Teen Activities

The Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc (SCA) encourages all members of your family to attend Estrella War, including teenagers between the age of 12 and 18 years of age. While the event staff acknowledges that parents/temporary guardians hold primary responsibility for the behavior of teenagers they bring to the Estrella War, they also give the highest priority to providing a safe and fun place where these future generations of the SCA can come to learn, play and enjoy themselves.

To assure you and your teenagers have the best time at Estrella War, we recommend that you sit down with the teenagers accompanying you to the event and review and discuss the following information:

YOUR TEENAGER AND THE SCA – SOME ANSWERS FOR PARENTS: This provides answers to the questions most commonly asked by parents whose teenagers have started to participate in SCA activities.
KINGDOM YOUTH ACTIVITIES GUIDELINES FOR LOCAL SCA GROUPS: PARENTS: This explains the Kingdom of Atenveldt (the local SCA chapter hosting the Estrella War) rules used to govern the running of youth activities at events in Arizona, including a description of the responsibilities of parents and temporary guardians, and the “Two Deep Leadership” model that the SCA follows when running youth activities at Estrella War.
KINGDOM OF ATENVELDT POLICY FOR ADDRESSING TRANSGRESSIONS BY MINORS AT SCA EVENTS: This outlines the procedures the SCA follows, and the consequences that the SCA imposes on a parent/guardian and a minor child, if a minor misbehaves while attending Estrella War.
ATTENDING WITH MINORS: This explains the paperwork you must complete and bring to the event for each teenager who attends with you, as well as the curfew and guidelines the teenager much follow while at the Estrella War.

WHAT IS THERE FOR A TEENAGER TO DO AT ESTRELLA WAR?

There are many activities teenagers and their families can do together (like shopping on Merchants Row, visiting the Period Encampment, attending Collegium classes, or watching the combat scenarios.

Welcome to the Youth Complex and Teen Center for Estrella War XXVIII (February 2012)

Hours of Operation:
Thursday through Saturday 9:00am to 1:00 pm daily
Thursday through Saturday 7:00pm to 10:00 pm daily (Firepits and Movies!!!)

Teen Center:
The Teen Center is located in the Youth Center Complex. It offers a safe place for teens to gather. Minors and parents should be aware that teens are required to comply with the curfew law for the city in which the war is held.

Per the City of Queen Creek, AZ curfew:

Minors 15 years old and younger must be in their own camp or escorted by an adult from 10 PM – 5 AM.
Minors 16 to 18 years old must be in their own camp or escorted by an adult from Midnight – 5 AM.

The teen center operates on an honor system. However, all civil laws apply. No adult beverages or illegal substances are permitted. We ask that you bring games of your choice, soft drink beverages and snacks to share. Teens are also welcome at the Children/Youth Complex during the hours it is open.

Youth Program (5-17 years):
In an effort to provide an enriched learning environment, age-appropriate Arts and Sciences classes are offered Thursday and Friday in the Youth Complex. Please look for posting of these classes at the Youth Complex and in the A&S class schedule. Parents are encouraged to attend classes & projects with their children.

Open activities are also offered during Youth Center hours. These include simple arts and crafts projects, a puppet theater for impromptu performances, and board games. Available projects will be rotated daily or as materials limits require.

Some classes and activities may involve leaving the Youth Center for a mini-field trip (such as to the Period Demo Area). Parents are asked to come along with their children on such outings. During those times, no attendant will be on hand at the Youth Center. A reminder sign will be posted stating where we may be found and when we will re-open. Please make sure your child knows how to get back to camp, or opt to stay with them so that no child is lost. Be aware that SCA volunteers may not force a child to stay in an activity, so it is the responsibility of the parent or legal guardian to keep children from becoming lost.

Arts and Sciences Classes:
A&S classes appropriate for teens and/or youth are also offered in the A&S Pavilion. Check the A&S class description for age restrictions, or speak with the instructor if age restrictions are not specified in the class description.

An A&S track of classes targeted for youth is also offered in the Youth Center. Parents of young children are encouraged to attend classes with their children, or attend while their children play or work on open activities on the other side of the Center.

NOTE TO PARENTS:

Parents or legal guardians are responsible for their children at all times.
There will be no adult supervision at the Children / Youth Complex before 09 am or after 1 pm daily. Children & Young people may come and go from the complex at their leisure. If a child is not safe to navigate the war grounds by themselves, we recommend someone of appropriate age (12 or older) stay with the child while in the Children / Youth Complex (Youth Center Staff & Volunteers can not restrain children from leaving the area).

Appropriate behaviors and adherence to the Kingdom policies are expected. Weapons, live steel, and/or illegal items are not permitted at the complex. Youth combat weapons are welcome at the complex, however may only be used during youth combat activities under adult youth marshals supervision. We strongly recommend that items of significant value be left at camp as we will not be responsible for lost or broken personal items. In the event that a minor sustains an injury, a parent or legal guardian must be present to authorize treatment, so it is recommended that parents or legal guardians stay within sight and sound of their children.

Reminder: There are canals on site. These can be dangerous areas. Do not allow children to play in or around these. (This goes for grown ups too.)

Parents and guardians should be aware of the curfew for minors at the event, and are asked to review the Kingdom of Atenveldt Policy for Addressing Transgressions by Minors at SCA Events as well as Kingdom of Atenveldt Youth Activities Guidelines (copies of these will be available for review at the Children / Youth Complex.)

Questions about youth activities at Estrella War should be directed to the Estrella War Youth Center Coordinator. Questions about Youth Combat Estrella War should be directed to the Estrella War Youth Combat Coordinator.