7 Deadly Sins
How would the medieval Christian avoid sin? A thirteenth century lady will tell you how. Learn about the Seven Deadly Sins and all their many permutations, how to prevent and cure them with the Seven Virtues, and find out the answer to such important questions as: are all lies deadly sins? What are the penalties for the deadly sins? What do you do in confession? An in persona discussion, followed with a brief discussion from a modern historian's point of view.
Speaker: Susan Carroll-Clark, Ph.D.

A Merchant in Venice
In Persona - See life in medieval Venice throuh the eyes of a wealthy merchant, as she welcomes her new staff to their jobs. Everything you need to know to live in Venice will be made clear to you.
Speaker: Leonora da Liliacea

A Peasant in King Edward's Court? (In Persona)
In Persona - Ever wondered what it would be like to be a peasant in the King's Court? Surrounded by ladies and knights and... well no, not *that* court. The Court of the King's Bench, rather. Come and see how the experience of a 13th century English court differs from (and is sometimes similar to) our own.
Speaker: Adrienne Dandy

Advanced Chainmail (2 hours)
Beyond the basics: mail is the most versatile, flexable armour ever developed. Able to be shaped to every part of the human form mail can also be the basis for wonderful jewlry. In this class some different chain patterns will be discussed. A basic understanding of mail is required. Bring two pairs of pliers.
Speaker: Gary Snyder

Advanced Embroidery (2 hours)
An intense 75 minute practical workshop to teach you the two lost techniques of "or nue" (shaded couching) and underside couching; project will be embroidered on linen with a series of silk serica and DMC gold metallic threads. The project is a rose motif sachet pouch. Materials include a period-like, hand-crafted hardwood frame, cartoon on fine quality linen, all silk and metallic threads, and #26 tapestry needles. Bring scissors.
There is a materials fee of $25 for this class.
Speaker: Leonora da Liliacea

Aromatherapy Practicum
Learn to create your own healing oils with scents of essential oils. Each participant will make 2 15mL bottles for personal use. Previous knowledge of aromatherapy or working with essential oils would be beneficial, but is not mandatory.
Class is limited to 15 people.   There is a materials fee of $6 for this class.
Speaker: Terra Jade Wallace

Arthurian Legends
Ever read stories about King Arthur and the Round Table? Ever wonder where they came from? Learn about the possible historical origins of King Arthur, and follow these evolving legends through the next 1000 years of history.
Speaker: Heather Dale

Bawdy Songs & Love Ballads
Popular songs from the halls and taverns of medieval England. We'll be discussing and learning rounds and catches, songs that stir the heart and songs that stir the.....hey nonny nonny. You are invited to join in the singing, but convenient larengitis will be provided for those who just want to listen.
Speaker: Richard Schweitzer

Beasts in the Middle Ages
A look at how animals were precieved in Medieval times. I will explore animal symbolism, myths and beliefs as recorded in the beastiaries, pets and heraldry. This will be a must for anyone who doesn't know that lions are born dead, that mice come from dust or why geese can be eaten on Fridays.
Speaker: Elizabeth Cadfan

Beer Making
A look at the history of brewing process and nomenclature both in Europe and England. Instructions on how to make a medieval setup in the home and larger scale will be provided.
Speaker: Ceallach

Begining Tablet Weaving
A hands-on introduction to tablet weaving. The participants will be shown how to string up a loom, as well as a few basic weaving techniques and patterns.
Speaker: Rob Schweitzer

Beginners Chainmail (2 hours)
Why was chainmail the ultimate armour for warriors for over a thousand years? So versatile, it is still in use today. Historical background, 'how to', and 'hands on'. Please bring two pairs of pliers.
Speaker: Gary Snyder

Beginning Embroidery (2 hours)
This class will cover some basic stitches, colours, threads, and the basics of medieval style. The second half of the class will be hands-on. All materials will be provided.
There is a materials fee of $4 for this class.
Speaker: Leonora da Liliacea

Blacks in History
No Description Exists
Speaker: CANCELLED

Brocaded Tablet Weaving
This class is for those indivduals who have some experience with tablet weaving, or who have attended the introductory class. A hands-on introduction of various brocading techniques used on tablet woven bands. Historical applications and designs will also be discussed. Observers are more than welcome.
Class is limited to 8 people.   There is a materials fee of $3 for this class.
Speaker: Rob Schweitzer

Calligraphy/Illumination Practicum
A beginners guide to the manuscripts of the middle ages. 2 "hands" or caligraphic styles will be discussed as well as the artwork used to decorate a scroll or certificate.
Speaker: Genvieve

Concepts of Chivalry (in Personna)
Sir Perceval Winnett Kempe is now accepting applications by those wishing to join his household as pages. In this hour he will speak with all about the rights and responsibilities of a knight as well as how a knight should act. For those who aspire that high he will also reminice about his own knighting that you might be inspired to better your own position.
Speaker: Percival Winnett Kempe

Contraception, Virginity, and Prostitution
A general overview of sexual practices, morals and politics in the Middle Ages. Special mention will be made of the attitudes in the Church and secular community towards prostitution, circumcision, chastity in the clergy, birth control, birth control, and virginity as an ideal. There will be a question and answer period at the end.
Speaker: Elizabeth Cadfan

Courtly Flirtation
Flirtation in the Middle Ages; this introduction to the Art of Courtly Love offers "hands-on" experience in how to woo the lord or lady of your dreams in a poetic and chivalrous fashion.
Speaker: Mallik

Courtly Love (In personna)
A course on courtly politics, romance, advancement, and the other elements of life at court. Taught in personna as well as a small lecture to set the scene. Good Luck!
Speakers: David Martin Failsworth, Elina de Braose

Dance Source 1
An introductory workshop on the reconstruction and performance of late Mediaeval french dance. With a focus on "Social" dance, the emphasis will be on enjoying historical dance for its own sake. Participants will be provided with source materials, and guided through the process of reconstructing some simple dances. By the end of the class, students will have examined and performed Arbeau's "Bransle Coupees" Suite.
Class is limited to 12 people.   
Speaker: Marc Collins

Development of Law
Witness the birth of a new nation. This class will follow the development of Icelandic law and politics from its beginning to the 1200s.
Speaker: Ragnheithr Thorbjarnarsdottir

Drafting Patterns (2 hours)
This class aims to teach the basics in taking measurements and using these to create flat patterns which can be blocked to fit the body. Some time will be spent learning how to adapt from unsized silhouette-style patterns common to many "costume" books. Basic fitting and tailoring techniques, especially those used during the Middle Ages, will also be discussed. Tape measures and markers will be provided; a nominal materials fee will cover the cost of patterning paper or material.
There is a materials fee of $3 for this class.
Speaker: Arnora Dunestan

Early Period Cooking
Study the foods and preparation techniques used by early medieval cultures (pre-12th Century), including the Celts, the Norse and the Saxons. Evidence will be presented from a variety of archeological sources, as well as references to period stories and myths.
Speaker: Aibhilin fra Skye

Early Period Fashions (600 - 1350)
A look at the fashions of the first half of the Middle Ages. Patterns, fit and fabric will all be discussed.
Speaker: Susan Carroll-Clark, Ph.D.

English Country Dance
An introductory workshop on the reconstruction and performance English middle class dance in the early 17th century. With a focus on "Social" dance, the emphasis will be on enjoying historical dance for its own sake. Participants will be provided with source materials, and guided through the process of reconstructing some simple dances. By the end of the class, students will have examined and performed the "Lorayne Aleman". If time permits, Playford's "New Bo Peep" and "Madame Socelia's Aleman" will also be studied and danced.
Class is limited to 12 people.   
Speaker: Marc Collins

English Elementary Education in the Later Middle Ages
As the Middle Ages progressed, the need for literate people in all classes increased. This class will look at how elementary-aged children would have received both formal and informal education in England between the years 1200 and 1550.
Speaker: Jim McColm

Feast Etiquette
A delightful romp through the intricacies of medieval table etiquette.
Speaker: Janet Lloyd

Feast for 8
This class will cover everything you need to know to hold a medieval dinner party for a few friends. The decorations and recipies needed for a 13th Century French feast of one remove will be covered.
Speaker: Margaret Trainor Cook

Fortune Telling
Want next weeks winning lottery number? SO DO I! This class won't teach you about the future, but it will provide a brief history on the use of Tarot cards, and a lesson in how to read them.
Speaker: Maddelena bala Kameskro

Great Medieval Sadists
Learn all the gory details about 3 infamous sadists, what they did and why. *Not for the squeamish*
Speaker: Lilibeta Rudenko

Gypsies
A history of Gypsies in the Middle Ages, covering their origins, daily habits, beliefs and rituals.
Speaker: Maddelena bala Kameskro

Hand-woven Baskets (2 hours)
Participants in this class will make a small basket of woven reeds.
Class is limited to 10 people.   There is a materials fee of $3 for this class.
Speaker: Rosmuire na Findlay ni Farquhar

Herbal Workshop
A hands on workshop making an herbal preperation using medieval methods.
Speaker: Paddy Gillard-Bentley

Herbs
This informal class will cover storage of herbs, reference books, methods of herbal preparation and questions from the class. This will be taught at a level based on the knowledge of the students.
Speaker: Elina de Braose

History of Aromatherapy
From the past to the present, the use of plant and herb scents for healing has been studied, from the ancient Egyptians to the Greeks and on to the modern age. Learn to use scents for healing and cosmetic purposes.
Speaker: Terra Jade Wallace

History of Lace-Making
This course will cover the history of lace in Europe and do provide a demonstration of bobbin lace.
Speaker: Gwendolyn Rosamond

Introduction To Heraldry
Heraldry was the medieval nobility's form of personal identification. This course is a hands-on introduction to the intricate medieval craft of designing coats of arms and personal insignias. Artistic skill not required!
Speaker: Heather Dale

Introduction to Historical Dance
A survey of historical dance from the late Middle Ages to the end of the Renaissance. About 6 easy dances will be taught.
Speaker: Rosina del Bosco Chiaro

Introduction to the SCA (1)
This session is designed to introduce attendees to the world of the Society for Creative Anachronism, the international medieval research-and-recreation organization which gave rise to the talents behind the Forward Into The Past Medieval Collegium. Learn more about the SCA as a whole, as well as some specifics about how we recreate our chosen periods of medieval history.
Speakers: Sarra Grahame, Neil Peterson

Introduction to the SCA (2)
A look at the known world of the SCA and how to create a personna. The SCA's private langauage and manners will also be covered. Note that the Intro to the SCA (1) course listed above is not a pre-requisite; these are actually two different approaches to introducing attendees to the Society for Creative Anachronism.
Speaker: Paddy Gillard-Bentley

Irish Mythological History
With the arrival of Christianity in Ireland,the traditional Celtic concepts of religion/creation underwent dramatic changes. A core of stories transcribed by Christian Monks did, however, survive. These stories relate the ancient "history" is Ireland and retain many aspects of pre-Christian Celtic society.
Speaker: Fionn MacRuarrie

Italian Renaissance Dance
The earliest recorded dance choreographies are from the courts of Renaissance Italy. One dance from this period, Leoncello Vecchio, will be taught, along with a second dance if there is time.
Speaker: Rosina del Bosco Chiaro

Juggling
Which of the following medieval characters might have had been jugglers: A Jester, a Rabbi, a Norsemen, or an Irish folk hero? The correct answer (all four) might surprise you. The class will be divided into to parts. A brief lecture on the history and authenticity of this 4000 year old pastime, and a hands-on lesson, in which the class participants will be given a chance to learn the basic jugging pattern, the 3 ball cascade.
Speaker: Pavel

Kassarian Society
The manner in which this discussion of the Khazarian culture of the early Middle Ages will take place is in the form of a Khazarian Ambassador speaking to members of a Magyar tribe who have recently been annexed. The discussion will take the format of question and answer, with some of the common concerns of the Magyars being addressed as an opening statement. Though the answers will be presented in a Khazarian manner befitting the time period of 925 AD, feel free to ask the questions in any manner you wish.
Speaker: Moria The Black

Lace-Making Practicum (2 hours)
This class will teach an absolute begginer How to make bobbin lace. When we are done, the student should be able to follow patterns laid out in various bobbin lace books.
Class is limited to 10 people.   There is a materials fee of $13 for this class.
Speaker: Gwendolyn Rosamond

Medieval Archery
The construction and use of the Medieval bow will be discussed.
Speaker: Michael Kleinknecht

Medieval Genealogies
Rooting your family tree in the middle ages can be a most enjoyable task. This class will cover the methods you would use and fun you will have in pushing your family tree beyond its North American roots.
Speaker: CANCELLED

Medieval Menus
Seeth hit til hit be ynogh & serue hit forthe: Serving the Medieval Table. The medieval equivalents of 'Joy of Cooking' came without measuring instructions, oven temperatures, or consistent spellings. With these arcane instructions, medieval cooks prepared thirty-dish feasts for hundreds of picky diners. This class will look at how they did it.
Speaker: Sarra Grahame

Medieval Weddings
A look at some of the traditions surrounding the marriage ceremony which survive from the Middle Ages, and some that are long forgotten. We will cover ideas for wedding dresses, ceremonies, venues, celebrations, and feasts.
Speaker: Jo Duke

Middle And Late Period Fashions, 1350-1600
The fashions worn by men and women through the "height" of the medieval period are looked at in this course. Styles ranging from late Norman era through the cotehardies and surcoats of the 1300's, to the houppelandes of Henry V and onto the styles of the early Italian Renaissance will be examined.
Speaker: Danute Dorion

Middle Eastern ("Belly") Dancing
This class is intended to show some of the more basic movements in Middle Eastern dance, giving the beginner a basic view of muscle movement and rythym interpretation. The basic steps and exercises will be demonstrated and discussed , as will the origins of Middle Eastern dance, and the basic differences between Balady and Danse Orientale.
Speaker: Moria The Black

Moorish Society
Malik guides visitors through the fascinating world of the 12th Century Islamic Moors. Primarily focused on Al-Analus (Spain), he pulls back the curtain on the arts, architecture, customs and dress of this exotic culture.
Speaker: Mallik

Music of the Pipes
The music and history of the Highland Bagpipe. The lecture will include brief histories on individual pipers of note, the politics of bagpipes and how this instrument became such an important symbol of Scottish and Celtic identity. Attendees to the course are politely warned that this class may be a tad on the loud side and ear plugs will be provided.
Speaker: CANCELLED

Norse in America
No Description Exists
Speaker: Darrell Markewitz

Old Dances
This class will look at the social dances of the past and how they have stayed with us. The function of dance as socialization and flirtation will be examined as well.
Speaker: Eric the Peacock

Period Knitting
This class will cover the history of Knitting from naalbinding to knitting through the use of surviving examples of knitted goods.
Speaker: Mercedes Heloïse d'Abélard

Period Patterns
As a companion to the Drafting Patterns class, this course looks at the shapes of period costumes, and how they can be constructed. People with only a little bit of sewing knowledge should be able to put together simple medieval costumes by the end of this course!
There is a materials fee of $2 for this class.
Speaker: Arnora Dunestan

Period Shoes
A look at footwear from 1200 to 1499 (the Gothic Period). Construction, materials, techniques, and how these changed in this period will be covered.
Speaker: Kevin Jarbeau

Period Snacks
Come do milk and cookies the medieval way. Restore your flagging energies with interesting and unusual medieval foods.
Speaker: Janet Lloyd

Pewter Casting Practicum (2 hours)
Pewter is a cheap alloy that was used extensively in the middle ages as an alternative to silver in the making of tokens, buttons, belts and other costume accessories. In pewter casting, the molten metal is poured into an image carved into soapstone. The class will include a brief survey of some of the uses of pewter casting and then participants will have the opportunity to create their own images in pewter (a lead-free pewter will be used). There will be a materials fee to cover the costs of the soapstone and pewter.
Class is limited to 10 people.   There is a materials fee of $3 for this class.
Speaker: Richard Schweitzer

Pysanky (Ukranian Egg Painting) (2 hours)
Learn the ancient wax-resist method Ukrainians still use today to create these priceless works of art. You will receive your own kistka (stylus), a cake of wax and will create your first pysanka.
Class is limited to 10 people.   There is a materials fee of $5 for this class.
Speaker: Lilibeta Rudenko

Renaissance Instruments
"There is life after the recorder: Being an introduction to the Wind Instruments of the Renaissance". Using images, sound clips, and his own strange collection of eqarly instruments, Robyn will guide participants through the interesting and often bizarre world of renaissance music.
Speaker: Robyn Whystler

Saxon Life
Hear ye! Hear ye! On his way home from the battle at Senlac Ridge that great warrior Cynred will tell us news of the battle and speak of our history to remind us of who we are as saxons in these dark times.
Speaker: Ken Cook

Scottish Life
Come and join us for a look into the life of the Scottish Highlander and his wife. Lady Ealasaid and Laird Aonghas McLeod will be pleased to receive you and regail you with stories of life in their humble home, Dunvegan Castle. It will be a time of quiet conversation (unless the neighbouring clans get uppity or the English choose to pay a call. In that case it may get a little noisy. One can never be too careful, their spys are everywhere!!!)) We look forward to sharing our time and lives with you.
Speaker: Ealasaid Loginach na Kildare

Spanish Cooking
16th century Spanish cooking, concentrating on the East coast, but overviewing the entire Iberian pennisula. Topics include Moorish and European (primarily French & Italian) influences, ingredients, cooking methods, and types of dishes.
Speaker: Mercedes Heloïse d'Abélard

Stained Glass
An evaluation of stained glass techniques used by early medieval and renaissance stained glass artisans. Topics covered will include: glass manufacture, colours available, methods of assembly, and techniques of painting and firing. An ongoing demonstration of assembly techniques preceeds and follows the class.
Speaker: J Caz Bentley

The Black Death
The plague killed millions. Come and see how that affected the lives of those left behind. Learn a little about the Bubonic plague itself.
Speaker: CANCELLED

The Real Braveheart
Learn about the 13th century Scottish Wars of Independence which inspired Mel Gibson's film "Braveheart". Warning: this class will give away the movie's ending (try to see it first!).
Speaker: Heather Dale

Viking Life
Welcome to your new home. Viskona Ragnaheidhr will be explaining how the new household will work now that you have arrived on iceland. Good luck to all.
Speaker: Ragnheithr Thorbjarnarsdottir

Village Life: Exploring Rural Life through Archeological Studies
A look at the lifestyle of a medieval village through the use of archaeological tools and techniques.
Speaker: CANCELLED

Who's Who on the Battlefield
A look at the various coverings that have been used to identify and prettify fightings on the fields of history.
Speaker: CANCELLED

Women in History - Nuns
While the Kings and Popes got all the focus, behind the scenes women played a huge role in the Medieval Church. In this class, some of the influential, and not so influential women of religion will be examined.
Speaker: Adrienne Dandy

Women in History - Queens
Some of the most fascinating people in Medieval history were women, though you might not have read about them in high school. We'll look at a few of the women who made a difference in the world of kings and princes.
Speaker: Adrienne Dandy

Wood Carving
A survey of the tools, materials and styles which are compatable with medieval wood carving.
Speaker: J Caz Bentley

Wood Construction Practicum (2 hours)
An examination of how medieval Chests, chairs and stools are built. The first hour will cover tools, wood selection and joinery. Students will have a chance to try their hand at joinery in the second hour. Bring projects for discussion if you wish. Participants are encouraged to bring their own chisels and mallets. Softwood will be provided for experimentation. Please include a note that "hands on is limited to the number of tools available but that pre-reg reserves tools". Kel is checking to see how many he has.
Class is limited to 8 people.   
Speaker: Ceallach

Contact us if you have any questions or suggestions