Kielder Observatory
Apart from being the unluckiest place in the UK for your car to break down, Kielder, and its super dark skies, is home to the Kielder Observatory. We are really delighted to be partnering with this amazing group of astronomers to provide out of this world activities in the science tent in July. Read on to discover all that they are offering this year...
Planetarium
An immersive stargazing experience where we will take you on an astronomical journey through the cosmos. You'll be introduced to the highlights of the dark skies by our expert astronomers and be inspired to explore the wonders of space from within the darkness of our planetarium. So sit back, relax, and fly through the cosmos!
Solar Observing
Don't look at the sun… unless you're looking at it with us through our specially adapted telescope! Take a closer look at the brightest star in our solar system and learn more about the big yellow ball in the sky! And if it's a bit cloudy, we'll be letting you have a play around with our telescopes, as well as showing you how to make your own.
Night Time Observing
If it's a clear night at Deer Shed, our astronomers will help keep the excitement going with a Kielder Pop Up! We'll direct you to a suitable part of the site where we'll have our telescopes set up, ready to stargaze with you. We'll take a look at the brightest objects in the night sky, including stars and the moon!
Meteorites & Meteorite Clay modelling
Ever held a piece of space in your hand? Well now you can! Learn about the characteristics of meteorites- where they come from, how they get to us on Earth and what they are made of. Then pick up your clay and make your own! We want to see whose meteorite looks fresh from the skies!
Rocket Launching
Deer Shed becomes Mission Control for one weekend only as we build and launch our own rockets! You design what your space flight will look like, and we'll see how high we can get it! An old favourite activity at Deer Shed, but this year we are running this with Kielder, let's see if they can match our German-engineered launcher :)
Light Workshop
Kielder Observatory astronomers will guide you through the fascinating subject of light. We'll use a variety of different tools and devices to show you just what light can do, the electromagnetic spectrum and how we use these to learn all about the cosmos. You'll get to go away with your very own special light bracelet which reacts to UV light- perfect for those late night discos!
Planet Making
Come and learn about how planets vary from one another in our solar system, and what a planet needs to be able to foster life. Then make your own planet! Super fun for all ages.
Your corner of the Universe
Kielder Observatory x Deer Shed collaborative art project. Over the course of the weekend, everyone is welcome to create their own corner of the universe, inspired by the Hubble Deep Field. By Sunday, we'll assemble all corners of the universe together to create a spectacular art installation that we're all a part of.
Searching for Aliens
Throughout the weekend, we'll be running an Alien Tresure Hunt! We've heard there have been some unusual goings on and there are rumours that several aliens have landed on site. See if you can find them and if you do, there's a prize at the end for you!
Rubik's Cube Workshop
In 1982 (or whenever it was) being able to solve the Rubik's cube turned you into a God in the playground. We have in the past flogged you our own custom cubes. We are going to do again this year - plus we'll also teach you how to solve the puzzle. Then you'll forget a move, but we'll also provide you with a cheat sheet to take away, so no drama :)
VR
Put a telly on your nose - that's virtual reality to you and me. After twenty years of being a thing, VR is now a thing that you and I can actually have a go on! Look like what’s-his-name out of Daft Punk whilst your brain struggles to come to terms with walking through space or jumping off the highest skyscraper imaginable, all without leaving the safe confines of the Deer Shed science tent.
Girls With Drills
Girls With Drills think making stuff is too much fun for anyone to be excluded. So they are doing something about it. #girlswithdrills was born out of the frustration that so many girls and women want to be self sufficient but haven’t been given the tools or knowhow to be. At Deer Shed you'll get to build a wooden Birdbox or Stool from scratch, that includes measuring, sawing, drilling, and finishing! Take your wooden build home with you and show off your new skills to everyone. Don't worry if you think you won't be able to do it, we'll create a safe space where you can be goofy, ask questions, make mistakes and learn from them without feeling judged! If you want to have a go, you can prebook the workshops here at a discounted rate. You can still come and book on the day too!
Synth building with 555 timers
What is your favourite integrated circuit? A typical dinner party question. Our favourite integrated circuit is the 555 timer chip. 555 timer chips make amazing oscillators, and if you take 2 of them and feed one into the other and add some potentiometers (variable value resistors) and some capacitors and other bits and bobs you can make something that is popularly referred to as an Atari Punk Console, it's a long story but in the science tent in July you can make your own to take away for small beans.
Gizmobots
In Mark's own words - "As a 5 y/o boy, I used to get cogs and clock parts from my clock repairing dad and scrap off my bin man uncle. Me and my dad would sit at the kitchen table and make rockets and robots and mad vehicles out of the stuff. 40 years later I turned it into my business, Gizmobots, making robot sculptures out of found objects. Some are just sculptures, whilst others have a function such as being a lamp or a music player. Alongside making robots, I like the idea of passing on my skills to future generations, and, as such, I will be providing robot building workshops at the festival." Ace.
Escape Boxes
Meet our custom-made escape boxes! Inspired by our experience of escape rooms - break in, break out, it's the same idea. Rather than constructing an escape room with limited capacity over the weekend, we have created ten bespoke escape boxes that tie in with our Incognito theme (that never was!) All you need to do is break into them using perception, logic, intelligence, observation, spatial awareness - you get the idea. Within the outer box, there might be an inner box!
Laser Maze
We are some way into the construction of our own laser maze. You know the thing, you contort your body to avoid breaking the laser beans as you try to reach the enormous diamond sitting on the red velvet cushion on a plinth at the end of the corridor. We cannot guarantee that the finished maze will look exactly the same as the image above and we don't think you'll need a crash helmet unless you think it will give you a competitive edge as you try to complete the maze in the quickest time...
Monojack tape workshop
Pause for a moment and find out why tape cassettes are back! Rewind time with Monojack (Beepboop Electronics) to explore the history, science and magic of magnetic tape. Monojack is currently developing his own tape machines to explore new possibilities for creating sounds and composing music using older forgotten technology. Play with demo tape recorders, loops and delays to experience the wonderful place where science meets art known as tape music. Stop by to hear for yourself how tape machines influenced a generation of Avant Garde artists and why they are still used in electronic music production.
DivKid
DivKid AKA Ben Wilson is a long standing friend of the festival and science tent veteran. You might expect a science tent at a music festival to have a music production slant, and so we do. Ben is a music technologist who has made a big name for himself as a Youtuber but also as an instrument designer and collaborator mostly in the field of Eurorack modular synthesis. Join Ben and friends in our music production area. Prepare to have your music-tech appetite wetted.
Mylar Melodies
Like DivKid, Mylar Melodies is an old friend of the festival on a mission to get you hooked into making your own music. Mylar is a great communicator with a YouTube channel that reflects this talent. Taking you on a journey through the latest accessible music tech as well as some vintage avenues we hope you will find some time over the weekend to visit Alex and friends.
Madlab Soldering
Being able to solder is a very useful skill, and it's not hard to learn. To teach you we have the very keen and experienced Madlab. Madlab are an innovative electronics company that manufactures electronic kits that you can put together to make your own useful gadgets. From lie detectors to electronic bagpipes they have something for all budgets and all abilities, from beginners to master solderers.
Puzzle Corner
This is tribute to the work of YouTuber Mr Puzzle with whom we have become slightly obsessed since we discovered his channel. Mr Puzzle solves physical puzzles from all sorts of makers, and ranks their difficulty. Some of the puzzles he solves are fiendishly difficult - it's hard to know who to admire more, the designer of the puzzle or Mr Puzzle for being able to solve it. Anyhoos we will have a selection of our favourite puzzles for you try and solve.
A.I. album covers
'Nanakeys' is the latest album from SomeBandOrOther - we know you are big fans. Their latest offering is patchy at best, if we are honest, marking something of a downturn in their fortunes. Still, not a bad album cover though even if we do say so ourselves. How about you create your own band and album concept out of thin air with the help of Dall-E? (an A.I. image service). We will print it out for you and put it into a one of those LP sized sleeves. It would look great on your bedroom wall, and definitely be a one-off!
Retro Gaming
An Atari 2600, ZX Spectrum, Nintendo NES, Sega Megadrive, Nintendo N64 and a Sony Playstation I - plus quite a lot of really ropey old tellies that you have to tune with matchsticks. We invite you to play classic games on each of our retro consoles - some of you may experience a warm nostalgia, and others may marvel at how on earth we put up with such rudimental technology! Jetpack, Chuckie Egg, Mario Kart plus many more. Fail to convince your kids that old games were way better...