Camping

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Camping at SCA events is quite a bit different from modern-world camping. Here are some basic tips to get you going:

In General

SCA camping is both more luxurious and more rustic than modern camping.

• You'll find that you take along much more gear when camping in the SCA.
• Sites can be very rustic. Toilet facilities may be an outhouse. You may have to bring in your own water.
• If the event is large and the site is crowded, you will find yourself camping very closely with your neighbours. Remember that you're not in your home. Voices carry easily from one tent to another. Shadows cast by those inside a tent are easily visible from the outside.
• Respect the autocrat and the site rules. Camp in the Noisy Area or the Quiet Area, as appropriate to your activities. Keep alcoholic beverages hidden or disguised as required by the site rules. Observe the Quiet Hours.

Site Care

• Leave the site cleaner than you found it. After packing up, do a sweep of your camping area and pick up any little debris (duct tape ends, cigarette butts, food scraps, etc) Pick up after your neighbours and along any nearby paths as well.
• Tell the Autocrat immediately if there are any issues with site facilties (broken toilets, flooding, etc)

Fire

In our modern lives we don't use fire much, but in our medieval lives it's fairly common. Exercise extra caution around fire.

• Have fire-extinguishing equipment handy and visible. This can be as rustic as a bucket of water, or as fancy as chemical fire-extinguisher.
• No open flames in tents, ever. Enclosed flames are just barely okay, but battery-powered lamps or flashlights are much better.
• Tie back veils, flowing sleeves, and long skirts around fire.

Tips

• At night, tone down your lighting expectations. If you give your eyes a chance to adapt to the dark, you'll find you can get along just fine with a lot less light. Leave the gas-powered Coleman lamp at home. To light your way use available moonlight (surprisingly bright), an enclosed candle lantern, or a small hand-held flashlight.

Packing

• Make a small emergency kit part of your regular packing. Include:

a roll of toilet paper

a lighter

a couple of envelopes each of dry soup mix and tea/hot chocolate

(what else?)

• Create a master packing list of all the gear, costumes, armour, furniture, etc you ever bring to any SCA events. When you're preparing to pack for an event, sit down with a copy of the list, cross off the things you won't need and add the things you need to do/fix/buy special for this event. Pack according to the list, crossing off each item as it's packed or done.

• Keep your modern (packing up) clothes in your vehicle, where they'll stay dry and out of the way until needed.

• Don't pack anything in a black garbage bag (like laundry or bedding). Too often they get thrown away by mistake. Either use a transparent bag or sew up a simple garbage-bag-sized fabric bag to transport your laundry or bedding.

Cleanliness

• Keep a pump bottle of hand-sanitizer handy (but out of sight). Use it after every visit to the toilet facilities. Tell everyone in your camp where to find it and encourage them to use it as well.

• Keep a roll of toilet paper in your emergency kit.

• If you desperately miss your morning shower, a sponge bath in your tent in the morning can be quite refreshing. (If you prefer to bathe at night, remember that the shadows you cast on your tent walls are plainly visible on the outside.)

• Fighters: allow your gambezon and armour to dry in the sun before packing it up.

Weather

• Always bring clothing suitable for extreme heat, extreme cold, or extreme wet. You don't need separate outfits; layer your garments. Natural fibres (linen, cotton) are generally cooler than synthetics. Wool will keep you warm even if it's wet; cotton (jeans) won't.

• Drink lots of water. Wear a hat (it will cool you in the sun, and warm you in the cold).

• See Heat for tips on dealing with hot weather.

• Damp canvas (as used in tents or armour) can mildew very quickly. Unpack damp gear as soon as possible and allow to dry.

• At cool or cold events, keep your head covered. Much of your body heat is lost through your head. At night wear a nightcap to bed; a stocking ski cap works well. If you're sleeping on or near the ground, make sure you have two layers under you for every layer above. The ground will suck warmth from your body faster than the air.

Food

• Prepare/cook as much as possible in advance.
• Freeze everything that can be frozen.
• Beware of attracting local wildlife. Keep food secure in boxes, coolers, or up high.