Education for social change since 1925

by Cathy Brown

Woodcraft Folk is an educational movement for children and young people, designed to develop self-confidence and activity in society. Our aim is to build a world based on equality, friendship, peace, social justice and co-operation. We have been running since 1925 and are still going strong.

Our motto is ‘Span the world with friendship’.

Woodcraft groups run across the UK and provide a wide range of activities such as singing, arts, crafts, cooking, drama, film making, debating and lots of co-operative games. Groups run many sessions outdoors, including tracking and trailing, den building, bushcraft, campfire cooking and natural art. Our local groups have run activities at Aylestone Meadows and have helped the Aylestone Meadows Appreciation Society and Riverside Rangers. We also organise camps at district, national and international levels.

We have great fun but also aim to develop children’s self-confidence and their awareness of the environment and society around them. Groups have a strong ethos of inclusion and encourage children to take responsibility for things such as helping to decide the programme, cooking a meal on camp, running a game or even organising a whole session.

There are 3 groups running in and around Leicester and they welcome new members:

• Wild Woodpeckers – 3 to 9 years. Tuesdays 6pm to 7.30pm in Clarendon Park. Contact Majlene Squires majlene@msn.com
• Kingfisher – 6 to 15 years. Wednesdays 6.30pm to 8pm in Braunstone. Contact Arlo Cadoux arlocadoux@gmail.com
• Thurmaston Robins – 3 to 12 years. Thursdays 6pm to 7.30pm in Thurmaston. Contact Luke Astle lukeastle@live.co.uk

Cathy Brown, District Chair, cath.brown.home@ntlworld.com, woodcraft.org.uk