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ESSENTIAL INFO
If you purchase a ticket for this course, all the information on this page will be emailed to you with your ticket.
👥 Suitable for: Ages 11 and up
📍 Venue: Bellingen Public School (mobility aid accessible)
📈 Level: Suitable for all skill levels
⏰ Schedule: Mon–Wed, 9am – 4pm (3 Full-Days)
🚗 Check your venue: If you are booking multiple courses, we are unable to provide transport between venues.
⚠️ Extra info: Our youth courses are busy group environments led by creative tutors, not specialised care staff. To ensure a safe and positive experience for all, students must be able to follow group instructions, work respectfully alongside peers, and participate independently without constant one-on-one supervision. If your child requires extra behavioural or learning support, please contact us before enrolling so we can discuss if the course is a good fit.
Required skills & experience
No experience required
Supplies that you need to bring to class
You may bring your own D&D supplies to class if you wish.
All necessary supplies will be provided by the tutor.
Learning outcomes
Master Facilitation Over Fact-Checking: Shift from simply enforcing rigid rules to actively facilitating a game, prioritising collaborative fun and smooth narrative flow.
Employ Adaptive Pacing and Improvisation: Confidently manage game pacing, sustain player engagement, and adapt the story on the fly when responding to unexpected player choices.
Design Compelling Encounters: Plan and build an original gameplay encounter or adventure opening, incorporating distinct maps, engaging story hooks, unique non-player characters (NPCs), and balanced challenges.
Implement Player Safety Tools: Understand and utilize table safety tools and inclusive storytelling principles to ensure the gaming environment remains comfortable, accessible, and fun for all players.
Execute Playable Game Materials: Create, peer-test, and refine a uniquely custom game sequence that is ready to be run at your own table or within your local community.
COURSE PLAN
DAY ONE - Focus on the foundations
Understanding the role of the GM, breaking down the basic rules, with a focus on how to facilitate rather than just follow the rules.
DAY TWO
Dive into player engagement
Improvisation
How to build memorable experiences
Manage pacing
Respond to unexpected player choices
DAY THREE - Creative design lab
Develop a single encounter or the opening scenes of an original adventure, complete with maps, story hooks, NPCs, and challenges.
Receive peer feedback, test out key moments, and leave with something playable and uniquely your own.
This course can be done by itself, or in the perfect pair!
Check out Sam’s other course, Dungeons & Dragons: How to Play DnD.
COURSE TUTOR
Sam Stanford
Sam is a passionate and experienced Game Master with over 16 years of Dungeons & Dragons experience and a background in youth work, education, and community development.
Sam specialises in using tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs) as tools for connection, creativity, and personal growth. They regularly run strengths-based and therapeutic D&D campaigns for young people, particularly those who are neurodivergent or facing complex life challenges, with a focus on social skill-building, confidence, and storytelling.
Sam has delivered workshops and training sessions for youth workers, educators, and community sector professionals across Australia, and brings an engaging, inclusive approach to teaching. They have also designed and facilitated programs that use game-based learning in community and mental health settings.
A strong advocate for play as a powerful learning tool, Sam is committed to helping others discover the magic of collaborative storytelling and the rewarding craft of being a Game Master.
