Our 80th Birthday year has begun. We started off with a refreshing walk in the New Year, exploring the local muddy places and building Woodie inspired art along the way. We’re very proud of ourselves because we will have achieved 80 Great Things over the course of 2014. Well done Newham Watersmeet Woodcrafters.
Join us in a community celebration in Stratford Circus on 15th November 6-9pm, you will need a ticket (free) so contact newhamwoodcraft@gmail.com for more information.
These are just some of the ideas that our young people put forward at the November pea fair:
- raise £80 each for a charity that reflects our values
- carve a fallen tree from the flats
- silly sports day
- have a mass camp fire sing-a-long for all ages (non- Woodies too)
- take a birds eye view group photo of woodcraft making the “80” shape and put on website
- different cooking stations then a massive dinner
- make chairs out of logs for grown ups to sit in with tea holders
- party at camp
- 80 people in a human pyramid
- plant 80 trees
- men against women and children football match
- water balloon fight
- make a film
- make a children’s map of Newham
- quiz and lots of prizes
- make a Woody play area
- really big camp fire on flats – invite other districts
- have a picnic
- street gardening in Forest Gate
- film 80 people saying “I’m a Woodcrafter”
- plant some bulbs
- pop up Woodcraft stall at Woodgrange Market
- cycle all around Newham
- make a stop frame animated film (animated tents!)
- get 80 adults to dress as clowns (face paint!)
- big event at the end of the year to celebrate
- camp
- have 80 wide games
- co-ordinated litter clean on Wanstead Flats
- write a book of 80 great games to play
- time capsules
- break world record for world’s largest birthday cake
- go to the toy shops
And this is what we have achieved:
80 Great Things to celebrate Newham Watersmeet Woodcraft Folk being 80 Years Young
Ceilidh to launch 80 Years Young
Elfin performance for 80 years
A Great Walk 10 miles in East London Jan 2014
Launch of Calluna Project with Forest Gate WI
Funghi walk and talk with WREN
Film making workshop with Mouth that Roars
Stubbers residential trip for Venturers
Venturer/ DF bike restore & donation to Gambia
Walking boot donation to Gambia
DF presentation to Forest Gate Women’s Institute
Fundraising tuck shop on London camp for charity
15 Elfins become Pioneers
Pioneer and Elfin ice skating for 80
Pioneer Pea Fair – raising funds for charities
Pioneers create a warm up quiz for the 80th party
Health and tasty smoothie experiments at Pioneers
Waste less Live More – autumnal art and conkers
Waste Less Live More – Venturer and DF clothes swap
Young People are Bothered film session
Presentation to Unite Union for the Palestine Project
Venturers and DFs flip burgers at Forest Gate Food festival
Venturer Winter Residential at Truleigh Hill
Newham Woodcraft starts tweeting
Helping out with gardening in a time of need
DF’s and venturers contribute to local Community Plan Project
DFs and Venturers Volunteer at Talking Newspaper
Trip to Darn House, home of Charles Darwin
Elfins and Pioneers get up close to badgers
Cudham residential trip Elfins and Pioneers
Woodcraft Craft Activities at Forest Gate Festival
Cycle tour of Newham with Newham Cyclists
Elfins exploring woodcraft history in dance
Monthly conservation days at Calluna Project
Elfin environmental treasure hunt on Wanstead Flats
Paper craft activity at community day at the Gate library
Pioneers join London Pioneers at Shadwell Basin
WWI – history project with Eastside Community Heritage
Pioneer Video – history of Newham Woodcraft Folk
Refreshment area run at Forest Gate Festival
Venturers host Challenge UK conservation days at SSSI
Venturers host children’s rights session for Challenge UK
Play session at Newham City Farm
Singing at Forest Gate Food Festival
Elfin News- Film Project
Sharing camp skills with a new Pioneer group
Pioneers learn to cook their dinner on an open fire
Low Carbon Camp
Tie Dye Extravaganza
Host cycle cinema on London Camp
Wicker man build and burning ceremony
Hosting a French Delegation at London Camp
Venturers create a wide game for 80 people on camp
80 Woodcrafters Walk to Lost Pond
Countless meals made on camps and residentials
Eco generated sound project
Past, Present, Future bunting
District Quidditch Match
80 Greats Totem Pole
Inestimable number of hours experiencing the great outdoors
Knitting an 80 Great Banner
Creating a Past, Present and Future Camp Song
80 Greats District Camp
New safeguarding sessions launched
Calluna project provides wood for our camp fires
Planted seeds for summer
Pioneers create Tent Flags for camps
Pioneer Lantern making
Our DF group becomes one of the biggest in the country
DFs give over 100 volunteer hours to Pioneer and Elfin groups
Run crèche for State of Education Conference
Radio Interview on Nu Sounds Radio
Share songs at London Elfin Music Day
Venturers visit the Fat Walk to play moonlit ping pong
Corn dollies and willow weaving with Epping Forest Rangers
Venturer Song writing
Venturers Sleep Rough for charity
Venturers compile their 80 Inspirations
Over 1000 hours volunteering from adults over the year
Elfins create 80 Great Biscuits
80 people saying ” I’m a Woodcrafter”