Youth and youth movement have become important factors in the life of the country. Numerous youth organizations have been formed since the Second World War, uniting young people from all classes and sections of the population.
There are about 60 youth organizations in Great Britain. All youth organizations can be divided into three large groups:
Non-political organizations;
Youth organizations associated with political parties;
Youth organizations controlled by religious bodies.
The two largest non-political youth organizations are the associations of the Boy Scouts and the Girl Guides. There are about 1300000 boys and girls in them. The membership is voluntary1.
The Scout Association was formed in 1908 by General Baden Powell. His idea was to train boys in mapping2, signaling3, knotting4, first aid and all the skills that would arise from camping and outdoor activities. Most important of all for a Scout was to make a promise that he would do his best to do his duty to God and the Queen, to help other people and to obey the Scout Law.
The Boy Scouts had a left-handed handshake5, a special badge and the motto "Be Prepared". The Scout Law embraces "honor, obedience, cheerfulness, thrift and cleanliness in thought and deed''.
The Scout movement was intended6 for boys from 11 to 14 (15), but in 1916 Baden Powell introduced a program for younger people. He called them Wolf Cubs. They had special uniforms, badges7, a special training system and the motto "Do your best!". The Wolf Cub pack is based on Kipling's "Jungle Book" about learning to survive.
The Girl Guides Association was founded by Baden Powell in 1910. It's divided into three sections: Brownies (from 7.5 to 11), Guide s (from 11 to 16), Rangers 8 (from 16 to 21). The program of training is planned to develop intelligence and practical skills including cookery, needlework, childcare. Like a Scout a Girl Guide must be a friend to animals. The Girl Guides Association has extensive international links.
There are some other non-political organizations: the Combined Cadet 9 Force, Sea Cadet Corps, the Woodcraft Folk, the Youth Hostels Association, the National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs, Greenpeace.
Youth Organization Greenpeace deals with most urgent ecological problems. It protests against nuclear weapon tests, sea and soil pollution, etc. Sport clubs are characteristic youth organizations in the UK. They unite people who are interested in baseball, football, golf, etc. There also exist interest clubs. You can attend any club: from theatre to bird-watching clubs. By the way, bird watching clubs are very popular in Great Britain.
There are several youth organizations associated with political parties. The Youth Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (YCND) unites young people and organizes mass rallies and meetings, demonstrations, marches of protest, festivals. It cooperates with the National Union of Students.
Religious young organizations and groups aim at helping to elderly people or working in hospitals. There are even groups where young people help released prisoners to start there life a-new. Religious organizations pay attention not only to the study of religious views but involve youth into such activities as music festivals and amateur theatre.
As you see, all these organizations aim at preserving and strengthening the social and political system existing in the country. Many of them have done and still are doing useful work in providing leisure facilities for young English people.
THE WOODCRAFT FOLK
The Woodcraft Folk1 is the name of the Pioneer organization in England. Its members are children from workers' families. The organization was founded in 1925. Boys and girls from six years up to twenty-one can join it. They all wear green suits with a badge. On the badge you can see a little green fir-tree2.
The Woodcraft Folk have three groups. The largest group are boys and girls who are eleven to sixteen years old. They are called Pioneers. Another group are boys and girls who are six to eleven years old. They are called Elfins 3. There is also a group of big boys and girls who are sixteen to twenty-one years old. They are called Kins 4,
The Elfins are not Pioneers; they are too young for that. In the Woodcraft Folk organization they sing and dance, play different games, go in for sports. When they are eleven years old, they become Pioneers. In summer Pioneers live in camps in the country. They learn how to make a fire5 and how to make tea on it. They also study trees and flowers, and pick berries. They must know how to find their way in the forest. They also play games and go in for sports.
The Woodcraft Folk sometimes work in the fields or in the gardens for money. In towns and cities they organize concerts also for money. They sing, dance and read poems. With the money which they earn6 they buy things for their life in camps.
There are ten members in a section of Pioneers or Elfins. At the head of a section is a Kin, he or she is the leader of the section. The Kin organizes the Pioneers and the Elfins, helps them in their games and studies.
The Woodcraft Folk have pen-friends in other countries. They write letters to children of other countries. They want to know how children and young people live there, how they learn and how they play.
The Woodcraft Folk are also fighters for peace in the world. Kins and the Pioneers often take part in meetings and demonstrations.
