This program is centred around the work and social position of the Blacksmith in rural Upper Canada during the 1860's. Subjects covered include tools, working iron, items produced, relation of the smith to his community, etc. Physical demonstration is provided with the use of traditional equipment, a coal fired portable forge with hand crank blower circa 1870. Darrell acts the part, with costume and persona portraying this period. Demonstration becomes Education, as technique is blended to artifact which leads to social history. Questions from the student audience are encouraged, which in turn directs the flow of conversation. Physical demonstration will make up 60% of the time.

This program gives students a glimpse into the work and life of the Norse blacksmith of the Viking Age. Portraying the charater of 'Kettil Einarsson', Darrell will demonstrate the use of a charcoal fired sand table forge based on those from the Dark Ages in Northern Europe. Physical examples of the types of metal objects created by the Norse smith will be available for examination. Questions from the student audience are encouraged, which in turn directs the flow of conversation. Physical demonstration will make up 60% of the time.

Unique in Canada, Darrell has the most accumulated experience with the historic direct process iron smelting furnace. How was raw ore converted to usable iron metal in ancient times? This intensive two day long demonstration will present first the building, then the firing, of charcoal fired iron smelting furnace. As well as offering a glimpse of ancient technologies, each furnace contributes to a continuing experimental archaeology investigation.
Day one covers the organization of the smelting area, then the preparation of the materials needed to construct the clay furnace. Once completed, quantities of charcoal and ore must be prepared. The day ends with the slow drying of the furnace via a gentle wood split fire over many hours.
Smelt day starts early, with a pre-heating fire which is gradually allowed to increase. Charcoal is added, the furnace brought to correct operating temperature. With the start of the main sequence, charcoal and ore must be constently added. Tapping of liquid glass slag is often required. Typically the collecting iron mass is ready for extraction four to five hours later. The while hot bloom mass must be snatched from the furnace and worked with sledge hammers as quickly as possible.
A running commentary and constant interaction with the viewing audience takes place through all of this!

This program is a hands-on session that will give young students a very basic introduction to blacksmithing techniques. Subjects covered include a simple history of iron, safety, metal heats, basic hammer use, etc. The equipment used includes a coal fired portable forge with rotary blower and four work stations. Each student will produce a fire place poker.

This program is a hands-on session that will give students in insight into the work of the blacksmith of the Dark Ages. Subjects covered include a simple history of iron, safety, metal heats, basic hammer use, etc. Importantly, equipment used will be replicas of Viking Age pit forges and related tools. The forges burn charcoal, and use a double bag bellows for air. Students will work in teams of two, one hammering, one pumping. Simple objects such as hooks are the practice items created. Because of equipment limits, this session limited to 6 students per 3 hour session (three work stations provided).

This program is a hands-on session that will allow students to learn the basics of 'lampwork' glass bead making. A special focus will be the examination (and possibly use) of a re-created Viking Age glass bead furnace. The session begins with an discussion of the archaeology of Norse beadmaking, both types and methods. This is followed with a practical session, where students will use modern torches to make a number of their own beads (which they will get to keep). The historic furnace will be fired, with each student (working in pairs) allowed to experience the use of this equipment.
Because of equipment limits, this program limited to 8 students per 3 hour session (three work stations provided).

This full day program is a more advanced hands-on session that will introduce students to the 'Aristotle' furnace. This is a small charcoal burning furnace that converts any iron based material into a small puck shape of bloomery iron metal with a predictable carbon content. The ideal participants with those already possessing some basic blacksmithing skills, or those with a keen interest in historic metalworking technologies.
The morning session will introduce students to the design and principles of the furnace, and include a demonstration of its operation cycle. This is followed by each student preparing materials and then building their own furnace. Over lunch these will be allowed to dry using a small spit wood fire.
After lunch, each student will bring their furnace up to full operating temperature. Then they will run a number of ' production cycles (each taking roughly 30 - 40 minutes). The result should be a number of roughly 500 gm cakes of 'bloomery steel' (suitable for later bladesmithing). Students will both keep what they produce, but also be able to take their furnace home.
Because of equipment limits, this program limited to 8 students.

This program takes the form of a 'fire side chat' by 'Kettil Einarson', a Norse merchant/adventurer speaking as a voice from the year 1000 AD. Kettil will describe his life and times, from the point of view of this historic character. Topics covered include: Norseman & Viking; trading & exploration; the longship; home life; the law; craftsman & artisan. Samples of typical trade goods and a number of reproduction artifacts will be presented for examination by the class. After the 'first person' session, there will be a modern commentary on the presentation, followed by a question and answer period. Each sesson lasts approximately two hours.

Some time about 1000 AD, a group of Norse explorers from Greenland and Iceland travelled westward to the land they would name Vinland. Just who were these adventurers? Why did they come and what did they do here? How long did they stay? What do we really know, and what clues have informed that knowledge? Part history, part travelogue, Darrell will share his intimate knowlege of the archaeology of the site and experiences on the actual ground that Lief Eiriksson claimed as his own.

This program deals with the inter-relationship between materials, processes, defence and offence though history. Subjects considered include the evolution of the cutting edge, from stone to layered steels; the development of armour, from leather to kevlar; the development of firearms. This is a lecture illustrated with slides and reproduction artifacts, followed with a try-on session. Each session runs approximately two hours

This session details the process involved in researching, producing and presenting a historic re-enactment, in this case the Norse Encampment series of programs as seen at L'Anse aux Meadows NHSC. The evaluation of various sources and original artifacts will be discussed. The technical problems of reproducing artifacts in wood, metal and textiles will be illustrated by examination of the actual reproductions that were created. How elements of the history of the period were selected and presented and the use of various interpretive presentations will be analyzed. Each session lasts approximately two hours