Shadow events
There are two Shadow events each year, a smaller event called Shadow Lite, which is aimed at 10 to 13-year-olds, and the bigger event, Shadow, which is aimed at 13 to 19-year-olds.
Shadow takes place across Nottinghamshire every year, currently coordinated by Notts Outdoors. It has now been running for an unbelievable 51 years! The aim is to promote teamwork, resilience and problem solving by completing challenges in an overnight orienteering experience at Sherwood Forest, where over 200 young people usually take part.
Shadow Lite
Shadow Lite is for 10 to 13-year-olds and gives younger participants the chance to take part in local team building and challenge exercises, which is a perfect introduction and taster to the main Shadow event.
Shadow Lite aims to capture the core values of Shadow: teamwork, resilience and adventure, but is an event that takes place within different youth settings.
Activities are planned around three themes: creativity, mental and physical, with a set time to complete the exercises, which are scored as a team based on their performance.
Congratulations to our 2025 winners, Carlton Youth Centre.
Shadow
Shadow is an event for 13 to 19-year-olds, and is also made accessible for young adults up to 25 who have special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
This year is the 52nd event and will see a return to the forest for hopefully another memorable and fantastic event.
To find out more about Shadow, visit the Notts Outdoors website for more information or watch the video below!
To book a team or enquire about volunteering opportunities please contact either
- Andy Allsopp, andrew.allsopp@nottscc.gov.uk
- Hayley Smith, nottoutdoors@nottscc.gov.uk
Shadow collages
As part of the event, teams created 'shadow collages', some of which you can see below:
Thanks to everyone who took part.
A team at the Dukeries young people's centre made this short video as part of the event:
