Greenwood Elemantary Renaissance faire!

**Nighthawk** · 21st October 10, 08:54 PM

I mentioned in another thread that my living history group, the Renaissance Scots Living History Society, was invited to set up and present at the Greenwood Elementary School Renaissance festival. The festival was today. The kids were so incredibly interested in us! It was so much fun!! Now usually, the Wolves of Dunvegan, our fighters, are the biggest draw. The kids were interested in the sword fighting, but they were more interested in the crafts! The blacksmith, the weavers, and myself, were the really big draws at this one. So here are some pictures!

Showing the kids the weapons- the Locahber axe.

Great Sword:

War hammer:

The weavers:

Kids talking to the blacksmith:

There are no pictures of me... I was behind the camera. I hope someone in our group got some pictures of me with the wee ones! This was a good day, going to a school and educating kids on the realities of life before electricity. They were amazed when I told them that most of the clothing I was wearing had been made by me or people in our group- they just couldn't quite fathom that we didn't buy our clothes, weapons, etc, from somewhere, and actually made them ourselves! It was a great experience for all of us.

**Bugbear** · 22nd October 10, 02:19 AM

Weaving's pretty cool. Glad they enjoyed it.

**Nighthawk** · 22nd October 10, 11:59 AM

Originally Posted by Bugbear

Weaving's pretty cool. Glad they enjoyed it.

One little girl made a comment that the lazy people wouldn't have made their own socks. I told her that there were no lazy people. She asked why, and I told her they all would have died in the winter. I think there was a lesson to be learned at one point in the combat demo, though. Doc "killed" Garion with his dirk, and a few of the little kids thought it was real and started crying! We need to make it clear next time that it's all in fun and that no one is actually getting hurt! I actually went and helped the teacher calm those little ones down.

**GMan** · 22nd October 10, 12:54 PM

One word: Cool

**Bugbear** · 23rd October 10, 02:00 AM

I'm proud of you, Nighthawk. You didn't cut your own or anyone else's fingers off, and you didn't accidently burn down the school, or even light your own clothes on fire. Sounds like the children were interested, too.

I've given ceramics demonstrations at schools and it's a bummer when the kids are zombies, or too afraid to ask questions.

**cessna152towser** · 23rd October 10, 02:11 AM

Super pics, its great to be able to pass on history to a new generation.

**Nighthawk** · 24th October 10, 09:27 AM

Originally Posted by cessna152towser

Super pics, its great to be able to pass on history to a new generation.

I was emailed by a friend in a Revolutionary War era group who had this to say: "You & Your Group, IMO, are people that trulely should be emulated by MORE historical presentators/reenactors. Far too often we get get focused on the events & our own fun & forget the tremendous opportunity to teach." We done a good thing here. I was proud to be a part of it.