An image from the early days of the youth movement which began in 1925

A PROGRESSIVE youth movement is celebrating its centenary as it continues to bring young people and children together through outdoor adventures, games, environmentalism and collective decision making.

In 1925 the Woodcraft Folk was born out of splits in the Scouts.

The Highgate and Holloway District started in 1994 in Highgate Newtown Community Centre, and is now based in the Girdlestone Commun­ity Centre in Archway.

It regularly attracts around 100 children and leaders for summer camps, a year-long programme of residentials, which includes canoeing and hiking.

Woodcraft Folk’s international camp

Esme Braddick, a Pioneer member aged 12, said: “I’ve made loads of amazing memories and had so much fun with my friends, being allowed to experiment and have responsibility, especially on the camping trips.”

Neela Peña, aged 13 said: “I’m quite a lot more outgoing than I was before. Woodcraft really makes me feel like I can accomplish most things and be more myself, without worrying about what others might say.”

One of Woodcraft Folk principles is international friendship and members have been formed by camping groups from Belgium, Czech Republic, Palestine, Peru, Romania and Western Sahara. The group’s motto is Span the World with Friendship.

Playing cooperative games

Co-lead of the Pioneers in the Highgate and Holloway District Nancy Hawker said: “In Woodcraft we support the children to take responsibility and guide them to collective decision making rather than people deciding on their own. What we have found is that children do increase in confidence. We do accommodate quite a few children with additional needs and disabilities and they have maybe never been in a position where they have been given that much autonomy and responsibility and this means they feel more confident going into the world and taking more responsible decisions for themselves.”