A big concern for the young men and women who began the Woodcraft Folk in 1925 was that, in those days, many children lived in slum conditions in the cities and rarely, if ever, visited the countryside. Poor housing, diet, and a heavily polluted atmosphere all had terrible effects on the health of these city kids.

The early Woodcrafters felt that they could help to improve both the physical health and the mental well-being of these youngsters by taking them out into the countryside and introducing them to the wonders of the natural environment. They wanted to teach survival in the outdoors (the real meaning of the word 'Woodcraft') and instill a love of nature.