Hand Prints (2013-10-14)

We started with a little drama, as Tim had forgotten the keys, and had to come in through the open door from the playground, Brian saved the day as he had the key for locking up.

We played Octopus, a little too roughly and words had to be had about games not working if the rules are not followed.

We held a circle, this being a singing week we were not due to hold a News Circle but the clamour for News was strong! Whilst other people's news sometimes fails to fascinate everyone it is very important to some members who prepare what they are going to say well in advance.

It will soon be Dylan's birthday; Kobe's Dad's birthday; Ivo is going to his cousin's house; Jo is going to Dorchester; Rafiq went to the zoo on his mother's birthday; Pip is going to the school Halloween disco next Thursday; Tegan's partner has had his birthday; Arran has had his jabs in preparation for going to Sri Lanka; Xanthe had a sleepover; Millie-May went to a toy shop; Gena is going to York; Jay has been to Croatia; William went on a school trip; Matilda has a wobbly tooth; Debbie has to buy new tyres; Millie has gone up a level in cello; Tessa went for a sleep over at a friend's house; Iona hopes to have the first class pet: a rescued goldfish; Hazel went to see a 3D movie; Lena will soon have roller skates for her birthday; Connie and Flora were filmed at dance, the film will be shown in Japan by their teacher; Flora discovered her Mum when she fainted and told Tim; Tim spent four hours in A&E on Saturday, as Ruth had fainted on Saturday morning and hit her head after breaking her toe on Friday.

We decided to play Duck Duck Go whilst people went in pairs to draw around their hands in preparation for decorating them for the banner.

We then decorated our hand prints.

We sang We are the woodcraft folk, Campfires burning and Bumble Bee.

We ended with our Circle Song.

Leaders: Debbie, Tim, Tegan
Helpers: Liz
Elfins: 23

Banners and Sparks (2013-10-07)

People arrived early, early enough to see the biggest pumpkin ever!

The weather was so nice we played outside. Valerie decided to come and join us for the evening.

We held our News Circle in the willow dome. Tegan explained the meaning of our Banner. It is to have our name, our motto and all our hand prints on it.

Most of us seem to have been working hard this last fortnight. The most dramatic news was that Iona had been to London Zoo, where the donkey that her sister had adopted had died three days earlier.

We played Grandmother's Footsteps and played with the new Fire Steels making sparks in the dusk.

Tim saw and heard two bats using the bat detector, but only briefly so was unable to share.

We returned to the hall. We did not have enough time for everyone to have their handprint drawn, but we will carry on next week.

We ended with our Circle Song.

Leaders: Debbie, Tim, Tegan
Elfins: 23

Giant Bubbles (2013-09-30)

To make the most of the light, and because it was so warm, we went straight outside and started to make giant bubbles using the equipment Tanja had made for camp.

and some not so giant bubbles!

and played on the equipment.

We went back indoors and played Mushroom, after having biscuits in a circle whilst we said out name and favourite animal and welcomed Rafiq.

Sang bumble bee and black socks inside a greenhouse.

Shark Attack degenerated into a rumpus!

We sang Mother Earth Carry Me as a round.

We ended with our Circle Song.

Leaders: Debbie, Tim, Tegan, Rana
Elfins: 24

Elfin Camp 2013 at Youlbury

Saturday

The Youlbury Campsite is very big and very well resourced.

We ate our picnic lunch.

Held a circle to organise ourselves.

Did craft activities, one of which was to build a phoenix nest fire.

Held our merrymooot.

Sunday

Played on a slack line.

Went for a walk in the woods and cut two hazel poles for our group banner.

Held a final circle.

We were picked up, with a cake for my birthday!

Paper Aeroplanes (2013-09-23)

We played Octopus whilst people arrived.

We held a News Circle and welcomed another new member Gina.

Tim, Flora, Connie, Jay and Gina had been camping at Britchcombe Farm near the Uffington White Horse. Connie had been driven around the field on top of a camper van! Xanthe went to Magnus' party; Millie-May sprained her ankle; Ivo was given a Joker (from Batman) with a pie thrower; Tessa is going to a wolf sanctuary for her birthday; Molly went to her half auntie's birthday party; Matilda had a nasty sore throat; Lena is having a Halloween birthday party; Tegan enjoyed her holiday in Florence; Michael fell over three times at school and could not sit down; Flora is looking forwards to her design being painted on the library cupboard doors; Ranna made traditional Palestinian food; Rayan went to see Despicable me 2; Jay has a wobbly tooth; William went to a friends birthday party; Jo has moved schools to St Andrew's; Dylan went to the Horspath Cricket Club Awards.

We decided to play Four Corners and then make paper aeroplanes.

Jo showed us how to do it and everyone made very successful paper darts!

We sang our Circle Song and then all threw our darts (Connie's went furthest!)

Leaders: Tim, Tegan, Rana
Helper : Richard
Elfins: 19

Bats and Balls (2013-09-16)

We played Octopus whilst people arrived.

We held a names and favourite animal circle to welcome William. Tim showed the new Bat Detector.

We had a quick game of Octopus as the last one had not finished, then the bat man, Peter, arrived and we went out into the last of the sunshine on the playing field.

Unfortunately the bat detector was not working, due to flat batteries it turns out, so Peter told us some fantastic facts about bats. The Indian fruit bat has a wing span of two metres.

We returned to the hall for a game of Dead Ants.

We then played Parachute Balls followed by Shark attack.

We held a song circle to sing Blue Lake and Rocky Shore, Black and White and finally Docas.

We sang our Circle Song

Leaders: Tim, Debbie
Guest : Peter
Elfins: 17

First Session of Term (2013-09-09)

We played Octopus whilst people arrived.

We had News, with names as we welcomed Yasmine.

Tim has bought a Bat 5 bat detector for the group. Dylan has gone up a level in swimming; Iona went to France and swam 102 lengths without stopping; Xanthe has lost her tailless cat Nigel; Pip say a bat; Lena went to the Zoo Marine in Portugal; Rayan went to the beach; Ivo had a birthday by the beach, in a caravan; Millie and Debbie went camping on a farm near Durdle Door and walked an alpaca; Izzy has a wobbly tooth; Matilda has two wobbly teeth; Molly went swimming near a beach; Flora has a tortoise called Birmina; Katy went to three campsites in France; Tegan is going on holiday to Florence; Arran made a scary, bloody finger box, which he showed; Jo took a 24 hour crossing to Bilbao and the drove up through France to Normandy.

We played Dead Ants.

We held another circle to discuss what activities we would like to do this term. These suggestions will go into the term plan.

We chose to play a game of Four Corners.

We held our closing circle.

Leaders: Tim, Tegan, Debbie, Rana
Helpers: Richard
Elfins: 17