Piper and I went to our first Woodcraft Folk meeting on Monday evening.  Ayrton has been a member for over 2 years now, and has progressed from an Elfin to a Pioneer.  He has encouraged Piper to become a Woodchip, and for me to get involved too.  We are very glad we did.  We’ve already been invited to our first camp.

If you don’t know about the Woodcraft Folk, it is an alternative to Scouts and Guides, with less of a military and more of a "peace and kinship" vibe.  It in non-religious and not affiliated to any political party, but does play an active part in anti-war activism.  Being a sucker for beautiful words, the envoi (creed) moved me to tears (well, moist eyes) at my first meeting.  All the kids and grown-ups stand in a circle before leaving and say:

This shall be for a bond between us
That we are of one blood you and I
That we have cried peace to all and claimed kinship with every living thing.
That we hate war sloth and greed and love fellowship
And that we shall go singing to the fashioning of a new world.