Inclusivity (2013-02-25)

We played a game of Octopus whilst people arrived.

We held a circle for Circle News: Jay has returned now that the nights are shorter, lots of people had made cupcakes, Rayan and Jago had been to the zoo, Arran's mum hurt her leg clearing brambles, Leto's teacher has started having a baby, Millie-Maye has a plastic bandage to sleep in for her injured arm. Tim cleared brambles in Warnford Meadow and also, earlier in the week, found a wallet containing money and driving license, buried for five years in the Warnford Orchard, which he is going to send back to the owner, as her dad still lives where she used to live.

Tegan then explained about inclusive games and we chose which ones we wanted to play.

We started with Snakes in the Pit.

Then we decided to play Dead Ants.

We held a circle where Tegan explained how we were going to invent new inclusive games.

We split into three groups: one had blindfolds and played a game where the two wearing the blindfolds had to guess who had made a particular sound; one played Wink Murder where the "blind person" had a neighbour helping them know when they had been winked; one played penguins and eggs without sound.

We ended with singing Happy Birthday and the Closing Circle Song.

Leaders: Tegan, Debbie, Tim
Helpers: Lisbeth, Rana
Elfs: 24
Woodchips: 1

Fire and Cooking (2013-02-18)

We played a game of Octopus led by Debbie whilst people arrived.

We held our Circle News: Connnie had made a model Hot Air Balloon from Papier Maché, Arran hurt his thumb with a brick, Ivo has gone to the next level in Reading, Hazel has been typing up a story, Dylan has made a Tudor Rose, Lena made pancakes, Tessa saw a stag with 14 hinds on Exmoor and many others had also had been away for half term.

Debbie led a game whilst Tim cut up the cans for Tin Can Cooking.

We deep-fried bread, cheese, parsnip and red pepper.

Rob, Ellen and Lisbeth led fire lighting outside.

We sang Bumble Bee, riotously round the fire and ended with the Closing Circle Song.

Leaders: Tim, Debbie
Helpers: Lisbeth, Rob, Ellen, Renno, Jeff
Elfs: 20
Woodchips: 1

Peace (2013-02-04)

Whilst people arrived we played a game of Octopus.

We had Circle News: Rayan roasted marsh mallows at a fireworks party, Izzy lost her first tooth, Lena bought a new phone for her Mum, Arran's dad got a new phone, Xanthe's brother is eleven, Millie-Maye made an exploding parcel den to scare Xanthe's mum, Millie and Debbie visited family as Millie's grandfather died, Magnus went to Dom's rollerskate party, Nia discovered which things were magnetic, Molly made a chinese dragon, Jago went to Alton Splash Park and ate as much as he liked, Flora is looking forwards to the Talent Show at school, Katy is going to the Peak District, Ivo is learning about the Tudors.

Tim had brought in the international peace flag. We talked about the peace symbols we knew.

We made peace flags.

All the while Hilary processed CRB applications.

Loads of great flag designs.

And concentration.

We returned to a circle and showed Hilary how we sing Black Socks

Then Hilary lead us in singing A mighty song of peace

and Peace will come.

We ended with the Closing Circle Song.

Leaders: Tegan, Tim, Debbie
Helpers: Lisbeth, Liz, Renno, Richard
Elfs: 22
Woodchips: 2

Cooperation (2013-01-28)

We started with Circle News, Dylan and Ivo showed us their certificates and Dylan's medal from their karate grading. Flora has moved up a grade in gymnastics. Molly can do a cartwheel. Nia has been making a dragon. Magnus went to the deep, dark wood. Kobi has lost two teeth and Tessa told us that her grandfather has died.

We discussed which Parachute Games to play and decided upon Mushroom and Shark Attack

Finally we added balls to the parachute to illustrate Cooperation and the way in which the group can reach Consensus by controlling the ball to send it to a named person or roll all the balls, together, around the edge of the parachute.

We ended with the Closing Circle Song.

Leaders: Tegan, Tim
Helpers: Lisbeth, Emily, Liz, Renno, Jeff
Elfs: 20
Woodchips: 2

The Woodcraft Motto (2013-01-21)

We started with a game of Octopus, whilst people arrived.

We held a circle and gave our News and introduced ourselves again. Most of us had been out in the snow, Izzy has her sixth birthday tomorrow. Flo has hers in February. Connie was on television as her school was part of a program about reading. One of Ivo's cats died.

After News we discussed what rules we needed for the group. Both the children and the adults suggested rules, which are given below and have also been placed on the website links.

Iffley Elfins Rules

No violence

Don’t talk while others are speaking

Have fun

No swearing

Only one bit of News

Include everyone in activities

Stay off the Equipment

When someone shouts Woodcraft stop what you are doing and shout Folk!

Do not run near fire

Share!

Do what you are told

Don’t be stroppy

Do not make personal remarks

Don’t sit in the middle of the circle

Next we played friendship games. Tegan had printed sheets with activities. We split into pairs with an activity sheet. Each pair found another and did an activity with them, and then gave each other a sticker!

Sing a song or say a poem with the other pair.
Stand in a circle and pass the ball around it. How fast can you go before you drop it?
Try to make the other pair laugh. Tell a joke, make funny faces. When you have made them laugh swap over and see if they can make you laugh.
Stand in age order. Stand in height order.
Can your pair and another pair stand on one piece of paper without touching the ground? How about half a piece of paper?
Think of an animal. Tell the other pair what letter that animal starts with. They can ask yes/no questions until they guess the animal.
Find out all the names of the people in the other pair including middle names. What would their name be if you said the names backwards?
Act out a job. Can the other pair guess what it is?
Make a machine with the other pair. It can be any kind of machine but everyone needs to play a part.
Draw round each others hands and cut them out. Write your name and the name of the persons whose hands you have drawn on it.
Make a friendship bracelet.
Play a game of picture consequences.

After a biscuit we held a final Circle and sang Happy Birthday to Izzy and then ended with the Circle Song.

Leaders: Tegan, Debbie, Tim
Helpers: Emily, Liz, Ellen, Jeff
Elfs: 17
Woodchips: 1

The Woodcraft Logo (2013-01-14)

We started with game of Octopus, whilst people arrived.

We had lots of new joiners in our first session of term. We introduced ourselves in Circle News and welcomed Matilda, L&eacte;na, Izzy, Flo, Hazel, Lotti and Rayan. Also lots of new parents: Emily, Liz, Ruth and Rana. Millie-Maye showed us her very nasty cut.

Tegan had some jigsaws of the Woodcraft Logo, with different colours on the reverse side. Everyone picked a piece and joined with others with the same colour. When the Jigsaws were completed we stayed in the groups to play name games.

We decided which name remembering games to play, first we played a name game where we threw a ball (or scarf) to someone in the circle after shouting their name. Then we played Zombie where the zombie in the middle heads towards someone until they shout out someone else's name and the zombie heads for them. If you cannot name someone else before the zombie gets you then you become the zombie.

Tegan then led a circle where we talked about the meaning of the Woodcraft Logo and then everyone drew their own versions of the logo.

We ended with the Circle Song.

Leaders: Tegan, Debbie, Tim
Helpers: Emily, Liz, Ruth, Rana
Elfs: 20
Woodchips: 1

History

Woodcraft Folk still bears a strong resemblance to the first groups that were set up in 1924 in south London.

Back then it was fairly radical for a youth movement to include both boys and girls, which is how Woodcraft Folk has always been, though today it is becoming more mainstream.

And our strong camping tradition - particularly encouraging young people who live in big cities to go camping and explore the great outdoors - goes back to the very early days of the movement.

How

Just after the First World War one of the leading figures in the Scouting movement broke away from what he considered to be its militaristic approach and formed the Kindred of the Kibbo Kift.

Kibbo Kift included people of all ages, not just youths, and was open to both sexes. John Hargrave, who founded it, believed the open-air life would help urban people build a new world peace.

Secession

But not all members agreed with Hargrave's leadership and in 1924, led by 19-year-old Leslie Paul, some co-operative groups from South London broke away and set up their own organisation, calling it The Woodcraft Folk. It had similarities to the Kibbo Kift, but gradually developed its own character and ethos.

The name

The term 'Woodcraft' was used by the influential writer and naturalist Ernest Thompson Seton at the turn of the twentieth century when setting up the American proto-scouting organisation Woodcraft Indians, and in this context it meant the skill of living in the open air, close to nature - rather than that of making things out of wood.

Our logo

Our logo is round to symbolize equality and democracy, with two trees representing young people. It is set against a rising sun, to show the young regenerating and illuminating the world.

End of Term Party (2012-12-17)

We started with a game of Octopus, which anyone can join as they arrive. Accompanied on the piano with Jingle Bells by Iona.

When everyone had arrived we had Circle News: Connie, Jo's dad, Jago and Tegan had all hurt themselves. Tim has a job to go to in January (thanks for the round of applause!). Debbie is going to the theatre for her birthday, Millie had her birthday, Iona will have her birthday on Thursday. Molly is going to be in the paper as she was in the school nativity. Xanthe brought in a picture of the thrush she had and took to St Tiggywinkles. Magnus and Millie went to the live manger. Dylan went to Dick Whittington. Izzy was in a ballet show.

We played Parachute Games.

Then we ate party food: lots and lots of goodies washed down with Strawberry and Banana smoothies.

Leaders: Tegan, Debbie, Tim
Helpers: Richard, Ellen
Elfs: 14
Woodchips: 2