Cambridge Woodcraft Folk

2005 – 2006

8,1,2,7,4,5,6,3 Printed on recycled paper Cambridge Woodcraft Folk, now in it’s 26th year, has this year been involved with Oxfam Walk, Spring Camp, Strawberry Fair, Annual Gathering, Elfin Camp, Summer Camp, National Venturer Camp, Winter Wonderland, National and Regionial Gatherings, Woodcraft 80th Birthday party along with many behind-the-scenes activities such as Regional Training Camp, first aid training, minibus tests, Elfin Training Day and Darsham working weekends. Our group leaders, young people and parent helpers ran our local groups throughout the year as well as coming together for the big events. A big ‘thank you’ to all of you. Our local groups open, close and shift around based on age groupings, gender balance, and availability of leaders and parent-helpers. It was ever thus, and this year is no exception. In the event of a local closure, we always try and ensure that children can access an alternative group. John Collins, Cambridge Coordinator (outgoing)

Groups

Wood Elfins – Trumpington This year the majority of our Elfins moved up to Pioneers. We said goodbye to Chriss How, contact person in Trumpington, bookkeeper and caretaker and Elizabeth Rolph, our organic allotment guru, also moved on to Pioneers.

We were lucky to have Kit Westlake as our Venturer helper. Reluctantly we decided to close the group in December 2005. and the remaining children have been offered places at Cherry Hinton. Hilary Sutton

Page 2 Badger Elfins Now into our second year, we have a thriving, lively and enthusiastic group of 16 Elfins, set to increase to 20 at Easter, with children on the waiting list. The group is held at Morley school, but we are actively encouraging interest from children at other schools. Parents have supported the group very well (some experienced Woodies included), with their skills, ideas and enthusiasm. We have also enjoyed the support of Steph Macek, Ruth Taylor and more recently Evelyn Ford. Thank you. Also to Hiliary Taylor who has been teaching us some Woodcraft songs over the past year. During our first term together, we got to know each other, what Woodcraft was all about , and completed the "I Begin" badge. In the summer term we enjoyed lots of outdoor activities and hikes. A number of Elfins and their families went to the summer Elfin camp, which we all loved and got us hooked! We are currently having fun working towards the "Carnival" badge. We put on a show for family and friends in December where Elfins sang a song, did a mask dance and played the didgeridoos they had made. We are now working enthusiastically towards our next extravaganza based on an Aboriginal story. We are planning a weekend trip to Darsham sometime later in the year. Finally, the last words go to the Elfins - "I really liked making my lantern". "I think the group are very nice. Most of us really like going on camps." "Woodcraft is a great chance for getting together with your friends and making new friends". Deb Hempstead and Heather Styles

Evergreen Elfins After running su

Page 3 Huw Richards & Sue Kington

Acorn Elfins A busy year with Elfins and parents developing the group and themselves and forming a strong part of the District. We’ve enjoyed a wide range of activities this year. Cooking and a strong list of crafts being tried, and trips away from the hall to Milton Country Park, Fulbourn Fen and Coldhams Common. We’ve been

trying out new games but often revert to old favourites such as Swedish Ambulance and Stick-in-the-Mud. As well as going on District camps etc., Elfins and parents went on a very successful residential trip to Cudham, the Elfin camp at Great Gransden, Spring camp in Thetford Forest and Summer camp at Aysgarth Falls, and a residential at Lockerbrook. The group has grown over the year, though we stopped taking boys for a while in order to balance genders. We often had one or both of two five year olds (Woodpigeons), sisters of Elfins, come along to group night with a parent. They both came on Summer camp and even took part in the caving arranged with local instructors. Richard Robertson

Page 4 White Eagle & Jungle Pioneers We started the year with a smaller group, as several Pioneers moved up to Venturers, but have ended with a much larger group as both Elfins and children new to Woodcraft have joined us. Some of the highlights of group nights have been playing trading games, learning about Ramadan, nightlines and night walks, cooking (and eating), all sorts of craft activities and lots of games – this year’s favourite has been Swedish ambulance. Together with some older Elfins and Woodcrafters from Norfolk we went to Lockerbrook again in October. This was great fun. We spent one day doing rockhopping and weaselling among the limestone boulders. On another we walked along the side of Kinder Scout, where every one was thrilled to come across some VERY poisonous fungi. Maggie Bending

Venturers

Page 5 This has been a good year for Venturers, with nearly 30 on the register, of whom about half come on any given night. As well as the usual things (cooking, games, craft, walks, treasure hunts, swimming, Beechwoods) we have had a sleepover (aka ‘wakeover’) in Lowestoft, midnight ice skating at Alexandra Palace, and DIY Fashion. More serious topics have included "in the dark" (an evening blindfold to see what it's like being blind) and a visit from some people who had been teaching in Palestine. The best new thing was probably raising money for Pump Aid, where we spent a day ambushing people in the Grafton Centre! Kit says: Going to venturers is great.You feel included and get a sense of friendship and togetherness when you’re there and everything you do there is so fun. Everything that’s planned for us is perfectly suited to us and we love all that we do there. IT’S BRILLIANT!!!!!!!!!! Peter Westlake

DFs (District Fellowship) Cambridge DFs were at Summer camp, Spring camp (I think), Venturer Camp, DF Camp(surprise surprise), Winter Wonderland and probably loads of other stuff I’ve forgotten. We’ve been out in the world purveying a positive view of woodcraft being the upright, model citizens we are, although we haven’t really had(been to) any meetings for a while…which we should. Oh and we’re helping out at global village which will be super amazing. Philip Richards

Page 6 Spring Camp Spring camp 2005 was again held at Santon Downham, Thetford Forest. The camp was very pleasant and so was the weather. We had 59 campers: 20 adult, 1 DF, 10 venturers, 10 Pioneer, 12 Elfins and 6 woodpigeons. These included families from Thurlow and from the new Breckland district.

Summer Camp, Aysgarth Falls Every year we recreate a camp home that seems to meet all our needs for well being. And each year the camp we create seems so special that we wonder whether we can match it in the future. Well, I’m sure that we can match the wonderful companionship in future camps, but I wonder if we can match the site that we had at Aysgarth Falls. It simply was superb! This camp was the first time out for our new marquee. Our tent circle was laid out on a broad plateau (yes – that does mean flat!), and all around us were hills and woodland and the river with its crashing falls. It was hard to tear ourselves off site. But tear ourselves away we did – for a wide variety of experiences that helped us get to better know and appreciate the Yorkshire Dales. Between us we walked ( miles), went caving, climbed and abseiled, gorge walked, did team challenges, made rafts, swam, orienteered, and canoed. We kept our energy high with large quantities of very tasty food, and on camp enjoyed a wide range of activities - from riotous ratchet screwdriver, to telling stories to the woodpigeons or learning how to use axes. Maggie Bending

Page 7 Winter Wonderland, Nr Ledbury We’d waited 2 years to book Dyke House – it is that cool – and it was well worth it. Workshops, games, the beach, walks, music, new year, live music – it had everything. But more importantly than all that, the company of the warmest, most open minded, smartest, coolest, most talented young people you’ll ever meet, DFs. … And an awful lot of washing up. Philip Richards

National Venturer Camp, Derbyshire From late night drum and bass to on site knitting so much happened there isn’t any space to write it all down. Apparently Charlie got egged on peace night… which is very unwoodcrafty - peace night was very moving in remembrance of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and included the last of three sets of fireworks!. Having Kate Hudson, the chair of CND talk to us was really cool and…..there is just tooo much to write. Centres, Sauna, Sustainability, Bouncy Castle, Media, Quizzes. We are still waiting for the camp’s media output on dvd….where is it? Everyone had a fantastic time, friendships were forged and we are all seriously looking forward to next time. Philip Richards

Please can parents and carers consider offering some time and joining the Woodcraft Folk as members. Meetings happens once a month. We plan, coordinate, and evaluate camps, residentials and conduct all other Cambridge

Page 8 District business. All parents, carers and adult helpers are welcomed and encouraged to attend (including DFs).

Acknowledgements We benefited from grant aid during 2005-6 from Cambridgeshire County Council to help with hall hire for our group meetings. We are also financially assisted by the Co-op Group.

The Woodcraft Folk is an educational charity - registered number 1073665

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