Blue Skies

Span the world with friendship

Monday 22 October 2012

Jam Jar Lanterns (2012-10-22)

I was not able to get to the start of the session, but I have heard that news was told and the decision to play Four Corners was taken and then it was played.

By time I arrived Jam Jars were being glued and decorated with coloured tissue paper.

Whilst some finished off and tidied up Tegan led some Handkerchief Games.

We lit the the lanterns in the middle of the circle and sang the Circle Song.

Leaders: Tegan, Tim, Debbie
Helpers: Elsbeth, Emily
Elfs: 15
Woodchips: 1

Monday 15 October 2012

Animal Games (2012-10-15)

A very well attended session. We started with Circle News, and introductions as we had two new Elfins: Jay and Finn, and one old leader Brian who most remember as a leader last year. Connie met Cork Paul at here school. Leto brought in an enormous puff ball!

We played a game of Hedgehog's Homes.

Where the number of homes was reduced each round.

Until all the hedgehogs were in one home!

The next game was Fox and Rabbit where all the children were in pairs, and at any one time there was one rabbit and one fox. A rabbit could join a pair to escape the fox, and a new rabbit would leave the pair. If the fox caught the rabbit then they swapped. This was great game with much shouting for the rabbit to shelter in a particular lair.

The last game was Bat and Moths. We were all bat conservationists, helping the blindfolded bat to catch the moths. Whenever the bat emitted an echo of Bat! the moths had to reply Moth!.

As the conservationists slowly wound up the parachute to help the moths!

We ended with the Circle Song.

Leaders: Tegan, Tim, Debbie
Helpers: Elsbeth, Kiara, Brian, Paul
Elfs: 15
Woodchips: 5

Monday 8 October 2012

Looking after Wildlife in Autumn (2012-10-08)

We started with Circle News. Debbie and Millie have moved house, Flora had made a wooly pad on a peg loom, Xanthe had been to Legoland. Tegan had cut her partner's hair!

Tim brought in two fungi, in plastic boxes. The first Avenging Angel (Amanita virosa) is the most poisonous British mushroom. The second Shaggy Ink Cap (Coprinus comatus) is the only edible mushroom which cannot be confused with anything else. (Children were warned never to pick fungi without an adult).

We then did animal charades: what animal am I?

Everyone then made a hanging bird feeder from apples, cheese, nuts and pop corn.

We played a game of Duck Duck Goose.

We ended with the Circle Song.

Leaders: Tegan, Tim, Debbie
Helpers: Elsbeth, Kiara
Elfs: 15
Woodchips: 2

Monday 1 October 2012

Bat Walk on Shotover (2012-10-01)

We nearly called it off due to the rain, but twelve Elfins made it to Shotover. There was a great rainbow. Katy and Flora said they saw bats.

We started with a windy, stand up, circle news. Some had to shout to be heard over the wind.

We set off through the wood, Tim nominally at the front and Tegan at the back.

We were aiming for the Sand Pit,

which we found through Izzy's excellent sense of direction.

We climbed trees

and played on the swings

and in the stream.

For the journey back everyone was given a number, so that we could do spot checks in the dark.

When we got back to the car park we lined up in number order.

Rob said there had been loads of bats in the car park!

We ended with the circle song.

Leaders: Tegan, Tim
Elfs: 12