Reasons for doing this activity:
- To raise awareness of skills learnt at Woodcraft
- To involve Elfins in programme planning
Before you start
Print out enough badge handouts for your group. Prepare paper and pens on tables. It might be nice to bring some actual badges to show as examples, but if you don’t have any, the handouts have plenty of images.
Materials
- Paper
- Pens
- Handouts (Follow the Trail)
What to do
Is your Elfin Group aware of the Woodcraft badges? Why might Elfins be awarded badges? Show them some of the badges on the handout. Tell them that these badges are old and new, and explain that each badge corresponds with a skill. Can they match them with their skill?
Discuss these skills. What do they think you might have to do to get some of these badges? What are skills? Can they think of any skills that they have learned at Woodcraft?
In small groups ask the Elfins to make up a badge for their group. They can draw it and think of five things that you would have to do to get the badge. If they wanted, they could make up a badge for things that they have already done.
Share the badges with the group. Perhaps the group could undertake one or more of the badges. Ask them which they might want to explore further.
When running this activity, make sure to take note of people’s thoughts and ideas, especially:
- Why members like coming to the group
- What members think could be better about the group
- How things might need to be improved