About Activities:
There are 2-3 activities streams planned for each block of time throughout the weekend so there are a lot of options for attendees. All activities and materials are covered in the ticket cost, so there are no added fees. The earlier attendees sign up for their activities (during ticket registration), the more likely they will be able to participate in their top choice for activities.
Session 1
Archery
Have you ever had the urge to channel your inner Katniss or Green Arrow? Our Archery Session will allow you to pick up a bow, learn the basics of shooting, and practice your skills.
Target Shooting with Air Rifles
Do you dream of being an expert marksman like [insert your favourite superhero sharpshooter here]? In this session, you will learn the basics of how to use an air rifle and practice your target shooting.
Develop Your Inner Jedi with Shakti
Presented by Perla Bucknell from Pure Activation Coaching (PAC).
A Jedi needs alertness in combat, wisdom to provide counsel and the ability to access a state of mind to commune directly with the Force. For a Jedi, this comes down to mental training and meditation. Have you ever tried meditation? Put on your Jedi robes and come give it a try with Perla Bucknell as she leads you through a session where you explore 'Shakti', the creative energy of the universe, and start down your path to raising your consciousness, developing your inner awareness and building a foundation to easily access the state of mind for creativity.
Session 2
Getting Into Character
Presented by Matt Swain, NZLARPS South Island Regional Director (and person who has pretended to be other people for way too long now)
How do you get yourself into character? How do you stay in your character's brain? What techniques can you use to create a living, breathing, 17th-century pirate, a 25th-century starship captain or a modern day art critic, to react as those characters would react without falling into stereotypes? This is an interactive workshop where you will be given small, easily played roles and a situation in which to explore those roles.
Move with the Force Using Yoga
Presented by Perla Bucknell from Pure Activation Coaching (PAC)
Have you started developing your inner Jedi with Shakti? Let's take it one step further and practice a moving meditation. Lower your stress levels, increase your flexibility, find your balance and focus your internal energy. With Perla Bucknell to guide you, learn how to become present in the moment and prepare yourself for the weekend of fun ahead.
Session 3
Archery
Have you ever had the urge to channel your inner Katniss or Green Arrow? Our Archery Session will allow you to pick up a bow, learn the basics of shooting, and practice your skills.
Target Shooting with Air Rifles
Do you dream of being an expert marksman like [insert your favourite superhero sharpshooter here]? In this session, you will learn the basics of how to use an air rifle and practice your target shooting.
Introduction to Cosplay
Presented by Emma from Aenthralled Cosplay (also representing the Canterbury Cosplay Craft Group).
Have you ever seen people in artfully crafted costumes and wondered how they learned to do it? Have you ever wished you had the skill and the guts to dress up for an event? In this session Emma will explore what cosplay is, tips on motivation and how to get started, things to consider when choosing your first character or attending your first con as a cosplayer (as opposed to as an attendee) as well as share local resources for cosplayers to keep you going when the weekend is over.
Session 4
Bush-Craft Basics Level 1
Presented by Matt Fraser
Do you feel that you could survive in an apocalyptic scenario? In this session, you will learn the basics of surviving in the bush including skills such as fire-starting,bivvie building, what plants are edible and general survival skills.
Recoil – Augmented Reality Laser Tag
Do you love video games and wish that you could play them in real life? Recoil is the first augmented reality first-person shooter released and is basically a combination of a first-person shooter video game and laser tag. Using your phone, Recoil weapons, wireless networking and body tracking, Recoil can mimic a battlefield anywhere within range of your wireless hub allowing you to take the video game to the real world.
Worbla Crafting
Presented by Rebecca Davey at Pink Star Cosplay.
Worbla is a thermoplastic that tends to be a staple in many cosplayer and crafters' workrooms because it is easy to use and allows endless creativity without sacrificing quality. In this session, Rebecca from Pink Star Cosplay will teach you how to make a Worbla bracer with Worbla's Finest Art. Learn basic techniques when using Worbla including armour base and detail techniques. Your bracer can be as basic or as creative as you like within the time frame.
Session 5
Bush-Craft Basics – Level 2
Presented by Matt Fraser.
This is a continuation of the Bush-craft Basics session where you will hone your skills for bush-craft and survival. Level 1 is a pre-requisite to this session as you will learn more advanced skills that buildone what you have already learned.
LARP Swordfighting
Presented by Matt Swain, NZLARPS South Island Regional Director.
An introductory lesson in hitting people with real, fake swords. It's every bit as awesome as it sounds, and not as dangerous as it seems. If you've ever looked at a medieval battle and thought, 'I can do that!', then this workshop is for you. We'll teach you how to strike safely, where to strike, and how to look cool doing it.
Worbla Crafting
Part 2 of a double session.
Session 6
Worbla Painting
Presented by Emma Simmo from Aenthralled Cosplay.
Are you planning on participating in Worbla Crafting where you make your own bracer? Worbla Painting is a follow-up workshop where you learn hands-on techniques to paint your Worbla-crafted bracer and take your crafting and cosplay to the next level. Painting techniques presented include building up from light-to-dark or dark-to-light, shading, highlights and how to get a 'weathered' look.
Archery
Have you ever had the urge to channel your inner Katniss or Green Arrow? Our Archery Session will allow you to pick up a bow, learn the basics of shooting, and practice your skills.
Introduction to Self-Defence & Krav Maga
Presented by Nigel Stupples from Proactive Martial Arts.
Have you ever wanted to learn the basic building blocks of martial arts? How about self-defence techniques or Krav Maga? In this session, you'll learn reality-basedself-defence, learn how to assess a neutralise a threat, what it means to have a 'survival attitude' and even a bit of close quarter conflict. Nigel will work with you to build your own confidence and may even put your new-found strength against a breaking board.
Session 7
Weapons Used in Martial Arts
Presented by Nigel Stupples from Proactive Martial Arts.
Have you ever wanted to learn the difference between various weapons used in martial arts? Do you want to learn the proper way to wield a sword or a nun-chuck and the decisions that go into using different weapons?
World Building: It’s more than magic and forests.
Presented by Judy L Mohr from Black Wolf Editorial Services.
When creating the worlds for our stories, so many fixate on the aspects that are vastly different to our normal everyday lives. However, world building is about more than creating the fantastical and futuristic worlds. It’s the politics, the religion, and the legends. It’s the topography, the medicines, and social structures. It even includes the simple customs of shaking hands. From the ancient cultures through to the modern information era and beyond, get some insights into the depths of the worlds that you forgot you already knew.
Worbla Painting
Part 2 of a double session
Session 8
Design Your Own House Shield
What colours, objects or animals represent you and your family? In this session, you will learn the basics of creating your own house shield using string art - a simple, DIY crafting technique where you can turn a plain wooden board and some coloured string into an aesthetically pleasing piece of artwork. This is a hands-on session where design templates will be available to help get you started.
Orienteering Circuit
Presented by Matt Fraser.
Strengthen and challenge your basic navigation skills by participating in an orienteering circuit with only a map and a compass. The session will involve walking, not necessarily on tracks, so an average level of fitness is recommended.
LARP: The Black Hart of Camelot
Facilitated by Matt Swain, NZLARPS South Island Regional Director.
Take on the role of King Arthur, Queen Guinevere, Merlin, Lancelot, Galahad, and other members of the Round Table and their families as they try to unravel the mystery of the ominous omen that has befallen Camelot. This is a Live Action Roleplaying Game (LARP); you will be given a character to play and all the information you need. It is *highly* recommended that you also attend the 'Getting in Character' workshop if you have not roleplayed or LARPed before. This game also includes elements of LARP combat; if you wish to play a character that engages in combat it is recommended that you attend the 'LARP Swordfighting' workshop.
Session 9
Escape the Castle
The Castle is under attack and villains have managed to lock you in a room in the castle with your noble companions. If you want to get out of the castle and to some semblance of safety, you will need to put your minds together and find clues that may help (or hurt) your chances of escape. This is an "Escape the Room" (adventure and puzzle game) scenario written and prepared by Engage.
Surviving the Apocalypse
The castle has just been overrun by villains and monsters (dare I say, zombie-like creatures?). Can you navigate away from the castle, find some resources, move to a safe location, and build a defensible, survival campsite? This session will be a survival competition utilising skills you will have honed in the bush-craft basics and orienteering circuit.
About Engage:
Inspiring creativity and community, Engage is the perfect summer retreat to fuel your inner nerd. Get away from the stress of the city for an entire weekend jam-packed full of fun, challenging, endearing and stimulating activities. The team at Engage offer activities such as tabletop gaming, prop design (working with Worbla), world-building, costuming and cosplay, building your survival and archery skills and live action augmented reality games. Join in and simultaneously make new friends while learning new skills and inspiring your creativity.
