University of Atlantia

This class will cover the basic guards, concepts, cuts and thrusts from the rapier section of Joachim Meyer's 1570 fencing manual. Students should bring a rapier, although loaner swords may be available on a limited basis.

Celebrate the eleventy-first university with a class inspired by Eowyn, exploring women warriors of the middle ages both historical and legendary.

A broad overview of Jewish life & history in Europe from approx. 500 - 1500 CE. Will look at various populations - Sephardi, Ashkenazi, & more - and significant events. (will not be recorded)

Print media such as business cards, bookmarks and brochures can be useful tools for local group recruiting. This class will cover all three types, discussing production, effectiveness and SCA/Kingdom rules and approval requirements. A handout with examples will be provided. This class will NOT be recorded.

This class provides an overview of early Western theater, from the Pre-historic Middle East through its decline during the Byzantine Empire. Discussion will also include the structure and substance of ancient plays, from the performers to the stage and props, and will explore features that ultimately influenced later (medieval and modern) theatrical styles.

A hands-on class where you can learn as many of the simpler knots as time allows. The handout has diagrams for all eighteen. Not rocket science, one needs only learn how to approach them.

Recreational camping is fundamentally not appropriate for the time period covered by the SCA. Sleeping outside only became something some people in Western society did for fun in the late 19th century. That being said, it's a lot of fun to get out in the woods in garb with only what you can carry on your back, cook over a campfire, and sleep in wool blankets under the stars. Backcountry camping in the style of a previous time period has long been popular with those portraying 19th century Mountain men and 18th century longhunters, but those interested in earlier periods are beginning to give it a try, as well! I will discuss ideas for putting together camping gear based on extant artifacts and medieval representations of hunters, pilgrims, and soldiers, and show some of the gear that I have used for medieval-inspired overnight backpacking trips. The focus will be on artifacts and artwork from Europe in the 10th - 15th centuries (I have a 14th century English persona), but some earlier and later pieces will likely be discussed, and the ideas for approaching a camping kit should be applicable to many different periods and cultures.

Injuries happen, especially in training or on the battlefield; that’s just a part of life. Still, wouldn’t it be nice if there was a way to reduce the frequency of such occurrences and speed up recovery time when they do happen? Such a boon actually is possible, and without the aid of magic or divine intervention no less! In this class we will go over methods and best practices to create or modify existing exercise routines with a mind towards making the body more resilient, not just stronger. While we will cover a wholistic approach and some background anatomy information, special attention will be given to resistance training, proper form of some of the most efficient exercises and stretches, and how to address common problem areas that are prone to injury in the human body or left relatively weak due to the realities of modern life. While this class is largely geared towards fighters who could use a refresher on how to take proper care in training and while exerting themselves on the field it would also be quite useful to anyone who is looking to begin a new exercise routine and does not know where to start. This class will not be recorded.

Feedback! It is a critical part of growth, but well-meaning SCAdians, even peers, sometimes give feedback in a form that is unhelpful at best and harmful at worst. Learn how to make a positive impact and facilitate quantifiable improvement for those you wish to guide to greener pastures. Ollamh Esa will discuss her knowledge and experience in facilitating performance improvement and personal development. Master Dante, a veteran teacher, curriculum developer, and instructional designer with Kirkpatrick Gold certification, will discuss his knowledge and experience regarding skill development and behavioral change. Class will not be recorded.

Discussion of information for those new to the SCA with a disability, newly disabled, a caregiver, or just want some information, will be sharing my information I have learned. Class is not recorded

Come learn how to throw axes! This class will cover basic range safety and etiquette and teach how to throw axes on a small sca range.. This class will not be recorded.

While the author himself is very much a mystery, Ruperto de Nola’s cookbook and its subsequent translations offers one of the best views into court cuisine on the Iberian Peninsula of its time. This class will cover what we know of the origin of the cookbook, the available foodstuffs of the Iberian Peninsula in the 16th century, and a collection of redactions from the book, both sweet and savory. There will also be some samples at the end of class.

Information session on how to armor your youth fighter. Show and tell

The British tell of King Arthur; the French celebrate Charlemagne; the Spaniards revere El Cid; but fewer know the sagas and tales of Dietrich of Bern, a sometime prince, and ally of the King of the Huns, and some equally heroic companions. He struggled with family members to keep his domain, and tangled with his neighbor, the Dwarf King (among others). I hope to whet your appetites with a few of the legends or sagas, and provide the sources (in English) I have located. It is also my intention to put Dietrich in context in time and place: discussing the historical figures that may have inspired the stories, the time period and places in middle Europe where he was said to live, and the peoples among whom these tales circulated. (This could also be useful as a preview of the theme of next Bright Hills Birthday in Feb. 2023 -- I'm organizing the quest.)

A survey of which varieties of roses were grown in period, what varieties have been developed since the 16th century, and how modern roses differ from period roses. This class is a revision of my "Roses Then and Now" I taught in the past; I have decided to split out the history of roses part and I am in the process of develop that as a separate class.

This is the first of two prerequisite classes for becoming a warranted Minister of the List in Atlantia. It covers the basics of running an MoL table including sign-in, authorizations, and reporting.

Want to know more about brewing mead and wine but don't know where to start? This will be a class on how to understand the basics of brewing for things not beer. While mainly mead and wine will be covered, ciders and vinegar will also be touched upon due to a similar process. Covering basic vocabulary, simple start to the brewing process, and materials needed.

What makes Spanish chivalry unique, and why do many scholars believe that the Iberian Peninsula played host to the most fervent exercise of chivalric ideals in all of Europe? Join Magistra Beatriz for an examination of the history of Spanish chivalry from its earliest roots in 10th century pilgrimage protection to the heights of the Reconquista, from El Cid and Amadis de Gaula to the Conquistadors and a brief moment with the man who "smiled chivalry away."

There many examples of manuscripts and paintings that seem incredibly modern when compared to expectations of white vines, acanthus leaves, delightful grotesques of snails fighting bunnies, or knot work patterns. This class will focus on works that break our expectations with the goal to expand the idea of what looks period for manuscripts and painting.

This is second of the two required classes to become a warranted MOL. This class teaches how to run both elimination and non-elimination tourneys.

Once the Chinese invented gunpowder, the rocket wasn’t far behind. Its design evolved quickly, and it found uses both martial and celebratory, spreading from the East to Europe. We will look at how rockets developed, how they were built and used, and how they work. Did you ever wonder what the long stick on Wile E. Coyote’s ACME rocket was for, and why it looks remarkably like ones in period Chinese drawings? It’s only rocket science! Time, location, and weather permitting, we’ll launch a period-style rocket after the class. Mundanely, the instructor has taught the basics of rocketry to all ages, and mentored a college rocket team in NASA competitions for many years. He loves building and flying large (10+ ft, 50+ lbs) amatuer rockets, and especially bringing the joy of rockets to others.