The Vikings are coming! Or at least, a Viking ship is coming. I could not pass up on this learning opportunity for the kids. To be honest, I was also dying to see it for myself. Who doesn’t like Vikings?! I also love history, it was my major in college, and my kids love it, too. So we set off to see the Draken.
Draken: A Glimpse Into the Past
The ship’s official name is the Draken Harald Harfagre. It isn’t huge when you compare it to the tall ships that use to sail the high seas, but it is still impressive. The red sails and dragon figurehead are a sight to behold. It isn’t hard to imagine what people would have thought when they encountered such ships and tough men in the 10th century. It was quite a sight for my 9-year-old boy.
The Draken was built using the techniques the Vikings would have used to build their ships. As is mentioned on their website the “Draken Harald Hårfagre is a recreation of what the Vikings would call a “Great Ship”, built with archaeological knowledge of found ships, using old boatbuilding traditions and the legends of Viking ships from the Norse sagas.” We were getting a glimpse of what 10th-century ships looked like. It was amazing.
Our Visit Begins
When we first arrived, we discovered we had a two-hour wait until the next tour. There was a Viking Village set up which included large displays with information about the ship and the people involved in the project. It provided a lot of information that the kids and I browsed through. They were also showing a documentary on the ship’s voyage across the Atlantic Ocean. It scared me watching the waves crashing the ship. I couldn’t imagine being on it.
After we visited the “village,” we went for a walk to see the ship. The sails were down while they were in port and the canopies were up to protect the visitors and crew from the sun. Although, we didn’t have a whole lot of that on this day.
We also went and combed the nearby beach for sea glass and shells. The kids and I love being near the water and exploring the beaches.
The Tour
I was wondering if the money we just spent on this tour was going to be worth it. There were a lot of people waiting to go on board. Would we even be able to hear anything going on?
My concerns weren’t necessary.
As we went up the gangplank, I noticed a small group of us were ushered to the front of the ship. There we were greeted by their Russian crew member. He spoke to us about the things we were looking at in the front of the ship. He discussed the Dragon figurehead, the initials carved in the ship, and the decking we were standing on. There were oars stored under the boards. We were surprised to learn it takes two people per oar and 100 people to row the ship! Therefore, they use a motor to come in to dock. It is much easier and faster.
Once the crew member finished his part of the tour, we all moved to the middle of the ship. The next crew member had been working on the ship for four weeks. He told us what it was like to live and work on the Draken. He also shared a story about when the mast of the ship broke in the North Sea and their adventures in Scotland finding a replacement. I think, this crew member was the most fun to talk to and learn from.
The last stop was at the rear of the ship. The young woman for this part talked about the navigation system. She also explained the Norse lore behind the two crow statues mounted on the navigation console. My daughter loves Norse mythology so she was super excited she already knew this information.
Because of today’s world, they have all the required navigational equipment needed to travel the waterways.
What Did We Learn?
I didn’t go all “teacher” on my kids and start grilling them about what they learned. They were so excited and in awe of the ship they were freely sharing what was “so cool” to see or learn. When we got home, they went through it all again with their dad.
The highlight of our trip was definitely the tour. We were all shocked to hear the sleeping quarters slept 24 people at a time. The area was SO small that everyone slept on their side with someone right in front and back of them. The kids also learned a lot about the original materials and methods the Vikings used to construct ships. It was all really fascinating to learn.
By taking the kids out to see the Draken, they saw a little glimpse into the past. They learned how ships were made and how they looked since this is how the Draken was constructed.
I didn’t make it into a huge lesson, but let them enjoy it and take in what information they would. When teaching them, they take in and remember the information that is interesting to them, anyway. This field trip made learning come to life.
I like taking advantage of opportunities like this when we can. By going out and seeing things in the world, the kids see how learning is all around them. Hopefully, when they are adults, they will continue to seek out new things to learn and explore in the world.
