26th February
Days of Knights: Journey through the Middle Ages
Young Children & Junior (YJ1) 10.30-12.30
Most suitable for 9 years and under
Cost $15 HEN members, $17 non-members

Journey with a noble lady and her attendants as she travels from her manor, through the farmlands, to the town to watch the greatest spectacle of the Middle Ages, a tournament. Along the way, we meet a peasant, an entertainer, a craftsperson, and knights.

The session includes the children:

• Learning skills like spinning year, making chain maille, weaving and wheat grinding
• participating in juggling and games of skill
• practising courtly manners by learning to reverence (a medieval bow), dance or sing.
• making and handling armour
• watching knights fight in tournament style with real steel swords

We examine many facets of medieval life including:
housing, food, clothing, social class, work, entertainments, social structure and government, health, crafts,pageantry and the Tournament.

The journey is run as an interactive story, with the children trying new things,hands on, under the supervision of our staff. Itʼs a unique, wonderful introduction to the Middle Ages from the company described as being Australia’s premier medieval education organisation.

4th March with Days of Knights
A Day in the Middle Ages
Junior & Senior (JS1) 10.30am-2.30pm (inc ½ hr lunch break)
Most suitable for 10 yrs & over
$15 members / $17 non-members

Days of Knights, the medieval education specialists, bring the world of the Middle Ages alive. What was the daily life of a peasant, a tradesman, a noble lady or knight like? What did they wear? What did they eat? How did they work? How did they relax?
What role did each play in society, and how did they relate to the people around them?
Through interactive sessions students learn the answers to these questions, and more,by actually performing the dances, playing the games, using the tools and taking part in the same activities a person in the Middle Ages would have. This sort of heuristic learning (hands on learning by experience) mirrors the medieval education most people would have received.

The Peasant – Peter adopts the persona of a 12th century peasant living in rural England. Students will learn what the life of a peasant entailed. The clothing, food and shelter a peasant would have used will be examined. Students will learn to use a drop spindle to make woollen thread and a game that peasants entertained themselves with. By the end of the session, they will have had a glimpse of how and where the peasant fitted into society, the kind of life they had and what daily life would have been like for them.
The Armourer – For this session, Jason takes on the role of a 13th century armourer. Students will learn about the emerging middleclass of tradesfolk, merchants and professionals. Guilds will be discussed, along with other social and political developments in the preceding century. Students will have the opportunity to try their hand at crafts and examine and wear items of armour.
The Noble Lady – In this session, Lillian plays the part of a 12th century noblewoman. The role of women in the Middle Ages will be examined. Students will learn about Courtly Love, and the development of the notions of Romantic Chivalry through the works of the Troubadours and other entertainers of the Medieval Courts while learning a court dance and the art of calligraphy with a quill and ink.
The Knights – The final session, which for many students is the highlight of their day, sees two knights pitting their skills against one another in full armour in a tourney combat held in the presence of a great lady. Students learn about the important role the Tournament played in the life of the knight, and feel the thrill spectators would
have known as these trained warriors vie with one another for the prize. The armour, weapons and equipment of a 14th century knight are explained, as are the differences between the sport that was the Tourney, and the reality that was war.

15th April
An Inconvenient Truth
with David Toovey from Australian Conservation Foundation
Young Children & Junior (Course code:YJ2) 11am-12.00pm
Most suitable for 9 yrs & under
$8 members / $10 non-members

Junior & Senior (Course code:JS2) 1.00pm-2.00pm
Most suitable for 10yrs & over
$8 members / $10 non-members

David has just completed year 12 at Mentone Grammar. During his VCE, David studied Geography, which gave him a detailed understanding of climate change and its impacts and causes. For this subject, David received a perfect score of 50 and was awarded a Premier’s Award for his efforts. From this experience,David was chosen as one of six high school students from around the country to be trained as a Climate Ambassador by Nobel Peace Prize winner Al Gore in conjunction with the Australian Conservation Foundation. David will present a version of ‘An Inconvenient Truth’ on the causes of climate change and the many practical solutions that we can all take to reduce our carbon footprints. David is keen to show that everyone can take some action to make a difference. David’s interest in climate change stems from his passion for social justice issues. David was recently appointed the next Director of the Oaktree Foundation, a youth run aid and development organisation and hopes that by giving this presentation, he can help everyone understand the impact that climate change will have on the poorest in our world. David will engage the children in some fun activities to show what individuals can achieve. David is also keen to answer any questions that students may have and is excited to come and give his presentation.

29th April Wurundjeri ways
with Barry Coombes from Parks Victoria
Young Children & Junior (Course code:YJ3) 11am-12.00pm
Most suitable for 9 yrs & under
$8 members / $10 non-members

Junior & Senior (Course code: JS3) 1.00pm-2.00pm
Most suitable for 10yrs & over
$8 members / $10 non-members

Barry is a descendant of the Wurundjeri people, the traditional owners of most of Melbourne’s,western, northern and eastern suburbs, including much of the Yarra Valley. Barry has worked for Parks Victoria (PV) and its predecessors in a number of roles since the early 1990’s. He has completed a Diploma in Conservation and Land Management, several units of the Bachelor of Park Management, and many other courses that relate to native title law, and cultural heritage protection and legislation. His current role as Team Leader of Indigenous Cultural Heritage involves, working with Indigenous communities to foster meaningful and lasting relationships, exploring opportunities for Indigenous tourism/business enterprises, organising and co-facilitating Cross-cultural Training PV’s non-Indigenous staff, and ensuring that Indigenous cultural heritage sites and values are appropriately managed and protected. He is also an accredited fire fighter and has played an active role in wildfire suppression and prescribed burning. Barry will tell some stories about the way the traditional owners of Australia managed their land. He will talk about ways they coped when they had droughts, how fires were used and perhaps about some significant cultural sites. He may even tell us a little about his job.

This session was cancelled as Barry Coombes was not available for the 29th April. If another date can be arranged, we will post it here soon.