Games and Gods Eyes

Around this time last year our Pioneer group spent some time making up their own games. They even made videos so we could remember how to play them.

Although it's been a while we haven't forgotten them as this week, as the Elfins and Pioneers were meeting together it seemed a good time to introduce one of these games to the younger children.  Two of our Pioneers took the lead in explaining the rules, and our game of "floor" was great fun.

We also finished off weaving our gods eyes. These weaving originate in New Mexico and the weaving of them is often a time for reflection. We certainly found it quite a peaceful activity as a group, and as people got more confident with the weaving it was a lovely way to be able to sit and chat together.

September Vacancies

We have places in the Elfin group, for children aged 6 - 9 years old starting Sept.

We also have a very limited number of places in the Pioneer group, for children ages 10 - 12 years old, again starting in September.

If you are interested please contact us on info@southwestwoodcraft.org.uk


Children are welcome to join the group at the start of the term they turn 6, so if your child will be 6 soon do get in touch. We are also taking names for the waiting list if you child will turn 6 later in the year.



The group meets every Wednesday during term time, with at least one session each term being an outdoor one. We also join with other local groups for camps and activities throughout the year.

The cost is £26.40 per term (12 weeks).

Summer Term

The final weeks of the summer term were a very busy few for the group.  The middle of June saw our annual taster evening, when we open our doors for everyone to join us in an activity or two.

This year, the elfins made wooden badges and bird feeders. The Pioneers made small pea shooters and spent the rest of the session devising games to play with them.

The Pioneers spent the next few sessions on some more wood projects, this time making small pendants or in some cases guitar plectrums form different varieties of woods. You can really see the differences in the colours and grains of the woods up close, although it's not so easy form the photo.

The elfins focus for the last few weeks was on playing outdoors. We had  session using lots of different ways of blowing bubbles, and even using them to make prints. We also made our own kites.

Bushcraft Day

Over the weekend we spent a wonderfully sunny day in the woods.

First job when we arrived was lighting our campfire so we could start cooking lunch. Fresh Bread, Jacket Potatoes and sausages, yummy.

 The bread on a stick was very popular

The afternoon was far to warm to stay sitting round a fire, but the shade of the woods was a lovely place to be, especially with the rope swing.

Pioneer Tile Painting

After several sessions of bushcraft the pioneers have produced some wonderful spreaders, forks and spoons, photos of those to follow.

However it was time for a change so after playing some games out in the sun the challenge this week was to decorate some ceramic times and what wonderful designs they came up with.

Fun at the festival, part 2

It wasn't a promising start as we put the stall up in the rain but despite the forecast that was the only rain we saw.

We got the opportunity to display the banner the Pioneers made last year, as well as the bunting form Spring Camp.

It was a quiet morning but by the afternoon the festival was quite busy and quite a few badges were made. As always there were some lovely designs.

There was also lots of interest in the group, and hopefully we'll have some new faces at the taster evening next week.

Thanks to Bradley Stoke radio with whom I did a brief interview on the day, and have been publicising the event for us this week.

Fun at the Festival, part one

Great fun at the Start of the Bradley Stoke community festival this morning as we joined the Friends of Jubilee Green for a picnic in the park, have a look here for pictures of the day

Giant Kerplunk and the Parachute were both very popular, though the second session of the patrachute games was a little quiet. You can't compete with picnics :-)

Hopefully the weather will hold out for the main event tomorrow, lucky dip is all ready. I just need to cut out soem more blanks for the badge making.