Newcomer Guide
Unlike a Renaissance Fair, SCA activities aren’t just something you come to watch, they’re something you actively do. You’ll learn about the clothing of the period by tailoring and wearing outfits. Learn about combat by putting on armor and competing against opponents. Learn about brewing by making (and sampling) your own meads and ales. And there are many more subjects to learn about, including armoring, archery, cooking, heraldry, metalwork, music, dance, calligraphy, woodworking, and fiber arts. If it was done in the Middle Ages or Renaissance, the odds are you’ll find someone in the SCA interested in recreating it!
Reminder
Most SCA participants didn’t start off as history experts. You will find people from all walks of life.
What you’ll find
Attending an Event
Groups host a wide variety of activities throughout the month, which can include arts and sciences workshops, combat practices, and weekend events.
Learning something new
You have the opportunity to learn and practice ancient arts and skills — calligraphy, cooking, armoring, metalworking, carpentry, and needlework (to name just a few).
Volunteering
As you begin to participate in the Society, you will quickly come to discover that the everyday, ongoing activities of the Society take planning, coordination, and execution by the members of its groups. Whether it be local fighter practices, business meetings, arts and sciences workshops, or any other gathering, someone usually has to organize it, plan it, run it, and clean up after it. By serving in your local group or for your kingdom, you help the Society to function on a daily basis.
Finding community
From across the globe, tens of thousands of medievalists (affectionately called “SCAdians”) gather to enjoy the thrill of combat, explore centuries old arts and crafts, learn the skills and virtues of this exciting period of history, and build lifelong friendships with people from all walks of life.
Newcomer Tips
Introduce yourself
The most important thing you can do on your first visit to the SCA is introduce yourself and ask questions. Society participants have a wide range of interests and love to share with people who want to learn about them
What’s in a name?
Every person in the SCA may pick a name by which they are known in the Society. It could be something simple and familiar (Thomas the Smith) or something more exotic-sounding (Tangwystyl verch Gwillim). It just can’t be the name of an actual person from history or legend, such as “Richard the Lionheart”.
