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Original poster

Is anyone a member of Woodcraft Folk?

32 replies

vwvic · 01/03/2007 10:06

If so could you spare a few minutes to help me?
I help to run a small group. We have 9 members, with ages ranging from 5 to 13. We've been trying to get more members, but the feedback we're getting from their parents is that the kids find it boring, and so don't return.
Our meetings start with "news", which tends to be dominated by one particular family. Unfortunately, they are the family who set up the group, so it's hard to say anything to them. We then go on to our topic for that week, before spending five minutes at the end of the session playing a run around game, them singing the woodcraft song before leaving.
So, I would really like to hear what sort of things other woodcraft groups get up to. Also, if anyone is going to the Northern gathering on Saturday, I'll see you there!

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Original poster
vwvic · 01/03/2007 10:50

shameless bump!

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zippitippitoes · 01/03/2007 10:56

it does sound boring..is the format fixed if not I would just change it

don't you have leadership development groups or a hand book to inspire you?

there have been threads on woodcraft folk before..but more er jokey i think

Babyramone · 01/03/2007 11:03

Hi, Don't know much about them but would like my kids to go when old enough. My niece goes to this in london and I know she really loves it.
Just wondering if you can maybe get more games in and some art and craft stuff. Are you able to get people to come and teach new skills.
Do you thing the other family is domineering the group? Maybe making it to much like a personal family event. That in it's self would have put me off as a child. Does everyone get to tell their news or does the other family take over?
Sorry not much help just interested in the concept and hope you get more members.
Also bet lot's of the other groups will have good tips to get members in.

Original poster
vwvic · 01/03/2007 11:19

Should probably have explained a little more. The topic for the week iswhere we do arts and crafts based things, or learn a new skill. After a few extremely boring meetings, we thought it would be a good idea to have a vague plan of action for the next few weeks. For example, last half term we looked at friendship, and extended it to what childrens lives were like around the world. We did henna painting, dressing up, played games, ate typical food, etc. One of the adults is the manager of a radio station, and so this half term we're going to write and direct our own program.

I think a big problem is the other family. Although everyone does tell their news, they comment on everything, and then go of on a tangent, talking about a similar thing that happened to them once....The more I think of it, the more sure I am that it might be time to have a quiet word with them.

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zippitippitoes · 01/03/2007 11:23

I think as the leader yu have to rule the roost eg have an object or talsiman type thing and only the one holding it can speak, a way of taking turns etc and make it brief..have a few weeks where you have March madness or somethingnwhen the format is completely different and then restart with different rules

fennel · 01/03/2007 11:28

I am a member. dd1 goes and the parents are roped in to help quite regularly so I get to organise and attend quite a few meetings and events. It's not boring at ours. dd absolutely loves it.

We don't have that news section, occasionally they have a short session like that but more often they start with a few games - chicken pie, port and starboard, winking murder, various active and loud things.

Then they have a main activity which varies dramatically each week. I did them a halloween evening with lots of games and dressing up, DP ran a juggling and circus skills evening, other times they go out bug-hunting or practise camping skills or they did a "play" - Romeo and Juliet in 20 minutes (!) for the Carnival badge. Once a term they go swimming. Sometimes they'll do a craft activity. Occasionally they do some singing, not every week.

They they might have 5 minutes of circle time but noone dominates it. there was a problem for a while with one boy being disruptive - he didn't want to be there and tended to make a fuss and complain, but a leader would try and take him off to the side and deal with him.

fennel · 01/03/2007 11:30

I know when I was a guide that the weekly meetings were rather boring but I stayed for the outdoor stuff, especially the camping. Is your group doing much of that? Our Elfins (6-9 year olds) have just been on a trip to a hostel overnight, dd (6) thought this was totally wonderful. They go camping twice a year too.

fennel · 01/03/2007 11:31

If you CAT me I could email you a copy of our programme, which might give you some ideas. It seems to work, the group is oversubscribed and the children are mostly pretty keen.

Spidermama · 01/03/2007 11:32

vwic I'm not a member but would like to be. They haven't been returning my emails at the Brighton branch and I can't seem to find a phone number for them. I was beginging to wonder if they were wildly over subscribed in this area.

Have a great Northern Gathering.

Hello fennel.

fennel · 01/03/2007 11:45

hi Spidermama

I sound very enthusiastic don't I? when dd started a year ago I assumed she'd trot off and we'd be fairly uninvolved but we seem to have got thoroughly sucked in . we had to join so we could go to camp (so our younger children could go too) and then somehow we got embroiled in the planning meetings etc.

you do meet some very, um, interesting people through it.

Spidermama · 01/03/2007 11:51

Yes I assume I'll feel at home with a toddler at the breast and some quinoa on the stove.

I'll bet a fair bproportion of them are home educated too.

fennel · 01/03/2007 11:54

it's de rigeur to have toddler very publicly clamped to breast during circle time.

yes to home ed - preferable while living off grid in a forest. Steiner schools are also acceptable.

Original poster
vwvic · 01/03/2007 11:56

Fennel, what your group does sounds great. I don't think I'm set up to cat, could you email me? vic @ gorrells. plus. com (take out spaces). I know what you mean about being sucked in- I had thought exactly the same as you!

Spidermama, I might be able to help. One of our members is pretty well connected within woodcraft- I'll see if he can get hold of a phone number.

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Original poster
vwvic · 01/03/2007 11:59

In our group, we're the only ones who don't have anything hand knitted. I gain brownie points by tie dyeing fabric then using it to make cute dresses for my girls, who, sadly, are just too big to clamp to my breast for circle time .

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fennel · 01/03/2007 11:59

vwvic, I'll do that but haven't got the programme here at work - will send it from home later.

Spidermama · 01/03/2007 12:08

vwvic we have a camper van. Will that help?

If you could get me a phone number I'd be very grateful. Can I CAT you with my email address?

fennel · 01/03/2007 12:20

we had a lilac 27 year old VW camper van. til we had too many small children to make it feel other than a hellish tin of sardines to be in.

It's better if you actually live full time in your bus. while home-edding. If you really want to fit in.

Original poster
vwvic · 01/03/2007 12:23

Spidermama- we used to have one too, hence the name! Sadly, it was written off in a RTA dh had 11 days before our wedding. A interesting fortnight, that one . I feel sure it will help in your bid to become woodcraft!

I don't think I can do cats- email me at the address below if you like and I'll send it to you that way. Might be a while though, if thats ok, as I'll have to wait for my chappie to get back to me

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noddyholder · 01/03/2007 12:25

My ds is 12 now and doesn't want to go but we tried forever when he was younger and got no response.I fear it is v popular and they are inundated

pollyanna · 01/03/2007 12:27

spidermama there is a waiting list in Brighton.

Original poster
vwvic · 01/03/2007 12:27

For the record, ours was a sort of nasty matt finish yellowy white. With big orange streaks from the rust due to dh's investigative grinding attempts. I can't remember ever going camping without a full set of tools for the inevitable repairs. And I clearly remember last February, we had a special celebratory dinner becuase the van had lasted the whole month without breaking down.
I digress. I really must get out more!

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zippitippitoes · 01/03/2007 12:30

just out of curiosity why are the woodcraft folk so secretive..they never publicise themselves like the guide movement

Spidermama · 01/03/2007 12:33

I did wonder vw
Mine is a tasteful cream with a red stripe but dh has been a little over enthusiastic with the stickers of late.

pollyanna I haven't managed to infilitrate the Brighton group but am trying. vw has friends in high woody places and may be an asset to my attempts.

Bucketsofdynomite · 01/03/2007 13:50

Pssst, you could always do a search for threads on Brownie activities .

CristinaTheAstonishing · 01/03/2007 14:00

vwvic - what age range are those children? They must be very young if the whole family attends.

My DS (7) has been going to a local WF group for over a year now. They start with news, very short. They go from one child to the next, if no news volunteered, fine, next one. Then they play, very physical play. Organised games but lots of rough and tumble (e.g. some pretend to be snakes and crawl on the floor and others try to get from one side of the field to the other without being caught by the snakes). They also do glass painting or other crafts but never as the only thing during that session. Once a term there's a party and they've had a few roller discos too. Camping and the older ones have been ice skating.

From what I've seen of other parents there's nothing "folksy" about them, just ordinary SW London families.