What a fantastic weekend we’ve just had at Cudham! District Fellows and Venturers from Woodcraft Folk converged for an inspiring residential. The energy was buzzing as we delved into the unique treasures held within Cudham’s archives and had fun developing activities finding out about our experiences of Woodcraft and the stories our archives tell. Thanks to our Cudham staff, photographer Ellie Ramsden from the Museum of Youth Culture and our fabulous ‘100 Objects‘ team.
The focus of the weekend was all about exploring our collective experiences within Woodcraft Folk and uncovering the fascinating stories our archives hold, as well as developing our ‘100 Objects’ team to work in our Districts, Camp 100 and for our exhibition later this year. It’s amazing to see how the organisation has evolved, the impact it’s had on so many lives over the years and how we can bring those stories to life to explore the future of Woodcraft.
Earlier this month UCL IOE Archivist Jessica Womack showed us the most adorable miniature tent and camping equipment, perfectly crafted for a camper’s doll. Camping is one of the things everyone in woodcraft enjoys, so after seeing images of gents being decorated, we made and decorated our own tent.
The tent got us thinking about what will be in our ‘Camp 100’ tent, which may nowbecome known as Camp 100’s ‘Trailblazers Tent’: Our hub at Camp 100 dedicated to sharing what Woodcraft Folk is all about and exploring what people think of our movement. Motivated by the stories in the UCL IOE Woodcraft Folk Archives, Cudham’s own Archive and our own experiences, we spent time experimenting with ideas for the ‘Trailblazers Tent’.
‘I like ‘Trailblazers’ [proposed name for our ‘100 Objects for 100 Years tent’ at Camp100] because it’s what we are and what they are. It’s everyone in Woodcraft from then and now.’
Ellie Ramsden from Museum of Youth Culture helped us frame and picture, ‘making’ our photographs rather than ‘taking’ them. We developed this fully over the course of the day to help us ‘capture’ what Woodcraft Folk meant to us, and to have some fun.
‘She [Ellie] really made me stop and focus on what I was taking and why. Spend a bit more time to get something special.’
Thanks Tracy, Sara, Kath, Kate, Isobel and Scott at Cudham who made us feel very at home, including discovering more in their archives, fabulous food and a roaring Camp Fire with the new Woodcraft 100 song at the end of the day.
The weekend saw the formation of some exciting ‘working parties’, each dedicated to exploring different avenues for bringing Woodcraft’s story to life. We have groups diving into the potential of film and photography, others meticulously sifting through more archive gems, and even a team exploring the magical art of shadow puppetry! The enthusiasm and diverse skills in the room were truly inspiring.
Of course, we know there’s still a lot to do. The weekend at Cudham is just the beginning, but we made great progress in figuring out the ‘who, when, and how’ of sharing Woodcraft’s incredible story.
We’re also looking at how we can bring these stories to life within our own Districts, at Camp 100 and as part of our international touring exhibition throughout 2025. It’s a momentous year for Woodcraft Folk, and we’re determined to make it a celebration of our past, present, and future.
A huge thank you to everyone who came along to Cudham. Your energy, ideas, and enthusiasm made it a truly enjoyable and magical weekend.
‘I’ve not smiled so much in as long as I can remember’
