Woodcraft Folk

Roles and Responsibilities
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Whilst there is only one person to be co-ordinator a camp is best run by a team of committed individuals who take on different "offices". The usual office holders for any size camp are: -

Listed below is a brief description of each of the office holder's duties. This is by no means a fixed idea and every person will bring to the office their own interpretation and identity.

Camp Chief


The camp chief is the person who has done all the co-ordination and organising beforehand and therefore is the person who acts as the focal point for the whole camp. Before the camp this person usually will have found and booked the site, arranged and chaired the camp committee meetings, which will include all the office holders and others who are interested. Generally the camp chief makes sure that all the office positions are filled, that the people taking them on feel supported and have a good idea of what is expected of them. The camp chief will be their first point of contact for any problems, queries and for information. In this respect camp chief is involved in each office as a close liaison for the whole camp. During the camp, Camp Chief runs the show as it were. This involves keeping an eye on what's going on, and getting things moving if people are starting to wander round aimlessly. The beginning is chaotic; some people get set up far quicker than others (and can you get them to help those who have not put their tents up yet?- can you…..). At this point a council circle will need to be called to introduce everybody. The first circle is where everybody can be introduced to each other, the office holders say anything they feel needs to be said, any rules and regulations that need to be made known and clans are got together. The Camp chief generally runs each circle, calling on the office holders to say their bit each time and inviting participation from everybody. Finally, camp chief is supposed to know where everybody is at any time. All leaders have to let that person know where they are going if they are going off site. All young people need to let their group leader know where they are going and to get permission to go off site.

KP - Keeper of the Provender

This person usually (hopefully) works very closely with the Camp chief and the Folk Marshall. This person has the responsibility of creating a menu for the whole camp, taking into account each meal, and working to the budget set by the Camp-chief and camp treasurer. Before the camp, KP plans the menu, makes sure that all dietary requirements are taken care of, sorts out equipment needed for kitchen and does the shopping. During the camp, the KP will organise each clan on duty and inform them of exactly what they are going to cook and how to cook it. KP also oversees that the kitchen area is returned to the state it should be left in. It does help the KP plan properly for them to know how many people are going to the camp and what their dietary requirements are.

Folk Marshall

This person has the lovely job of planning what people will do on camp. Before the camp Folk Marshall will ensure that equipment needed to carry out the activities (e.g. parachute, ball, paper, crayons etc.) is all ready to hand and there is enough of it. During the camp, the Folk Marshall is the one to explain in the circle what is going to happen and will work with KP to fit the program around when the meals are ready. It may happen that the Folk Marshall has to rethink some of the planning if the weather changes or something else happens (an opportunity not to be missed). They also make sure any equipment taken along for activities is all where it should be and may get clan to tidy it up again afterwards.

KG - Keeper of the garbage

This person has the unenviable job of keeping the site tidy and the loos clean. For camps on proper camp sites where there are loos, at least the chemical loos don't have to be emptied, but often we clean the loos to be kind to the others using the site. Before the camp, KG needs to make sure that there is enough cleaning equipment coming along to meet all the cleaning needs, e.g. washing up brushes, bin liners, washing up liquid, if there are chemical loos, enough napisan and loo rolls. If toilet tents are going along, these would need to be checked as working efficiently before hand. During the camp, the clan who has the cleaning duty will report to the KG who will direct their efforts where they are needed. Generally KG keeps their eyes open for how the site is looking (e.g. is there loads of rubbish, if the loos are being kept reasonably tidy). If action needs to be taken before the allocated clan time, it is perfectly reasonable for KG to get the herald to call the next clan (or the previous one) to come and do the duty there and then.

Keeper of the Environment

This role is often combined with KG. Before the Camp the Keeper of the Environment needs to find out about recycling facilities in the area and make arrangements for the rubbish to be transported or collected. Keeper of the Environment should also work with the other offices to ensure that the camp is a environmentally friendly as possibly (e.g. helping KP source locally produced food, working with folk marshall to reuse waste in craft activities etc.). At Camp the Keeper of the environment will work with the KG and Clan to ensure that rubbish is sorted appropriately and that site is looked after.

Herald

The role of herald is often given to younger members of the camp. This person is the camp town crier and calls people together for Council Circle, meals and other activities. There are various traditional crys used by the herald. While this role is often shared among a group it is helpful to have on or two people who are know to the camp and will therefore be picked out from the general noise of camp.

Keeper of the Lost Property

Keeper of the lost property is another role often given to younger members of the camp. Usually this person will check around the eating area after meals and make sure all stray utensils are placed in the lost property box. They bring the lost property to the council circle and try to reunite it with it's owner. Some groups prefer just to have a box somewhere and do not bother with a keeper of the lost property.

Equipment Officer

For many districts the equipment officer is not a camp role but one that lasts all year round. Other districts many nominate and equipment officer for each camp. Either way the responsibility of the equipment officer is to ensure that all equipment is looked after and in a fit state to use. This person is also responsible for ensuring that people know how the equipment should be set up and used (e.g. ensuring people know how to light different types of lamps, what to stand gas rings on). For a camp this person will usually be the one to arrange the transport for equipment and arrange people to load and unload it. After camp this person should ensure that all equipment is returned in a fit state and report any repairs needed.