Is anyone a member of Woodcraft Folk?

[vwvic]

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!

I wanted to comment on the themes you run. It sounds very in-keeping with the nature of the organisation but it might be worth changing the ratio of learning stuff to play for a while to jazz things up a bit. Maybe the children feel it's too mcuh like school, doing projects and learning things, and too little play. Just a thought. You can learn about cooperation only through the medium of sports and games!

They aren't deliberately secretive, they have a website etc.

I think the parents and children who go to our local (Devon) groups are quite different from the parents and children I knew who went to the South Manchester one where we used to live. Round here there are quite a lot of people who live off the land or have quite unusual approaches to education etc.

Next time you phone them spidermama leave a message saying that your DH is an actor, runs workshops and you envisage offering lots of said workshops, for free of course, when you are a member, that will get them returning your calls That's pretty much how the Brighton groups seem to operate.

They might be short of adult leaders, many organisations are, that could be a possible way in - if you can face it.

ok, while I have a captive woodcrafty audience, please help me on the thread I started about this a few weeks ago

spring equinox party ideas for woodcraft evening

I have no ideas.

Fennel I've replied on that but it's better if I CAT you so I will.