About the SCA

This information is intended as an overview and is not meant to be complete or authoritative. Visit the SCA corporate website for the most up-to-date and complete information.

The Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc. (SCA), is an international, 503(c) non-profit, educational organization designed as a hands-on, learn-by-doing model to research and re-create European life prior to 1600. We then attempt to practice and teach what we have learned as authentically as possible, by constructing reproductions of medieval artifacts, practicing the arts and crafts we have researched, learning to fight with a sword and shield, and so on.

The SCA also attempts to create an atmosphere embodying those lost ideals that are found in medieval romance: chivalry, honor, and courtesy. Our goal is to re-create the Middle Ages as they should have been, without the strife and pestilence, but with an attempt to preserve the ideals of beauty, grace, chivalry, and fellowship.

Organization

The SCA divides the modern world into “kingdoms” for the purpose of identification and regionalization. (Kingdoms have no political or religious affiliation.) At present there are 20 kingdoms around the world.

Each kingdom has figureheads in the form of a King and Queen, who are selected in a tournament of arms. These individuals run the kingdom with the support of a staff of volunteers called “kingdom officers”, and follow the guidelines set out in the Kingdom Laws, which in turn are governed by the SCA’s official policies and modern law.

Kingdoms are again broken down to smaller groups such as baronies and shires. These local groups also have officers and official policies, which are in turn governed by kingdom laws, SCA policy, and modern law.

Activities

There is something for everyone in our Society. Our areas of interest are as varied as was medieval culture: heraldry, knighthood, manuscript illumination and calligraphy, archery, armor making, costuming, jewelry making, needlework and sewing, theater, poetry, dancing, singing, cooking, brewing, equestrian arts, and more.

Groups of people with common interests will often form guilds or companies to gather and practice their crafts on a weekly or monthly basis.

Local groups also hold regularly scheduled events, which are day-long or weekend-long gatherings at a location. These events are open to the public, but an attendance fee is charged to cover the rental of the site.