Tin Can Cooking (2013-06-24)

We played Octopus whilst people arrived and more can stoves were made. Tessa helped cut up the food into small enough pieces to be cooked on cocktail sticks.

We held a Circle in which we decided that the best way to distribute biscuits, in the absence of News, was for every one to say their name, an animal that they liked and a colour they liked before taking a biscuit and passing them on. We had green ferrets, red tigers and turquoise sloths, to name a few.

Tim explained the procedure should anyone burn themselves: get up and run to the water bucket, put burn in water and then scream.

We divided into groups of up to four with a tin stove per group.

We cooked peppers, cheese, bread, peas, baby sweet corn and parsnip.

We had time to sing We are the Woodcraft Folk and A mighty Song of Peace before singing our Closing Circle Song.

Leaders: Tim, Tegan, Debbie, Rana
Helpers: Richard, Ellen
Elfins: 22
Woodchips: 1

Parachute Games (2013-06-17)

We played a game of Octopus whilst people arrived.

We went outside and held our Circle News in the Willow Dome.

Kobe has hurt squashed his thumb, which has had yellow goo coming from it. Leto was whipped hard with a rope. Magnus found the froghopper in some cuckoo's spit. Xanthe has been to Gifford Circus, Flora and Connie will go. Millie-Maye's frog died. Jo lost a tooth today. Louie saw two dead chicks. Jago won his football match by saving the penalty goal. Ivo bashed his chin and Jay is going to his Nan's.

We decided to play the parachute game Shark Attack, however this needs to be played indoors, so first we played classic Mushrooms and then a name game where we said our name and the name of a person to whom the group should move the ball on the parachute.

We went inside and played shark attack.

We just had time for a quick song: Bumble Bee.

Leaders: Tim, Tegan, Rana
Helpers: Richard, Daniel
Elfins: 24
Woodchips: 2

Junk Modelling (2013-06-10)

We played a quick game whilst people arrived.

We had a new person in the group: Michael so we all gave our names.

Tim had had a request that we went straight into the activities so suggested that we only have News every other meeting; alternating with singing. This was met with some dismay. However we pushed ahead, as we had a lot of modelling to do.

Zoe was a helper and took extra photos:

We modelled.

Tim sprayed painted the results

Some played football

Tegan led us in singing She'll be coming from Fermanagh when she comes

We held our Closing Circle

Leaders: Tim, Tegan, Debbie
Helpers: Zoe
Elfins: 22
Pioneer: 1

Campfire in Warneford Meadow (2013-05-20)

We got to the car park at 6.00pm and walked the equipment to the fire place. See the map.

People lit the fire with cotton wool pads and sparks, having gathered twigs and wood.

We used sticks to fight back the nettles, put some Mystic Fire on the campfire to turn the flames green and then cooked some tortillas which we ate with honey.

We sang Black Socks and Axes then the Circle Song.

We put the fire out with the last of the safety water.

Leaders: Tim, Tegan, Debbie
Helpers: Louise, Rana, Ruth, Jude
Elfins: 21
Woodchips: 2

Tee Shirt Making (2013-05-13)

We played a game of Octopus while people arrived.

We held Circle News: We welcomed Pip. Matilda had watched a squid versus Sperm Whale video, Magnus nearly found a fossil but the stone did not split in the right plane, Arran, Tim and Lena went to a garden centre, Dylan has a cold, Leto found and brought in a blackbird's nest, Connie is having to work around the house being re-vamped to give her a new bedroom, Flora has been investigating Sloths, Ivo had his ball taken away during play time by other boys, Kobi's dad broke his collar bone at the skate park, Debbie and Millie went to Beale Park, Hazel has bought checkens, Xanthe and Iona made an iPad out of paper, Pip shoed his 007 lighter/camera, Lotti met Magnus at a far, Tim bought rooting powder at the garden centre.

Tegan gave everyone a shirt and paper to do initial designs on, then the making commenced.

We overran a bit but the results were worth it.

Leaders: Tegan, Debbie, Tim
Elfins: 23

Trails in the Kidneys (2013-04-29)

We played games whilst people arrived and contact details were collected.

We headed off for our trek into the Kidneys, first Numbering Up; each child has a number, which they shout in turn to check we have all 21 children.

We had a great walk, eating Jack by the Hedge, climbing over stacked cord wood from the plantation, eating biscuits by numbers.

We stopped by the full moon party fire, met a lovely greyhound belonging to boat people moored there, and sang Black Socks and Bumblebee. We carried on walking, some singing The Folk All Dressed in Green some tree spotting.

We got back to the hall and held a final circle.

Leaders: Tegan, Debbie, Tim
Helpers: Richard, Liz, Cathe
Elfs: 21
Woodchips: 0

Shrinking Icecaps (2013-04-22)

The session started with a game of Octopus whilst we all arrived.

We held Circle News, Xanthe bought in some chocolates as it was her birthday. Some News highlights: Molly saw the Rosetta Stone in London, Izzy swam without a float, Rayan had an Easter Egg hunt, Hazel went on the London Eye, Flora won her year's science project.

Tegan explained that we were going to theme the term around Endangered Animals, and we discussed the reasons why Polar Bears might be endangered.

First we played Elephants, Tigers and Mice. This game involves the group being split into two and deciding, in secret, which of Elephants, Tigers and Mice they will be. The two groups line up and on the count of three make their sign.

Tigers chase Mice, Mice chase Elephants who chase Tigers.

Then we played a game of Fishes in the Net. Starting with two players forming the net, everyone has to run through the net, as the net counts up. When the net reaches its secretly agreed number it closes on a victim, who joins the net.

We played Melting Icecaps where there are a number of plastic bubble mats representing icebergs. There are more than enough for everyone to have and iceberg. The polare bears swim around and when the cry of Icebergs is made then everyone goes onto an iceberg. Then some icebergs are removed. The game is repeated until there is not enough room left and players who cannot share an iceberg go extinct.

We held a circle, sang Happy Birthday to Xanthe and sang our Circle Song.

Leaders: Tegan, Debbie, Tim
Helpers: Rana, Richard
Elfs: 22
Woodchips: 0