Why do people fear the Woodcraft Folk?

[spidermama]

I don't think we had them in Scotland. I have only heard bits and pieces about them. I had a quick look at their website which doesn't give much away, but they have some lovely campsites.

I mentioned them to dh on the phone just now and he sounded alarmed. 'What do you want to contact them for?'

There are also references on other threads about Woodcraft Folk making children into weirdos.

I've never been averse to swimming agains the tide, but just exactly why do people react against the Woodcraft Folk.

Come on. You can be honest.

pmsl at thread title

I know. I didn't realise that people did!

So what is it about them? Are they traveller types?

Spoony, middle-class Arran sweatered, sandal 'n' sock wearers who've gone too far down the lentil weaving road to find their way back?

I'm genuniely interested. I'm probably a borderline Woodcraft parent, but I need to know what I'm dealing with.

Maybe it's just because the name is a bit hippy, tree-huggy.

I had a look at the website as well spidermama (as an alternative to the Brownies as you've seen on my other contraversial thread !) and they look great, but there isn't one very close to where we live.

who/what the hell are they ?

Yes it was the other thread which spawned my interest bonyM. I think it all looks pretty wholesome and innocuous, but they seem to make people (my dh included) react.

So who knows what the reaction is about? Or is it top secret?

I'd forgotten about them. Must investigate on behalf of the Inferiorettes.

are they a bit Wicker Man?

a sort of non drugged version of the Incredible String Band?

They were set up as a lefty, more palatable alternative to the Boy Scouts. Which, speaking as someone who never joined the Brownies because among other things she couldn't take an oath swearing to 'honour the Queen', can only be a Good Thing.

we fear their chisels
and the whittling
no idea spidermama
probably because it's not mainstream

spidermama - I can't answer your question, but ds (6) tried both Woodcraft Folk and Beavers last year and they didn't seem that different to me. They were doing the same kinds of activities. It probably depends a lot on the particular group or leader.

I'd never heard of them before Mumsnet. They sound a bit Enid Blyton, cute little pixie twee. But the website looks good.

Well I don't. I am very, very of anyone with a nearby Group to be honest.
I suppose it is that they were founded as a reaction to Baden Powell's militarism, muscular Christian monarchist approach (which you cannot really blame the poor sod for given his date of birth and background).
Most people nowadays don't get that het up about Scouting's origins and agenda, especially as the movement has made major, genuine efforts to become much more diverse and inclusive in recent years. But when WCF were founded, taking issue with Queen and Empire was much more radical I guess.
They have recently had the last shreds of their public funding cut Spidermama, which is a disgrace IMO, and yes, they tend to flourish in areas where there is a healthy concentration of households actively interested in conserving the environment, fair trade, animal welfare etc. Very George Bernard Shaw/Steiner-ish.
If you have a group near you, I bet your kids will love it and of course it won't make them weirdos. I worked with someone at a charity who was WCF herself and had two daughters who were, and her radical approach to life was really inspiring and refreshing. And she had worked in the City for many years (not liking it much, mind).

Hmm, there isn't a group near me, but they sound nicer to me than Guides, Scouts or (my most likely similar group) CCF .

MI, don't bother. Nearest to us is in LEWES. A mere two hours in our Earth-destroying motor conveyances :(

My late grandmother really had something against them - our local group met at the back of the Co-op so it stood to reason they must be Communist!

More rationally, I think they are excessively anticompetitive. Cooperation is a Good Thing but children also need some practice in winning and losing graciously.

The Woodcraft Folk do run some good holiday play events down our way though, with parachute and frisbee games in parks. MotherInferior, if you live where I think you do you may be able to find a local branch - there's one in the Crystal Palace area, loosely attached to or located at Paxton School iirc.

Spider there is a group in brighton, near to me in 5ways- was seriously considering it for ds . Will try and find details if you like?

Oooh yes please puddle. I can walk to fiveways easily.

I thought they sounded like the type of people who might have a group in Brighton iykwim.

Brighton is scary isn't it

There is a group in CP Hallgerda? Bit far for us but more convenient for MI I think :)

We used to have one here but they have dwindled away. I would love to have one for ds to try. A boy I used to look after went, and they would do projects on saving the environment and play non-competitive anti-capitalist Tag and stuff.

Dp does go a funny colour when I mention them, I think he has The Fear.

If there are not several groups in Brighton I would be very surprised.

other places i expect they are well represented totnes, hebden Bridge, carmarthenshire

Marina, the Woodcraft Folk team who run Playout cooperative games sessions in our local park are based at Paxton School near Crystal Palace if I remember rightly. I don't know where any other groups are based, but there isn't another one nearer to Streatham (where I live). If you want to find a local group, I'd use the contact e-mail on the website, assuming there is one.

If you want to find out whether the ethos suits you and your children, you could see if there's a Playout going on near you over the Easter holidays.