Ask any member of the SCA, or of any other medieval recreation group for that matter, and you'll probably hear something like this: "well, I've always been interested in medieval history as well as the legends of King Arthur..." The SCA is a non-profit educational organization whose purpose is to study and attempt to recreate the arts and sciences, the ways of life, and the warfare of the Middle Ages. However, there's a neat twist: nobody dies of sword wounds, the plague, or the flu.

Martial arts include fencing, archery, and armoured combat (also called rattan, because that's what our "swords" and other weapons are made of) which covers different styles of combat such as sword and shield, two handed weapons such as polearmes and great swords, etc.

Other activities include whatever was necessary for everyday life back then: cooking (with period recipes); smithing (of swords and armour); clothes making; embroidery; leather work; and lest we forget the fun stuff: brewing and wine making; music, singing and dancing; and most important of all: *Feasting*. There are many more activities, too numerous to mention here.

We get together at weekend-long events where we compete in tournaments and fight in battles and wars. We exchange ideas and teach and learn the ways of the Middle Ages. We gather around a bonfire and sing and dance and exchange stories (no s # ! +, there I was...).

SCA events take place all year 'round, usually on weekends. Summertime events are outdoor affairs, so it helps if you enjoy camping, while winter events are indoors.

The climax of the event season every year is Pennsic War, where the Kingdom of the East and the Kingdom of the Middle meet in perpetual rivalry and friendship. (You see, for our purposes North America is divided into several kingdoms...). This event takes place during the first two weeks of August at a campground some thirty minutes north of Pittsburgh. Pennsic attracts medieval period enthusiasts from all over the world, as far as Australia.

2001 marked the thirtieth year of this event, attracting almost 13,000 (the "0" key did not get stuck) participants, which certainly broke some kind of record somewhere.

So, if you're looking for a good way to get away from your daily concerns and everyday life, even if only for a week-end, and are interested in the Middle Ages, come and join us!