (Thursday 25 January)
- Big Garden Birdwatch (Friday 26 to Sunday 28 January)
- Holocaust Memorial Day (Saturday 27 January)
- International Reducing CO2 Emissions Day (Sunday 28 January)
- Backwards Day (Wednesday 31 January)
Start the year with these healthy recipes
Activities to try:
New Year's Day (1 Jan)
The first day of the year in the Gregorian calendar, celebrated in lots of places around the world.
Activities to try:
- Set a goal with Choose your challenge
- Transform spare boxes into amazing Cardboard creations
- Create Wrapping waste cards
World Braille Day (4 Jan)
Explore the tactile writing system that enables people who are blind or partially sighted to read and write.
Activities to try:
- Write your name in braille with the Lumpy bumpy name game
- Assess your meeting place with Disability detectives
Lohri (13 Jan)
Explore the popular winter Punjabi festival of Lohri, traditionally celebrated with bonfires, music and dancing.
Activities to try:
- Construct a campfire
- Make the popular Lohri snack with Campfire popcorn
International Kite Day (14 Jan)
International Kite Day originated in India. Every year thousands of kites head to the skies at the International Kite Festival in Gujarat.
Activities to try:
- Make and fly a kite with High flying
- Try your hand at Stunt kiting
- Challenge yourself and try Kitesurfing
Appreciate a Dragon Day (16 Jan)
Have some dragon related fun on Appreciate a Dragon Day.
Activities to try:
- Make a Fire breathing dragon
- Have a go at Dungeons & Dragons: Live!
- Create a fantasy character
Popcorn Day (19 Jan)
A sweet (or salty) occasion to make a 'pop' in your programme, whether you make it outdoors or get cosy for a film night inside.
Activities to try:
- Make Campfire popcorn
- Create your own movie masterpiece.
- Watch a Disney film, then try one of our Disney activities.
World Religion Day (21 Jan)
World Religion Day is a great opportunity to explore different faiths and beliefs.
Activities to try:
- Play Party planning pandemonium
- Invite a guest and make Faith feathers
- Learn about different communities
Squirrel Appreciation Day (21 Jan)
Celebrate both the animal and our newest section, Squirrels. Get your paws on a fun badge from Scout Store, too.
Activities to try:
- Make delicious chocolate squirrel nests
- Get active with Shake your tails
- Craft a Pine cone squirrel
Burns Night (25 Jan)
Celebrate Scotland’s national poet, Robert Burns, and explore Scottish culture on Burns Night.
Activities to try:
- Try Haggis, neeps and tatties
- Perform some famous Scottish songs
- Play Peever Fever
Big Garden Birdwatch (26 - 28 Jan)
Plan in some activities about our feathered friends and tie it in with the Big Garden Birdwatch.
Activities to try:
- Build Community birdhouses
- Learn about how litter can effect wildlife
- Make a bird feeder
Holocaust Memorial Day (27 Jan)
Observe this International Day of Remembrance. Find out more on our Holocaust Memorial Day Trust page.
Activities to try:
- Design a Memorial Flame
- Take action with Be the change
International Reducing CO2 Emissions Day (28 Jan)
Learn about CO2, what it is, why it's bad and what we can do about it!
Activities to try:
- Try and solve a Carbon monoxide mystery
- Learn about CO2 in Not CO-ol
- Play Safe and sound
Backwards Day (31 Jan)
Take something you'd normally do and give it a twist, by doing it in reverse order!
You could try:
- Learning your Scout Promise backwards
- Wearing your uniform back to front
- Starting the meeting with your closing ceremony