Bread making (12th May 2014)

We kicked off with a new game Flat Chapatis led by Bibi and Arthur… uncannily similar to Dead Ants it proved equally popular…. one person is the Baker and wears outsize oven gloves. They have to squash one of the other players front to back between the oven gloves - the player then falls to the floor and becomes a flat chapati! Other players can rescue them by carrying them in groups of four to the safe area - but the chapati must remain absolutely rigid and flat whilst they are being carried!

Then in our circle we told each other our favourite foods made from dough: croissant, sourdough, pain au raisin, Egyptian flat bread, naan, white bread, brown bread, pumpernickel all came up - but by a landslide the favourite dough-based product was pizza! Then we split into four groups: Rye, Wheat, Spelt and Barley and took it in turns to go around the tables.



At one table the Elfins ground flour using the quern from the Elfin Hostel weekend.

At another they rolled out chapatis before taking them to the kitchen to cook.














Then to table 3 to add jam or nutella - and - in some cases - jam and nutella before eating!




When all that was done Elfins voted on the games - food - and drink for the Elfin Takeover next week.

In the games category:
Capture The Flag came top while Parachute Games and Dead Ants tied for second place.
In the food category:
S'mores narrowly beat chocolate filled bananas.
Last but not least in the fizzy drinks category:
Orangeade beat off all comers…

Can't wait…

Session leaders: Lucy/Claire

Leaders: Alison, Kate, Catrin

Helpers: Joanne

Leaders' Bushcraft Training (5th-6th April 2014)

(Apologies for another late and out of order blogpost...I've caught up now!)

Oxford District Woodcraft Leaders came together for a weekend of training with the marvellous Nic (40-odd years of Woodcraft experience man and boy).

We made name tags, mallets, tent pegs, knives and forks out of a variety of woods - and beads, whistles and blowpipes from elder.

Lucy also made a talking stick for our group.

We learnt about making fires with a flint - safety around the fire and safe use of knives - plus shelter building and hammock rigging in the woods.

It was really good!

And - we came away with loads of Bushcraft skills to pass on to our groups. It was also perfect preparation for the District's Summer Camp which this year is on the theme of Bushcraft.

Elfin Hostel (28th - 30th March 2014)

(Apologies for the delayed blogpost!)

The weather broke just in time for North Oxford Elfins' first Elfin Hostel. We joined up with Iffley Fields and Woodstock Elfins for a beautiful sunny weekend on the theme of the Iron Age.

Appropriately - accommodation was primitive and conditions were harsh…

and - bright and early the next morning - everyone was sent off on a forced march...

only to find - on a distant hilltop - this Roman centurion - far from home in time and space

...and in need of some friends.

Back at base there was a lot of work to be done...

grinding flour in a quern .... and then making the bread...


...learning to walk on a slack rope in the beautiful woods...

...making bows and arrows...

...weaving, making friendship bracelets, making hand moulds in plaster of Paris and so on and so forth.

Then a Merry Moot before bed.

 The next morning there was time for more things to do outside before home...

at the end of a glorious couple of days.

Thanks to all who made it possible - and to the Blue Skies.

(Thanks to Ian from Woodstock and Lucy for the photos - for more pictures see Iffley Fields blogpost).

Planning (28th April 2014)

We kicked off the Summer with a new game on Wolvercote Green - Clothes Peg Tag. It was a great success (despite one minor injury and some cheating...). It involves taking off the clothes pegs pinned on to each player by chasing each other and then pegging the pegs onto oneself (good to start with 3-5 pegs each). The winner is the one who after a certain period of time has the most clothes pegs. Jessica was the clear winner with 11!

When we came together for our news circle we formally welcomed the new Elfins: today's winner Jess, Benjamin and Sophie. Next we did one word news - 'my favourite thing about the Easter holidays' - and then had a quick recap on the rules we have all agreed - concentrating on the main three:

1. Be Kind
2. Listen (when others are speaking)
3. Respect (the thoughts and feelings of others)

We agreed that if we manage these - then rule number 5 is easy - Have Fun!

We talked about what was coming up this term including the District Camp in June and reminded all parents that we encourage them to join Woodcraft Folk and have a DBS done so that they can come to camps and hostels with us.

Then it was time for the ever popular snacks (apples and biscuits today) and getting on with the main job - session planning. We split into 3 groups to discuss: the spare session, the Summer Celebration and the Elfin Takeover. Each group drew their ideas on big sheets of paper and then fed back to everyone else. There were masses of ideas:

Spare Session Ideas

Making things:
- woodwork
- fluffy hedgehogs
- instruments
- weaving
- natural tie-dye scarves
- dream catchers
Out and About
- foraging
- den making
- tree climbing
Food:
- s'mores
- different adults teach cool ways to make food
Visits:
- botanical garden
- zoo
- swimming pool
Activities:
- music making
- juggling

The Summer Celebration Ideas

- 'I say, I say, I say' - the best joke ever
- talent show - merry moot - do what you want
- drama
- singing
- gymnastics
- dressing up
- parade
- party games
- barbecue: sausages and marshmallows

Elfin Takeover Ideas

- Go Crazy
- Games: e.g. Dead Ants, Football, Cricket
- Sweet Picnic: Coke, Fanta and lots of sweet things

We'll try to include lots of today's ideas in the next few weeks and save others for the autumn. More on the Elfin Takeover next time.

We ended with a furious game of Dead Ants and the Woodcraft Folk Song.

Session leaders: Alison/Amanda

Leaders: Lucy, Catrin

Helpers: Christine, Jo, Joanna, Teresa, Tei

Merry Moot (24th March 2014)

We met on the Green for the last Spring session and kicked off with a frenetic final game of Octopus. Vidar and Millie were the last fish swimming.

We had snacks at the firepit - marshmallows, tortilla chips, blueberry and chocolate muffins, grapes and hot chocolate, fruit flakes and hummus (not necessarily in that order).

Then we held our Merry Moot:

Connie, Bibi, Ruby, Zena, Millie et al formed a group...
















….and did a 'mystery act'….

…starring at least one rabbit;

                                                  Seren and Millie sang a Dinosaur song;

Nick and Jago did a crazy chase scene...

 ...featuring a large red wig(!);





Bibi sang 'For the First Time in Forever' from Frozen; Lucy, Arthur and Nick did a fabulous version of 'The Silly(?) Song' - and then again very fast... Tei did a card trick called 'Hand Sandwich'; Seren sang 'Let It Go' from Frozen. 

By which time - despite the fire - and extra hot chocolate - we were all well and truly frozen.

So we got up and played the Hula Hoop Game 




...with 7 (yes 7!) hula hoops going in both directions around the circle.
















Special thanks to Arthur for the closeups!

And we ended our sessions with a belting Woodcraft Folk Song. 

Some off us will be meeting up again at the Iron Age Elfin Hostel next week - and we are all looking forward to many (warmer) days on the Green when we get back after Easter.

Thanks to all the Elfins - helpers - and leaders for a lovely Spring.






Session leader: Amanda
Leaders: Lucy, Catrin
Helpers: Nick, Claire, Marie, Tei

Elfin Takeover: Favourite Games (17th March 2014)

This was our first Elfin Takeover. The Elfins led the way voting on their favourite games to play on the Green.

Session leader: Kate
Leaders: Lucy, Alison
Helpers: Marie, Claire, Sophie

Tin can cooking (10th March 2014)

This time the Elfins had their first go at cooking on tin cans on the Green. Thanks to Tim from East Iffley Elfins for the idea!

Kate stepped in at the last moment and led a fantastic session.

Each Elfin had a can that had been pre-pierced with holes to draw air around the top and a little door at the bottom.

They used tea lights as a heat source and cooked a variety of tasty morsels on top of the cans.

And ended with a spirited Woodcraft Folk Song.

Session leader: Kate
Helpers: Marie, Claire, Lili