In this extended audio, we find out about the Woodcraft Folk, “a movement for children and young people, open to everyone from birth to adult”. ‘Woodies’ meet locally in Bitterne Park and in central Southampton, and, contrary to popular belief, not that much craft with wood is actually involved! We talk to parents and children to find out what really goes on, and learn a little about the organisation’s history, too.
Use the audio player below to listen to our feature and find out more, or click here
Woodcraft Folk aren’t really about ‘working with wood’, as the name might imply, but groups mainly focus on games, craft, music, camping, internationalism, co-operation and social change. Many parents enjoy becoming involved, and take part in activities with their children.
Woodcraft Folk “work for a peaceful world and to try and educate our children so that when they grow up they can do something to make the world a better place,” explains district co-ordinator Stephen Phillips.
The national Woodcraft site says that: “Our aim is to have great fun, but also to try and develop children’s self-confidence and build their awareness of society around them.”
In the above audio, we talk to both children and parents who are members, and also hear from some Woodies who have been involved for over 30 years, to get their perspective on this unique organisation.
Credits
Putting this together has been a collaborative effort: special thanks to our reporter, and Woodcraft Folk member Milly Phillips (11), who carried out many of the interviews (and who’s featured on our intro and outro ‘jingles’), to all those people who braved the microphone, and to Steve Hickman for use of his pictures of the 2011 summer Woodcraft Folk camp. Blue Skies!
If you want to use our audio elsewhere, it’s probably fine if you give us a suitable credit, but please contact us first to work things out. If you’d like audio producing for your site we may be able to help too so do contact us to discuss.
Links
Southampton Woodcraft Folk site
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