General Youth Policy

The only people who are legally permitted to bring minors to SCA events are: the minor's parent(s), the minor's legal guardian(s), or a temporary legal guardian designated with a signed, notarized waiver. If you are planning to bring a minor to war and you do not have legal custody of that minor, you MUST present both a signed, notarized waiver form and a signed, notarized medical release form. If you do not have both of these documents, you will not be permitted to bring the minor on site. These forms are available here, in PDF format. Please follow the links below to download and print these documents.

Youth Activities at May War

The Barony of Calafia is sad to report that we will not be able to sponsor any Youth Activities at the May 2008 Potrero War. The Barony finds that it is unable to meet the new Society-level requirements for holding Youth Activities as they currently stand. Youth Combat and Archery are not affected, and will continue as scheduled. Baron David and Baroness Adelicia welcome all comments and discussions on this matter privately at baron@calafia.org or baroness@calafia.org.

Given the lack of Baronially-sponsored Youth Activities, we encourage Households and Warbands to develop plans and activities to keep their Children and teens active and involved throughout the event. Groups wishing to host Family Special Events should contact the Special Events Coordinator, Lady Eblenn an Ucaire, and the Baronial Seneschal, THLady Muirrenn ingen Dondubain, for information and scheduling assistance.

The changes in Society Youth policies have also reinforced some guidelines for parental responsibility for minors at events. Please bear in mind the following items, both at overnight events as well as at day events:

Parents or legal guardians (or temporary guardians as recorded on the "designated adult in charge of a minor form") are responsible for children brought to an event. If an adult who is not the parent of legal guardian of a minor brings that minor to an event, they are required to have both a signed, notarized waiver form, as well as a signed, notarized minor's medical release form. Both of these documents are available here, or at http://library.sca-caid.org.

Parents/guardians should be aware of their children's location and activities at all times while attending SCA functions. Parents must not expect other adults to supervise or control minors who are wandering unaccompanied at events.

Because different levels of supervision are necessary for different age groups:

Children below the age of 5 should not be left unsupervised by the parent/legal guardian at SCA functions, even at planned children's activities.
In general, children less than 12 years old should be in eyesight/earshot of the parent or a designated adult or teenager (as determined by the parent). It is suggested that children in this age range are supervised and not allowed to wander freely at official events, and if in the care of an adult besides the parent/guardian (designated babysitter, attending activities, etc), the children should be checked on periodically by the parent/guardian to ensure their safety and suitable behavior.
Children 12 years old and younger are not considered suitable babysitters for younger children.

Neglect of Parental (or Guardian) responsibility for minors:

If SCA event officials find minors in breach of SCA Laws, Policies or site rules they will (for a first offense) escort the minors to their parent/guardian and issue a verbal warning. A report of this incident will be tendered to the Kingdom Seneschal.
On a second offense at a given event, the parent(s)/guardian(s) will be required to keep their minor(s) with them for the remainder of the function. A report on the incident will be tendered to the Kingdom and Society Seneschal.
On a third offense, the minor(s) *and* parent(s)/guardian(s) will be expelled from the event, and the matter will be reported to Kingdom and Society Seneschals.
Habitual offenders will be subject to review by Kingdom and Society level for possible Sanctions.