Adventure starts with Woodcraft Folk!
We are recruiting for young members at our Stroud Woodcraft Folk local youth group ‘Oak Pioneers’!
Come and join one of the longest serving and most established youth movements in the world.
Through our weekly group nights, campaigns, events and programmes we support children and young people to take the lead and change their world.
Joining a Woodcraft Folk group offers a chance for young people to develop skills, build confidence, make friends, get outdoors and explore new experiences in a safe space where everyone is welcome.
If you are not from Stroud and would like to join a Woodcraft Folk group, please head here to find and contact your nearest group.
Joining Woodcraft Folk means being part of a thriving community of passionate and dedicated people. It’s about helping children and young people engage with the world around them and, developing their skills, making friends and most importantly, we have fun!
Everyone welcome
Every week thousands of volunteers and young people across the UK meet in school halls, community venues and a host of other places to attend our local groups. There, our young members learn about big ideas and topical issues such as the environment and world peace through fun activities like craft, games, camping, playing and debating.
Our local groups are the lifeblood of our charity and we are an inclusive organisation that aims to make our groups accessible and open to all young people who want to join. We seek to keep activity costs low, and offer financial support to young people where we can.
We have nearly 200 groups across England, Wales and Scotland for ages 0 to 20 with many of our older members aged 21+ years then staying in the movement to get involved with our volunteer programme.
Activities are designed to meet the needs and aspirations of the young people in the group, and will take account of any medical needs, disabilities or learning needs. Your local group co-ordinator will be able to provide more information.
What happens at group nights
Your local Stroud Woodcraft Folk group ‘Oak Pioneers’ meet fortnightly on Thursdays during term time from 5.30pm-7pm at Hawkwood Outdoor Classroom and serves 10-12 years.
While all Woodcraft Folk groups are underpinned by the same aims and principles, we explore these in an age-appropriate way at our Stroud group.
Fill in the form at the bottom of this webpage to express your interest in joining your local Stroud group!
Here are some of the things we get up to at your local Woodcraft Folk group:
- Craft activities like screen printing, clay modelling or badge making
- Adventurous activities such as bushcraft, canoeing, den building, climbing and campfire cooking
- Engaging games – such as trials around the neighbourhood, team challenges or drama based activities
- Connecting with the outdoors – bird watching, planting wildflower seeds, making a bug hotel or growing their own produce
- Debating and learning – exploring topical issues through workshops and debates such as climate change, anti-racism or peace. We also take part in campaigns such as Great Big Green Week, No Child Left Behind or Fairtrade Fortnight
- Trips – this might be local exploration such as to the nearest park or a weekend adventure to one of our four residential centres. We even host regional, national and international events for our local groups such as week long camps.
- Working towards externally recognised programmes – such as the John Muir Award
As our members progress through the organisation, young people grow in confidence and will have more opportunities to shape their group’s activities such as running a workshop for their peers to share a skill or talent.
Why join a Woodcraft Folk group
Our young members can benefit from:
- A space where everyone is welcome
- Learning new things within a supportive community
- A range of activities and opportunities on offer to explore
- Meeting new people and making memories to last a lifetime
- Many physical and mental wellbeing improvements particularly with outdoor activities
- Growing in confidence
- International experiences
Next steps – attend our taster session to find out more!
The group is hosting a FREE taster session event for 10-12 years on Thursday 6th June from 5.30pm-7pm at Hawkwood Outdoor Classroom and would love your young person to join them! At the event your young person will join in with the local group to experience what happens at a group night and there will be the chance for you to ask any questions. During the event, there will be cooperative games, campfire cooking, bushcraft activities with a fun and friendly atmosphere. Parents are also invited to attend.
If you want to attend the taster session, you must register your interest beforehand by filling in the form below.
If you can’t make the taster session, you can still apply to join the local group by filling in the form below and someone from the group will be in contact with you.
Please check your spam/junk folders as emails from the group can sometimes end up in there.
Signing up
Please fill in the form by Monday 27th May 2024 to express your interest in joining the Stroud group and to confirm your attendance at the taster session if you are planning to attend.
If you have any questions, please contact the local group via their email address at stroudwoodcraft@gmail.com