The Woodcraft Logo (2013-01-14)

We started with game of Octopus, whilst people arrived.

We had lots of new joiners in our first session of term. We introduced ourselves in Circle News and welcomed Matilda, L&eacte;na, Izzy, Flo, Hazel, Lotti and Rayan. Also lots of new parents: Emily, Liz, Ruth and Rana. Millie-Maye showed us her very nasty cut.

Tegan had some jigsaws of the Woodcraft Logo, with different colours on the reverse side. Everyone picked a piece and joined with others with the same colour. When the Jigsaws were completed we stayed in the groups to play name games.

We decided which name remembering games to play, first we played a name game where we threw a ball (or scarf) to someone in the circle after shouting their name. Then we played Zombie where the zombie in the middle heads towards someone until they shout out someone else's name and the zombie heads for them. If you cannot name someone else before the zombie gets you then you become the zombie.

Tegan then led a circle where we talked about the meaning of the Woodcraft Logo and then everyone drew their own versions of the logo.

We ended with the Circle Song.

Leaders: Tegan, Debbie, Tim
Helpers: Emily, Liz, Ruth, Rana
Elfs: 20
Woodchips: 1

History

Woodcraft Folk still bears a strong resemblance to the first groups that were set up in 1924 in south London.

Back then it was fairly radical for a youth movement to include both boys and girls, which is how Woodcraft Folk has always been, though today it is becoming more mainstream.

And our strong camping tradition - particularly encouraging young people who live in big cities to go camping and explore the great outdoors - goes back to the very early days of the movement.

How

Just after the First World War one of the leading figures in the Scouting movement broke away from what he considered to be its militaristic approach and formed the Kindred of the Kibbo Kift.

Kibbo Kift included people of all ages, not just youths, and was open to both sexes. John Hargrave, who founded it, believed the open-air life would help urban people build a new world peace.

Secession

But not all members agreed with Hargrave's leadership and in 1924, led by 19-year-old Leslie Paul, some co-operative groups from South London broke away and set up their own organisation, calling it The Woodcraft Folk. It had similarities to the Kibbo Kift, but gradually developed its own character and ethos.

The name

The term 'Woodcraft' was used by the influential writer and naturalist Ernest Thompson Seton at the turn of the twentieth century when setting up the American proto-scouting organisation Woodcraft Indians, and in this context it meant the skill of living in the open air, close to nature - rather than that of making things out of wood.

Our logo

Our logo is round to symbolize equality and democracy, with two trees representing young people. It is set against a rising sun, to show the young regenerating and illuminating the world.