Families & Kids in the SCA
The SCA is a family-friendly organization with a lot to offer to all ages. While a few of our activities are restricted to adults, most can be enjoyed by teens, tweens, and even younger.
At SCA events you will see children playing medieval games, creating art, participating in general activities (and those specifically for younger people, such as Youth Armored Combat & Fencing), receiving recognition in royal court, helping out in the kitchen or with other tasks, or just running around and being themselves.
Families of all ages can do things together as well – archery, thrown weapons, arts and sciences activities, taking classes, camping, assisting with local events, attending meetings and demonstrations, and more. Some of the best things about the SCA is it allows families to participate in activities equally.
If you are bringing your own children, you can sign them in at the gate. If you are bringing minors that you are not the guardian of, reach out to the event organizer to find out if you need to bring consent paperwork.
Some useful links for youth activities can be found in the Ealdormere Library (Youth Combat Section)
If you have any questions, feel free to contact the Chancellor of Youth and Youth Programs or your local Chatelaine.
Attending with Children
SCA events are open to people of all ages, but parents of children will need to sign a waiver (PDF) at event gates for their children.
However if you are bringing a child for whom you are not the parent, or legal guardian, you will need to bring:
- A complete signed minor waiver (PDF) or signed blue card
- A complete signed minor medical waiver (PDF) (2 copies)
Due to the robust nature of some of our martial activities, we need you to know there is a (very) small risk of getting hurt as an event attendee.
If you are unsure of what you will need to have, please contact Chancellor of Youth and Youth Programs Mistress Marioun Golightly (youthministerealdormere@gmail.com) or your local group Seneschal for more information prior to the event.
Ealdormere Page Fellowship Program
The Page Fellowship Program looks to promote the involvement of the youth (ages 17 and under) of Ealdormere and encourage their participation in the study and pursuit of pre-17th history and crafts.
The Page Fellowship does not run classes or activities—it is a system for tracking and recording what youth do within the Society.
Rules and Guidelines
- All youth of the Kingdom, under 18, are welcome to participate in the Page Fellowship. Membership in the Society for Creative Anachronism is not required.
- There is no fee to join the Page Fellowship. It is expected that the parent/guardian will support their youth by providing the supplies, gear or garb needed to participate in the SCA. Contact your local group to see if loaner items are available in your area.
- Pages are expected to conduct themselves in a respectful and courteous manner, and follow the rules of the SCA, including listening to Marshals, making an attempt at pre-17th century clothing at events, and not violating any SCA policies for safety, bullying or harassment. Youth Officers or Marshals have the right to remove a Page from an activity and the youth will not earn credit hours
Joining the Fellowship
To be part of this youth activity group, prospective Pages must simply log their first activity in the Ealdormere Page Program Log (Google Form).
Once a Page has their first activity logged, they are automatically considered part of the Fellowship, and can continue to log subsequent activities, without waiting for the Belting Ceremony.
Purple Belts & The Belting Ceremony
Youth who participate in the Page Program and record their first activity are formally recognized in court (unless the recipient might prefer otherwise) with a Belting Ceremony, during which they are presented with a purple belt to identify them as a Page. The youth is then officially welcomed into the Page Fellowship.
Pages should wear their purple belts during events so event staff, local officers, and youth officers may recognize and offer opportunities for participation in activities as they arise at events or local gatherings.
Pages are further encouraged write their name on the back of their belt so that, should they choose to return it to the Fellowship, their name will be part of a lineage attached to the belt when it’s received by a new Page.
Page’s Way Books
Each new Page receives a physical Way Book outlining the Page Fellowship and providing a place to record the activities they participate in during events and gatherings. Parent(s) can then submit the activities through the Ealdormere Page Program Log.
Way Books can be given to youth with their parent as an invitation to join the Fellowship.
What if my child’s Way Books is lost?
If a Way Book gets misplaced don’t worry—please reach out to the Kingdom Youth Minister to request a replacement.
Reporting
The Page’s activities are electronically logged through the Ealdormere Page Program Log (Google Form).
Please do not add any personal information. Reports should be made using the youth’s full SCA name.
Example:
“Nathan” is too vague and may cause confusion if there are multiple individuals with the same name in the Kingdom.
More specific identifiers include:
- Nathan Eriksson
- Nathan of Trinovantia Nova
- Nathan the Archer
These help us to ensure the correct youth is identified and given credit for their report.
Each reported activity made by parent(s), officers, or the Page themselves should include:
- Page’s SCA Name
- Youth’s Local Group or Household
- Brief description of activity
- Location: Home or event/meeting/practice
- Date of Activity (estimate if necessary)
- Hours Spent On Activity (min. 30 minutes)
What activities can be reported?
Any activities that show involvement in the SCA may be reported.
This can include participation in:
- Youth combat or rapier activities (either at an event or a practice)
- Archery or thrown weapons
- Attending a class
- Research or studying of SCA-appropriate subjects
- Arts & Sciences (A&S) activities and projects
Service activities may include:
- Helping to set up or tear down an event
- Helping a local officer
- Worker as a Porter at the door (holding the door and assisting people who arrive an event)
- Holding a spear during court
- Other services of your choosing
Parents will know their child’s abilities and whether the activity or service is equivalent to 30 minutes for their individual youth. As an honour based Society, we leave the discretion up to parents.
Activities reported for recognition are expected to have some substance and pertain to pre-17th century history or our Society.
Uncertain if an activity qualifies?
If you have questions about whether an activity would be appropriate for credit hours, please feel free to contact the Kingdom Youth Minister (youthministerealdormere@gmail.com).
Advancement in the Page Fellowship
To advance in the Page Fellowship, Pages are required to log a certain number of activity hours. When a Page completes all the requirements for advancement, they will be invited to receive a scroll of achievement at the next convenient court.
There are three levels that can be achieved in the Page Fellowship:
- Messenger: 40 activity hours logged
- Warden: 80 activity hours logged
- Reeve: 120 activity hours logged