November: Casualty Relief

November – Casualty Relief

The Mandalorian Mercs exist not only to wear cool armor, but also as a charity organization to help our communities. One of the most basic missions when it comes to charity is finding out the good work that is already being done in your hometown or community, and then finding out if the Star Wars costuming community can help out in any way. These information gathering missions are similar to those of a Mando scout tasked with doing “recon.”  The first step in making a difference in the world is to just jump in and take part in whatever small way you can. If you did the first couple of community challenges this one will help you build on all that work, but in a much more rewarding and personal way for you, your family and even your friends.

Challenge:
Strengthen others who are in need

Novice:
With the help of a parent, donate an old toy, piece of clothing, some food (canned or prepackaged), or ask your parent if there’s a way you can earn some money so that you can donate it. Also – either in armor or your regular clothes – send a picture of you donating (either in front of the donation box/station or handing off the goods to a volunteer with the organization). Send your picture and a progress summary about which group you assisted to strill@verdikacorps.com

Journeyman:
With the help of a parent, in addition to completing Novice find out about three or four charity organizations in or near your hometown or community. If you participated in the Seasonal Charity challenge, one of these could be the same organization you helped for the Novice level! Find out if they are part of a national group (all over the country) or are mainly local (a community group? affiliated with a religious group?). Find out what they do and who they help. Find someone to talk to in these organizations. Find out if they are aware that they can get Star Wars costumed characters to show up to events (the Mandalorian Mercs, the Rebel Legion, the 501st, etc.). Send your progress about what you’ve learned to strill@verdikacorps.com

Expert:
Complete Novice and Journeyman in addition to Expert difficulty.  Either in armor or your regular clothes with your helmet on – send a picture of you donating (either in front of the donation box/station or handing off the goods to a volunteer with the organization). Send your picture and a progress summary about which group you assisted to strill@verdikacorps.com

Send what level you completed (Novice, Journeyman, or Expert) with a photo of what you accomplished to strill@verdikacorps.com and remember to include your Verd’ika Mandalorian Name for credit.

October: Architecture

October – Architecture

One thing you will notice when watching Star Wars is that there are tons of cool buildings! Architecture is the art and science of designing and building structures. Many planets in the Star Wars universe have architecture that is unique to their planet and the species that live there!

Challenge:
Architecture

Novice:
Look for some buildings in your city/town that look like they could be from Star Wars. Explain why you think this building looks like it could be in the Star Wars universe. Send a picture of the building you found and your explanation to strill@verdikacorps.com

Journeyman:
Complete the Novice challenge. Figure out which Star Wars planet a building like this might be from. Use what you remember from Star Wars movies, shows, and cartoons. If you are still unsure, a list of planets and moons, with some descriptions of what the planet looks like (Forests, oceans, snow, cities, etc), can be found on Wikipedia and the Star Wars Databank (with assistance from a parent).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Star_Wars_planets_and_moons
https://www.starwars.com/databank

Note: If you are unable to visit these websites due to restrictions in your country, please reach out to the Strill Battalion Sergeant (strill@verdikacorps.com), who will be able to provide you with additional information.

Send a message explaining why you think this building might be seen on the planet or moon you choose to strill@verdikacorps.com

Expert:
Complete the Novice and Journeyman challenges. Using inspiration from the building you found and the planet you think it could be from, become a Star Wars Architect by designing your own building from that planet! Create your own building by drawing it, or by using Legos, 3D printing, clay, or other materials.  Send a picture of your building, and a message explaining what the building is used for, to strill@verdikacorps.com

Send what level you completed (Novice, Journeyman, or Expert) with a photo of what you accomplished to strill@verdikacorps.com and remember to include your Verd’ika Mandalorian Name for credit.

September: Language

September – Language

In Mando’a, the language spoken and written by the Mandalorian people, there is a word for education: Bajur [BAH-jur]. Bajur doesn’t only mean education such as learning at a school – it includes preparation for life and survival. An important part of working with your fellow Mandalorians on missions will be communicating with them, so we are going to learn a little about Mando’a this month!

Challenge:
Mando’a Translations

Here is what the Mando’a alphabet looks like compared to the English alphabet:

Novice:
Using the chart that shows the Mando’a alphabet, write your Mandalorian name in Mando’a! Submit photo of what you wrote to strill@verdikacorps.com

Journeyman:
Using the chart that shows the Mando’a alphabet, translate this saying in Mando’a to English.

Submit a message telling us what it says to strill@verdikacorps.com

Expert:
Using the chart that shows the Mando’a alphabet, write a full sentence/secret message in Mando’a! Have an adult/parent or friend try to translate the sentence to English using the alphabet chart. Submit photo of what you wrote, and what your adult/parent or friend thinks it says, to strill@verdikacorps.com

Send what level you completed (Novice, Journeyman, or Expert) with a photo of what you accomplished to strill@verdikacorps.com and remember to include your Verd’ika Mandalorian Name for credit.

August: Craftsmanship / Fabrication / Armory

August – Craftsmanship / Fabrication / Armory

A Mandalorian and the Armor are one and the same. The warrior is identified by the armor, and the armor identifies the warrior.  Mandos tinker with, repaint, and modify their armor all the time. It’s a hobby and thing they’ll do all their life.  Mandalorian Costumers share this trait.

Challenge:
Find one part of your armor you don’t like as much as the rest and find a way to improve it.

Novice:
With the help of a Parent, use your existing armor piece and modify it in some way to make it better. This may involve attaching new parts or changing the shape. If you damage the paint, be sure you fix it or make it look like weathering. Send a picture of what you modified to strill@verdikacorps.com

Journeyman:
With the help of a Parent, craft an entirely new replacement armor piece to replace the item you didn’t like as much as the rest. Paint and weather it to match the rest of your armor kit. Send a picture of what you made to strill@verdikacorps.com

Expert:
Same as the Journeyman Level challenge, except for two or more items. If the item is normally a pair (gauntlets, shoulder bells, knees, etc.) then the matching part counts as a second item. Find a way to add a greeblies (some kind of attached part that looks like something from the Star Wars universe) to one or two of the parts. For example, add knee darts to a new pair of knees (like Boba or Jango Fett’s armor) or build new gauntlet tops with buttons, weapons, rockets. etc. or even add glowing lights. Paint and weather it to match the rest of your armor kit. Send a picture of what you made to strill@verdikacorps.com

Send what level you completed (Novice, Journeyman, or Expert) with a photo of what you accomplished to strill@verdikacorps.com and remember to include your Verd’ika Mandalorian Name for credit.

July: Community

July – Community

Mandalorians should always have firsthand knowledge about the area where they are conducting their hunts. Creatures and plants can be used as food, pack animals, riding mounts, or even trained to be hunting companions. Even extinct creatures can help provide information about that creature’s modern day descendants that may still be stalking or roaming the world where the Mando is hunting.  Information can be a weapon in the hands of a clever warrior.  Many cultures store their information in central locations so that others may share in the learning.  A Mando may not always have a guide or tutor available, and learning how to gather information on your own about the local people is a vital skill.

Challenge:
Visit a nearby museum that has exhibits about plants & animals from your area (sometimes called “Science Museums” or “Science & History Museums”).  Alternatively, you could visit a nearby library with a parent.

Novice:
Visit a museum with a parent and/or obtain a library card if you don’t already have one to check out a book or books about plants & animals.  Send your progress about which museum you visited to strill@verdikacorps.com

Journeyman:
Visit a museum or check out a book with a parent and find a plant or animal that interests you. Summarize everything you’ve learned about this subject.  Make sure to return the book when you are done reading and researching with it. Send your progress to strill@verdikacorps.com

Expert:
Visit a museum with a parent and find three plants or animals or check out three books about that interest you. Find and read all information available at the museum or library about these three you’ve chosen.  Instead of wandering around looking for a book, ask a Librarian about how the library is organized and how to find books in the library.  Find those books using the library’s organizational system.  Summarize everything you’ve learned about these subjects. Send your progress to strill@verdikacorps.com

Send what level you completed (Novice, Journeyman, or Expert) to strill@verdikacorps.com and remember to include your Verd’ika Mandalorian Name for credit.

June: Outdoor Exploration

June – Outdoor Exploration

It’s always important to know the nearest locations that can be used as a rally point. A Mandalorian may need an area to meet up with contacts, for gatherings with fellow Mandos or even an open space to land a ship (to bring supplies or exit the planet quickly).  Mandalorians cannot always count on a comfortable bunk in a starship or building being available while on the hunt. Likewise, sometimes the only things available for Mandos to eat are what they brought with them (on their person, in packs, pouches, or packed away in their starship).

Challenge:
Outdoor Exploration / Camp Out

Novice:
With the help of a parent, pack food for a single evening, bedding, and either camp out in your backyard using a tent, or if weather presents a problem, a room of the house. See if you can go until morning only eating what you brought with you (for restroom breaks, of course still go back into the house). Send your progress about how you did, and what you’ll pack differently next time to strill@verdikacorps.com

Journeyman:
With the help of a parent, plan an overnight camp-out in the outdoors (a state or national park or someone’s property where you and your group will have permission). While the goal is to try and camp out in a tent or cabin, feel free to treat your family vehicle as the “starship.” In other words, if there’s a few items to heavy to carry into camp, use your “starship” as another resource (or even shelter if you need to!). Send your progress about how you did and where you went to strill@verdikacorps.com

Expert:
With the help of a parent, plan a two-night camp-out in the outdoors (a state or national park or someone’s property where you and your group will have permission). While the goal is to try and camp out in a tent or cabin, feel free to treat your family vehicle as the “starship.” In other words, if there’s a few items to heavy to carry into camp, use your “starship” as another resource (or even shelter if you need to!). Send your progress about how you did and where you went to strill@verdikacorps.com

PLEASE NOTE: If where you live is especially hot this month or this month is inconvenient, you don’t have to do this challenge now – feel free to delay to a weekend that is more comfortable and/or convenient for you and your family!

Send what level you completed (Novice, Journeyman, or Expert) to strill@verdikacorps.com and remember to include your Verd’ika Mandalorian Name for credit.

May: History / Culture

May – History / Culture

In the Mandalorian culture, your family (clan) means everything. Be it your direct family, or those who have been adopted into your clan, Mandalorians are proud of where they came from, where they are going, and how they honor their family and clan mates. In the Mandalorian language of Mando’a, there is a saying – “Aliit ori’shya tal’din”, which means family is more than blood!

Challenge:
Mandalorian Family Tree

Novice:
Talk to your parents or a family member about the history of your family. Learn about where your family is from. Ask questions like “How long has you family lived in the country you currently live in?”, and “Did your family emigrate from another country?”. Send what you learned to strill@verdikacorps.com

Journeyman:
Complete the Novice challenge. Draw a family tree showing the family members you know or learn about. You do not need to include their names, just a description of who they are to you (Mom, Dad, Grandfather, Sibling, etc). Take a picture of your family tree off submit it to strill@verdikacorps.com

Expert:
Complete the Novice and Journeyman challenges. Tradition within a Mandalorian clan is an important part of remembering your past and honoring your family. What kind of traditions does your family have? Where did these traditions come from? Send what you learned to strill@verdikacorps.com

Send what level you completed (Novice, Journeyman, or Expert) to strill@verdikacorps.com and remember to include your Verd’ika Mandalorian Name for cred

April: Technology Advancements

April – Technology Advancements

One thing we all know about Star Wars is how different the technology is compared to what we know. They can travel through space at light speed, going to different solar systems… and I can’t tell you how many times I wished I had a jet pack like Boba Fett. Plus, can you imagine having a droid like R2-D2 at your house?!

Challenge:
Exploring our solar system

Novice:
Of all the technology you have seen in Star Wars that we don’t have on Earth, what do you wish we had? Send a message to strill@verdikacorps.com, telling us what you picked and explain why you wish we had it.

Journeyman:
Space travel is a huge part of Star Wars. Unfortunately, we can’t just hop into the Millennium Falcon and travel to another planet like they do all the time! However, organizations like NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) have been sending crafts in space for many years. You might already know that they have landed crafts on the planet Mars with rover robots (I mean, Droids!) to study the planet. Someday, they are planning to send people to Mars!

With assistance from an adult or parent, see if you can find some pictures that the “Droids” on Mars have taken.  After looking at the pictures, do you think that Mars looks like any planets you have seen in Star Wars?

Expert:
Our solar system is made up of the sun, eight planets, and 146 moons around those eight planets! In addition, there are tons of comets, asteroids, space rocks, ice, and several dwarf planets, including Pluto.
Here is a picture of the planets we have discovered in our solar system.

Pick one of the planets, and with assistance from an adult or parent, so some research on the planet. Things to find out might include:
-How far is the planet from Earth and the Sun?
-What is the planet made out of? (Rock, metal, gas, etc.)
-How long does it take the planet to orbit around the Sun?

Send a message to strill@verdikacorps.com telling us which interesting facts you learned about the planet you picked.

Send what level you completed (Novice, Journeyman, or Expert) to strill@verdikacorps.com and remember to include your Verd’ika Mandalorian Name for credit.

March: Cultivating / Farming

March – Cultivating / Farming

Many hunts are short, lasting only a few days or even weeks. However, there are legends of great hunters that tracked and followed their prey to alien worlds and stalked them for months or years waiting for the right chance to strike. Sometimes these worlds were starved for resources and the Hunter has to set up a semi-permanent camp to act as a central base (or place of concealment), and grow their own food to be able to continue their hunt.

Challenge:
Grow an edible plant.

Novice:
With the help of a parent, choose seeds from a plant that produces something edible. Start the seeds (get them to germinate) and then plant them in soil.

Journeyman:
Building on the Novice Level Challenge, start some seeds and get them to germinate, plant them, and get them to mature into a seedlings that are ready to be planted in the ground or some kind of growing pot. Once you’ve planted them in the growing pot or ground take a picture.

Expert:
Building on the Journeyman Level Challenge, with the help of a parent – cook (if needed) and eat something that came from one of the surviving seeds you first planted (this can be a fruit, grain, nuts, a tuber, or even the leaves of the plant – whatever is the edible part). This challenge will take some time, probably more than one month to complete. Take a picture of the meal created from your plant.

Send what level you completed (Novice, Journeyman, or Expert) with a photo of what you accomplished to strill@verdikacorps.com and remember to include your Verd’ika Mandalorian Name for credit.

February: Starship Maintenance

February – Starship Maintenance

Taking care of your starship is super important! If you watch any of the Star Wars movies or shows, you’ll probably see someone doing some maintenance or repairs on a ship at some point! Han Solo’s Millennium Falcon is notorious for breaking down at the worst possible time, he and Chewie are always fixing something!  A starship is both a vehicle and a home for many people in the Star War universe. Just like they have to keep their ships up and running, we have to take care of our vehicles and homes, to make sure they are working correctly!

Challenge:
Starship Maintenance

Novice:
Find a time in a Star Wars movie or show where someone is doing maintenance or repairs on a starship. See if you can hear them say what part of the ship they are working on, or if they name a tool they are using. Reach out to the Strill Battalion Sergeant (strill@verdikacorps.com) if you are having trouble finding something, and we can send you some hints.

Journeyman:
A starship is both a vehicle and a home in the Star War universe. Just like our own vehicles and homes, we need to take care of them to make sure they are working correctly! Ask an adult or parent about a time they had to perform a repair or do maintenance on their vehicle or home. Ask them what they were fixing, and what tools they needed to get the job done.

Expert:
Ask an adult or parent if there are any small repairs that are needed around your home, or with a vehicle. If there is anything you can safely assist with, help them get it done! Be sure to use all proper protective gear, and to be safe using any tools that are needed. If there is nothing that needs to be repaired, help with cleaning an area of your home or a vehicle. Keeping your starship tidy is also a very important part of making sure everything runs well, and to make sure you are organized before your next adventure!

Send what level you completed (Novice, Journeyman, or Expert) with a photo of what you made to strill@verdikacorps.com and remember to include your Verd’ika Mandalorian Name for credit.

January: Cuisine

January – Cuisine

On long hunts, eventually pre-packaged food runs out (or you get sick of how it tastes straight out of the package). Mandalorians must know how to prepare their own food. Warriors from the Mando home-world are famous for loving spicy & seasoned food!

Challenge:
Prepare a meal

Novice:
With the help of a parent, prepare a meal for yourself. It should consist of a main item, a side item, and a beverage. This may be a cold (from the refrigerator) or warm (oven, stove-top, or microwave) meal.

Journeyman:
With the help of a parent, prepare a meal for yourself and your family. One or more of the items should be warm (either prepared using an oven, stove-top or microwave).

Expert:
With the help of a parent, plan, purchase the ingredients for, and prepare a meal for yourself and your family. One or more of the items should be warm (either prepared using an oven, stove-top, or microwave).

Send what level you completed (Novice, Journeyman, or Expert) with a photo of what you made to strill@verdikacorps.com and remember to include your Verd’ika Mandalorian Name for credit.