Greetings from the Shire!
We had a very successful first year of engagement with the Shirelings! Thank you to all who worked so hard. Everyone had fun and many smiles were seen throughout the weekend. Everyone who participated learned some knotting skills and made new friends.
For year two, we are planning to teach Shirelings about sewing, including everything from repairing a tear, replacing a button, and cross-stitch, to the beginnings of making a costume of their own. The goal is not to be perfect but to gain enough confidence to try on their own. For each achievement made a Shireling may earn a gold coin. For all their hard-earned coins there are prizes to be purchased! The Shire largess (prizes) will be with Shire Elder Steven in his traveler’s wagon. Any Shire Elder will be able to sign off on an achievement and award a coin!
Everything kicks off on Friday April 18 with our popular Root Beer Float Social at 3 p.m. in the convention lounge, followed by a tutorial on how to play Magic: The Gathering at 4 p.m. in Maxi’s.
Donation requests:
- Crafting materials: fleece, muslin, 100% cotton/linen/flax/silk, 100% polyester/acetate, 50/50 blends, iron-on interfacing, sewing tools (e.g., seam rippers, hand needles, thread, small scissors), 4″ and 6″ embroidery hoops.
- Prizes for our Shirelings to buy with their hard-earned Shire coins.
- Water bottles, full-size candy bars, messenger bags, Magic: The Gathering cards, Fallout collectibles, and anything else that teens might find cool.
What We’re About
The Shire is the face of the teen engagement department, focused on convention members ages 13 to 18. Shirelings aged 11 to 12 are welcome with the permission of a Shire Elder. We want to help teens learn social skills, meet new friends, and engage with friendly adults in a safe space, as well as learn life skills that will help them into adulthood. Beyond that, we want to help teens explore Norwescon, and not only show them what Norwescon is like now but also tell them about what Norwescon has been and make it a place they want to return to every year.
If you have questions or comments please contact us at teenengagement@norwescon.org.