This page is aimed at helping newcomers to the Society for Creative Anachronism get started.

If you are unable to find the information you need in the links below, please contact the Hospitaller.

Getting acquainted with the SCA

Overview and description of the SCA

How did the SCA begin? How is it organized? Why is everyone wearing odd clothing and bowing to those people with crowns on? And how can I join?

Newcomers' Guides

A Newcomer's Guide to the SCA - Start Here!

Newcomers Guide Hi-res version PDF

Newcomers Guide Lo-res version PDF

Forward Into the Past PDF

A introductory booklet published by the Society. Goes into a little more detail.
What is the SCA - Getting Started - Fitting In - What to Wear and How to Behave - Making a T-tunic - Names and Personas - Kingdom & Local Officers - SCA Combat - Who is Who? - Heraldry - Guilds, Households, and Sociability - The Gentle Arts and Sciences.

A Guiding Hand - An Ansteorran New Member's Guide

Glossary of SCA Jargon PDF

"Good grief - what do they mean by that?" The SCA has a vocabulary all its own. Here are definitions for the most commonly used terms you'll hear at events or read in newsletters.

Advice to Newcomers PDF

Whether a long time SCA member brought you to your first meeting or you came by yourself, there's always a period of adjustment. Here's how to get yourself oriented quickly and begin to have some fun.

"Newcomers are Nice - Advice to Established Members" PDF

Sometimes long time members are just as unsure about approaching newcomers as you are about approaching them! This article may help you both meet in the middle.

Your Teenager and the SCA - Some Answers for Parents PDF

SCA Children's Officer Page

- contact info for Childrens' Officers in each Kingdom
- links to each kingdom's Youth Policies, Minors' Forms, Youth Combat, Childrens' (Pages) Academies, and other activities.

How to find the local group near you

Hints on how to locate your local group, and which officers to make contact with.

Search for your kingdom

Enter your state, province, or country to see what kingdom you are in.

Knowne World Map

Interactive maps of the SCA kingdoms - by Dante de Valencia.

Maps of the Known World

On-going project to map all kingdoms of the Known World, down to the county (or even postal-code) level. - by Faelan ua hEogain

Rogan's SCA Search Engine

A database of contact persons for SCA groups; search for your state/county. Note: this does not contain a complete listing of SCA groups.

You are not required to purchase an SCA membership before attending SCA meetings and events. Membership is a requirement for holding office in SCA groups, for participation in combat and combat-related activities in some kingdoms, and for eligibility to receive awards in some kingdoms.

There are several levels of membership in the Society: a Sustaining membership ($35) includes a year's subscription to your kingdom's newsletter, which contains kingdom news, announcements for events taking place in your area, and local group contacts. Lower-priced Associate and Family memberships are also available.

Benefits of Membership

Membership card - by signing the waiver on the membership application, you can speed your check-in at events by presenting your card instead of signing waivers at the door.

SCA Publications - Sustaining members receive their kingdom's newsletter. Sustaining members can also purchase subscriptions to other kingdoms' newsletters, Tournaments Illuminated (the quarterly magazine of the Society), the Compleat Anachronist monograph series, and the Board of Directors' Proceedings.

Discounts on some event admissions

Voting privileges in your local group - the membership rolls are used when determining to whom to send pollings on group matters.

Purchase / Renew Membership on-line On-line system now allows to you "sign" the waiver electronically. – or – Print Membership Forms to purchase / renew by fax or mail.

Membership Questions? Please read the Membership FAQ.