Green Fair Making (2011-11-26)

There were some problems with the start: Tegan was delayed due to traffic problems caused, probably, by the floods. I was not planning to arrive until later as I had a course all day, thanks to Adrian for 'phoning. Debbie led the News Circle and then Tegan and I turned up.

The bags had arrived and so we were able to paint them!

Everything that we have made will be on sale at the Green Winter Fair but many children have asked that their work be held back, just displayed at the fair, so that parents can buy them at our first session after the fair.

Some people made cards as well.

We ended with the Circle Song.

Leaders: Debbie, Tegan, Tim
Helpers: Kiara
Elfs: 14
Woodchips: 1

Songs, Games and Making (2012-11-19)

We started with news: Magnus and I went to Don Smith's wake, Don's House is remembered as a special place, particularly the fairy toilet. Flora painted the bathroom. Tessa learnt chess, but has yet to beat her dad. Iona went to a naming ceremony.

A small group, changing throughout the session, made sqidgies with Tegan by pouring flour into a balloon through a funnel and decorating them.

The main group played games with Debbie and Tim.

We played Four Corners which Nia won.

Dead Ants

Parachute Games: Shark Attack and Soft Ball.

We sang songs: Axes, Red River Valley, Blue Lake and Rocky Shore

Dorcas, Black Socks, Baby Bumble Bee and Puff the Magic Dragon.

A great collection of Squidgies for the Green Winter Fair.

We ended with the Circle Song.

Leaders: Tegan, Debbie, Tim
Helpers: Lisbeth, Louise
Elfs: 15
Woodchips: 1

Winter Fair Making (2012-11-12)

We started with circle news: Magnus showed a fossil which may have been coral. Leyla joined us as she is staying with Iona and Izzy.

We played a game of Dead Ants.

We then made cards, gift tags and stamps (in preparation for next week) which are to be sold at the Green Winter Fair. Items which are intended for sale to parents will be marked with a sold sticker and there will be an opportunity for parents to buy them at the first meeting in December.

It was Jo's birthday, so we ate some cake he had brought in and sang Happy Birthday

We ended with the Circle Song.

Leaders: Tegan, Tim
Helpers: Lisbeth, Kiara
Elfs: 15
Woodchips: 2

Coke Can Cooking (2012-11-04)

A hectic session with three activities, eighteen children and seven adults!

We started with circle news: Flora went to London and Xanthe went to St Davids in Wales and did coastal orienteering (coasteering).

We then cooked vegetables on soft drink can stoves.

We went outside where Rob had lit the fire. We toasted pitta bread and had a sparler each.

We went back into the warm for the circle song.

Leaders: Tegan, Tim, Debbie
Helpers: Rob, Richard, Brian, Emily, Kiara
Elfs: 17
Woodchips: 1

Equipment List - outside fire

Portable barbecue
Skillet
Trivet
Leather gloves 
Matches
Bag of twigs

Pitta breads

Plastic bucket for hand washing and fire safety.

Equipment List - coke can cooking

8 soft drinks cans
Scissors (with point)

Sunflower oil

Peppers
Mushrooms
Onion
Carrots
Baby Bell Cheeses

Vegetable knife
Chopping board

Loaf of bread
Butter
Margarine
2 butter knives
Paper plates

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

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

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