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

Papier Mache Leaves (2012-09-24)

We started with Circle News. Sadly the hedgehog found by Magnus died, if you see a hedgehog during the day it is likely to be dying.

Katie had nine eggs from five chickens.

Flora and Katie showed the flag they had made at Elfin camp.

We then played a great game of Wink Murder in which one person is the detective, who is sent out of the room whilst the murderer is selected. When the detective returns they stand in the middle of the circle whilst the murderer carries on their dirty work by winking at members of the circle, who fall back dead. The detective has three goes to guess the murderer. Everyone who wanted a go was either a detective or a murderer.

We finished our leaves from last session, messy but convincingly autumnal.

We even had time for some parachute games!

We ended with the circle song.

Leaders: Tegan, Tim
Helpers: Lisbet, George
Elfs: 13
Woodchips: 2

Elfin Camp 2012

Some of us went on Elfin Camp at Dry Sandford.

Saturday was nice and sunny. We started with a Circle led by Camp Chiefs Ian and Charlotte.

We did activities:

Lantern Making

Sowing, Flag Making, Tin Can Cooking, CD Painting, Boat Making

Fire lighting

Merrymoot

Teddy Bear Play

Tumbling

Singing and bed.

Sunday

Breakfast was a bit dark!

We went for a walk through the fen,

not getting too close to the ponies,

who seemed almost sorry to see us go.

Papier Mache Leaves (2012-09-17)

We started with Circle News, which went very quickly: little news during school time. Magnus and Nia have looked after a hedgehog.

We then got on with the business of the session by going outside and collecting fallen leaves to act as templates for our cardboard ones.

The leaves were made more realistic by having string stuck on as veins. The whole was then covered in glued tissue paper.

Everyone did a great job of making and still had energy for a game of Dead Ants.

During the final circle we gave a Woodcraft Whoop to Jago and Tessa for helping so well with tidying.

We ended with the circle song.

Leaders: Tegan, Debbie, Tim
Helpers: Lisbet, Kiara
Elfs: 16
Woodchips: 2
Pioneer: 1

Games and planning (2012-09-10)

We started with News and introductions, lots of new faces: Isaac, Izzy, Anna, Kathi (and Eva) and Connie and goodbye to May, Ellie and Ilona.

We decided to play games first: Octopus and Dead ants.

We divided into three groups to think of themes for the term and activities within those themes.

We then returned to the circle and each group presented its ideas whilst the others said what they liked about them.

We voted nine to eighteen in favour of Autumn over wildlife, but will compromise with sessions on wildlife in Autumn.

A selection of the ideas from all groups:

1. Autumn cooking
2. Wildlife in Autumn
3. Making Weapons
4. Making leaf pictures and collages
5. Autumn lights, lanterns and tree decorations
6. Autumn walk
7. Bats
8. Shadow puppets
9. Papier maché

In addition we will need to fit in MerryMoot and Green Fair Making. The resulting term plan and Google calendar are now on the blog: (look right).

We had time for one last game of Linked Disease.

We ended with the circle song.

Leaders: Tegan, Debbie, Tim
Helpers: Ellen, Eva, Lisbet
Elfs: 19
Woodchips: 3
Pioneer: 1

End of Term Party (2012-07-16)

Due to the Olympic torch relay we cancelled last week's session, so this was the first time we had met for two weeks, and also the last time until next term.

We started with News: Tessa had brought a photo of her new rabbit Lokki, which had bitten her! Izzie joined us to see if she likes Woodies.

We decided to play parachute games first: shark attack, ball guiding, washing machine.

We had a picnic: thanks to everyone who brought fruit, nuts, crisps, biscuits and juice.

We played a game of Octopus, against the school's great stage backdrop for Ocean Commotion.

We had 21 children in all, which is our largest group yet.

We ended with the circle song.

Leaders: Debbie, Tim
Helpers: Chiara
Elfs: 18
Pixies: 3

Indoor Games (2012-07-02)

In circle news we heard about camp, Iona's new rabbit, Xanthe's key collection and Ilona's chicks and incubator.

Sadly the weather meant we could not go to the Kidneys, so we played games instead.

We played three or four of games of Dead Ants, though it took a lot of people to drag this ant to safety.

We played three games of Four Corners after some confusion over how to number corners: where to start numbering from, which direction to number in.

A new game of Hopping Grandmother's footsteps was good fun and then we played a made up game: Big Ball Parachute where an exercise ball is rolled around or across the parachute controlled by the whole circle.

We ended with the circle song.

Leaders: Tegan, Debbie, Tim
Helpers: Richard
Elfs: 14
Pixies: 2