Pennsic Site Rules and Policies

Pennsic attendees should familiarize themselves with the Site Rules, as well as policies on the following topics:

Please note that all people in attendance at Pennsic War are expected to respect and abide by the rules and policies of Cooper's Lake Campground, The Pennsic Event Staff, and the Governing Documents of the Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc., and the Laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the USA. Anyone who chooses to ignore these regulations may be subject to appropriate sanctions.

SITE RULES

  1. There shall be no firearms, fireworks, or chemical weapons of any kind permitted at Pennsic, aside from those with specific prior authorization from the Autocrat.

  2. There shall be no cutting of trees, branches, shrubs, or other foliage for any reason, including, but not limited to, use as firewood. Firewood may be purchased at the camp store, from an off-site location or delivered.

  3. Do not alter, remove or damage any campground fencing for any reason.

  4. Do not use the sinks in the bathhouses for any purposes other than those for which they are intended; prohibited uses include, but are not limited to, the washing of dishes, utensils and/or clothing, as well as bathing.

  5. Absolutely no pets are permitted at Pennsic. Fully trained ADA qualifying service animals are permitted. Please check in any service animal with Troll.

  6. Absolutely no horses are permitted on site.

  7. Absolutely no boats are permitted on the lake.

  8. Fishing is permitted in the lake; no special license is required.

  9. There is a 5 MPH/8KPH speed limit for all roads within the campground. Use special caution in congested areas. The posted limits may be too fast for local conditions.

  10. Blue hospital shirts ("scrubs") are utilized by the Coopers' Staff as garb and are reserved solely to them for that purpose.

  11. Anyone under the age of 18 years (a minor) MUST be accompanied by a parent or court-appointed guardian to be admitted to Pennsic War. Emancipated minors shall be required to produce proof of their status when checking in. THERE SHALL BE NO EXCEPTIONS TO THIS RULE.

    1. A parent or court-appointed guardian must remain on-site with any minor child for as long as the minor child remains on site. Anyone attempting to circumvent this rule may be charged with trespassing and/or other applicable civil or criminal penalties.
    2. Children under the age of 12 must be within voice range or in sight of a responsible adult or teenager at all times. Minors under 18 must be in their encampments or in the company of a parent or court-appointed guardian after 11 P.M.
    3. If Cooper's Lake Campground or Pennsic War Event staff finds minors in breach of these rules, they will (for a first offense) escort the minor to their parent(s)/court-appointed guardian(s) and issue a verbal warning. A report of the incident will be tendered to the host Kingdom Seneschal. On a second offense, the parent(s)/court-appointed guardian(s) will be required to keep their minor(s) with them for the remainder of the Pennsic War. A report on the incident will be tendered to the host Kingdom and Society Seneschals. On a third offense, the minor(s) and parent(s)/court-appointed guardian(s) will be expelled from the event and the matter will be reported to the host Kingdom and Society Seneschals.
    4. All sponsored organized Youth Activities at Pennsic War, shall be compliant with the Governing Documents and Policies of the Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc. These policies do not relieve parents or guardians of their primary responsibility for the welfare and behavior of their children and insuring that their children's activities are compliant with the current Pennsic War Site Rules and Site Policies.

  12. Except for minors who are duly authorized by the Marshal-in-Charge to participate in adult martial activities or classes, no minor shall be permitted to participate in combat-related activities at Pennsic War besides expressly sanctioned Youth Combat programs.

  13. Please note that there are no single day admission rates for visitors. This includes family, friends and Clergy. Everyone attending Pennsic shall pay the full requisite fee from the date of their arrival until the end of the War regardless of when they arrive, depart or how long they stay. THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS TO THIS RULE.

  14. No martial activities of any kind (including, but not limited to, siege weapons, boffers, thrown weapons, rapier, archery, armored heavy combat and/or modern martial arts) shall be permitted outside of the proper, designated areas.

  15. No power earth-moving equipment without advance written permission of the Mayor. This includes but is not limited to power augers, bobcats. Also prohibited are gas generators, gas lawnmowers, weed-eaters, and chainsaws. There will be no exceptions.

  16. Firewood and pizza deliveries MUST be met at the Main Gate. The Main Gate will not be able to send someone to look for you or to accept items on your behalf. Deliveries of other items (rental tents, tables/chairs, catering food, propane, appliance rentals, lumber, etc.) must be coordinated though the Off-Site Vendor Coordinator.

  17. If you have brought any single water receptacle with a capacity of 100 gallons or more, you may not fill it from the Cooper's Lake water supply, nor may you drain it here.

  18. No structure may be taller than 16 feet. Construction projects shall be defined as any non-tent structures, including but not limited to gates, towers, houses, scaffolding, etc.
    1. APPROPRIATE PENNSIC WAR STAFF AND COOPER'S LAKE CAMPGROUND MANAGEMENT RESERVES THE ABSOLUTE RIGHT TO ORDER DISMANTLED ANY CONSTRUCTION PROJECT.
  19. NO bicycles, rollerblades, skateboards, mopeds, scooters or trail bikes will be permitted. ECVs and electric wheelchairs are permitted.

  20. NO trenches, wastewater pits or fire pits may be dug deeper than 3 feet. All pits must be filled in prior to leaving the event.

  21. All vehicles over 22 feet in length (including any attached trailer) MUST be parked in the oversized vehicle parking lot. Any vehicle over 22 feet in length (including attached trailers) found in the regular parking lot is subject to rule 1 of the TRAFFIC AND PARKING POLICIES.

  22. Parking in the handicapped parking area is reserved to those vehicles that have a Handicapped Parking Plates and or Stickers (see Disability Services office located in the Town Hall tent for more information). Vehicles found in the handicapped parking area without a proper tag is subject to rule 1 of the TRAFFIC AND PARKING POLICIES.

  23. Public address systems may not be used after 10 pm.

  24. Do not post any notices/announcements in or on any portable toilet (Porto-san) or any other Campground facility.

  25. Any person who tampers with, moves, destroys or vandalizes any facility or property of the Pennsic War or Cooper's Lake Campground without the express permission of the appropriately authorized staff of Cooper's Lake Campground or Pennsic War who may grant said permission, as well as any person who might harbor or abet them in said violations, will be subject to possible immediate ejection from the event. These properties and facilities include but are not limited to: Road Signs; A&S tents; Golf Carts; the Barn; Bath Houses; Battlefield Set-ups; Tables, Chairs, Benches and Picnic Tables used by Pennsic War; and any other item that non-staff members are not entitled to use.

SITE POLICIES

TROLL

What you need to check in:

  1. A GOVERNMENT ISSUED PHOTO ID which has your photo, name and birth date on it, will be required.
    Most drivers' licenses meet these criteria, as do most government-issued ID cards. If yours does not, please have a secondary form that we can check against your primary one (for example, a work/building pass with your name and picture on it, and a government-issued ID with your name and birth date on it.

  2. Proof of membership, if you wish to take advantage of the member discount.
    Any Milpitas (SCA, Inc.) issued item with your name, membership number, and expiration date on it will do. Mailing labels, such as the ones on your Kingdom newsletter or Tournaments Illuminated have all the pertinent data.

    Fighter authorization cards are NOT acceptable as proof of membership.

  3. Sufficient cash or a credit card to cover the cost of your entry.
    If you are pre-registered, only PART of your fees are paid and additional fees may be required. Checks, Money Orders, and Travelers' Checks will NOT be accepted. Refunds will not be granted after you have passed through troll and received your tag.

  4. Guardianship Papers. If you arrive with a minor who is not your own child, you will need proof of YOUR full legal guardianship for that minor. This proof must be in the form of a copy of legal guardianship papers SIGNED BY THE JUDGE who appointed the guardianship.

    You will be required to sign a waiver in the child's name before admittance. Lying on these waivers constitutes fraud and will result in your family's expulsion from the campground. A parent or court-appointed guardian must remain at the War for as long as the minor remains on site. No minor may be left unattended at the site.

    Emancipated minors must show legal proof of emancipation, in addition to the ID mentioned in section 1.

Other important check-in details:

ENTRY AND RE-ENTRY INTO CAMPGROUNDS

Each visitor to the War shall be issued a medallion at the Troll Booth when they arrive. This medallion is your personal receipt and access pass into the War. Each medallion issued is designated to a particular individual; the medallions are not transferable. All visitors attending the War shall wear their medallions at all times and shall produce their medallions for Cooper's Lake and Appropriate Pennsic War Staff members upon request.

Please ensure that you take your medallion with you when you leave the Campground for any reason. Anyone attempting to re-enter without a medallion will have to go through the Troll Booth process again and pay the appropriate fees.

Enter the site only through the designated entry/re-entry areas. Do not cross or remove fences to enter or re-enter the site. Anyone attempting to enter or re-enter the Campground without a medallion, by crossing or removing fences and/or by transferring medallions shall be evicted from the site without refund.

SPECIAL GAS LINE RESTRICTIONS

  1. Additional fire pit restrictions in blocks W21, E20, E24, & E18 must be observed due to an underground high-pressure natural gas line that runs through those areas.
  2. No fire pits or ground fires are to be placed within the 50 feet of the Right-of-Way of the gas line. Violating this rule may cause the gas company to exercise their right to demand that no camping of any type be allowed within this area. Violations of this rule will not be tolerated.
  3. The center of the gas line will be marked with a dotted orange painted line. Dotted white lines will mark the 25 feet on each side of the center line. Tents are allowed if stakes are less than 3 feet in length.
  4. No tents or other structures are to be placed within 10 feet of any gas company marker or vent. Markers and vents must be accessible from the nearest road at all times. A blue painted circle will mark vents and markers. NOTHING is to be placed within this circle.

ALTERATION OF CAMPING AREA

You may dig fire pits at Pennsic War, provided the fire pit is no deeper than 3 feet. Please check with your land agent for the location of any power/gas lines in your block. All fire pits must be filled in before leaving the campground.

Any capital or permanent improvements or alterations to the land (such as landscaping or terracing) must be pre-approved, in writing, by the Cooper's Lake Campground Management. Upon installation and/or completion, such improvements shall become the sole property of Cooper's Lake Campground and there is absolutely NO guarantee that you shall have any "rights" to that land in the future as a result of installing or completing any such improvements or alterations.

GARBAGE DISPOSAL AND RECYCLING

There are dumpsters located throughout the campground. These dumpsters are the only proper location for the disposal of garbage and/or refuse. Raw wood materials (plywood, 2x4's, etc), should not be placed in the dumpsters, but rather should be placed next to the dumpsters. Because of safety factors, DO NOT remove anything from dumpsters/dumpster area. Under no circumstances may garbage or refuse be burned.

Please be sure to remove all personal property from the site by 3:00 pm on the final Sunday. Anything found after that time shall be considered abandoned property and may be disposed of by the Pennsic staff and/or the Cooper's Lake Management. Do not leave any large items (furniture, mattresses, old tents, etc.) in your encampment when departing, even if you intend to abandon them. Each individual is solely responsible for removing all such large items from the campgrounds; the rubbish service employed by Cooper's Lake Campground will not remove such large items on your behalf.

Cooper's Lake Campground recycles aluminum cans for local charities. Please place all aluminum cans in the recycling boxes located throughout the campground. Do not place glass or plastic bottles in said recycling boxes.

HAY/STRAW AND MULCH USE

Hay and/or straw may not be used as rushes or ground cover in any camping area without the express permission of the Cooper's Lake Campground management. Should such permission be granted, hay and/or straw will be made available for sale at the Camp Store. The purchase price includes the cleanup fee. Please do not burn hay and/or straw.

Mulch (sometimes called wood chips) may not be brought into the Campground nor may it be used for any ground cover. Mulch causes severe damage to the grounds and could become a health hazard.

Hay bales from the battlefield and from the Middle Eastern Dance Tent are NOT for common use. These hay bales are for battlefield Scenarios and for Middle Eastern Dance activities, and may not be removed. Any group caught with unauthorized hay/straw will suffer severe consequences.

MAIL AND PACKAGE DELIVERIES

Emergency mail deliveries for individuals via the United States Postal Service will be available at Information Point, near the Camp Store. You must produce identification with your name and photo in order to obtain your mail (please note: your site medallion will NOT be sufficient). Remember that the Cooper's Lake Campground address (205 Currie Road, Slippery Rock, PA 16057) should only be used for emergencies and NOT for routinely forwarding your mail while attending the War.

Deliveries via private carriers (non USPS) to individuals who are not merchants will be held at the Merchant's Office. It is the responsibility of each individual expecting a delivery to check with the Merchant's Office during the office's business hours. Any package or mailing not collected by close of the Merchant's Office on Friday, August 13, 2010 may be returned to the sender or disposed of at the discretion of the Cooper's Lake Management. Delivery information for merchants is included in the merchants' information package.

Firewood and pizza deliveries must be met at the Main Gate. The Main Gate WILL NOT send someone to look for you or accept items on your behalf. Deliveries of other items (rental tents, tables and chairs; catered food, propane, appliance rentals, lumber, etc.) must be coordinated through the Off-site Vendor Coordinator (OVC).

MERCHANTS

There shall be no selling, vending and/or merchanting permitted outside of the designated market area. All merchants must be registered in advance of the War and must check in with the Merchant Office before opening for business. It is the sole responsibility of the individual merchant to comply with all applicable tax and licensing regulations and/or requirements.

OUTSIDE CATERING

Any camp or camper planning to have outside catered meal service must inform their caterer of the following:
  1. The caterer must be registered with the Pennsic War Merchant Office, before July 1, 2010.

  2. The caterer must operate with a food license issued by the PA Department of Agriculture.

  3. Caterers who are not registered will be turned away at the gate.
To register and obtain more information, contact the Pennsic War Merchant Office .

PICNIC TABLES, FOLDING TABLES AND FOLDING CHAIRS

Please recognize that there are not enough picnic tables for every encampment to have one in camp. Picnic Tables in the Barn and other Pennsic tents are not to be used by any individual or group. Folding tables and chairs located in the public tents ARE NOT to be removed from those tents.

QUIET HOURS

Quiet hours shall be enforced between 2:00 am and 7:00 am throughout the campground.

Please be considerate of your neighbors when contemplating high decibel nighttime activities (drumming, piping, singing, etc.).

PERSONAL MESSAGES / EMERGENCY CAMPGROUND PHONE NUMBER

The number to reach the campground during Pennsic is 724-368-8741. This number is set up for use especially for Pennsic; please do not use the number listed in the phone book for the campground. Someone at Information Point will answer the phone. There is only one incoming phone line in the campground; please remind your family, friends or employer that the ability to take personal messages for individuals at Pennsic is severely limited.

In order to take a message, we will need the modern name and SCA name of the person the message is for, the Land Registration / official name of the group they are camping with, and the block number they are camping on. We recommend that you supply all this information to family/friends who might try to reach you at Pennsic in an emergency.

If you are expecting a call, please check the board in front of Information Point daily for a message. BRIEF EMERGENCY MESSAGES ONLY will be relayed to encampments.

SMOKING POLICIES

There is no smoking permitted in any building or public tent (including, but not limited to, the Barn, Class Tents, Merchant Bazaars, and the Theater Facility). Please dispose of cigarette or cigar butts in the proper receptacles and be courteous of others when smoking in public areas.

TRAFFIC & PARKING POLICIES

All vehicles shall be removed to the parking lot area as soon as possible after loading or unloading them. Vehicles may not be left in camp.
  1. Violations: The event staff shall mark and/or ticket vehicles that are in violation of the Traffic and Parking Policies. Removing these marks/tickets will not prevent the vehicle's violation from being recorded. ALL VIOLATIONS SHALL BE CUMULATIVE. UPON A THIRD VIOLATION OF THE TRAFFIC AND PARKING POLICIES, THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE IS SUBJECT TO IMMEDIATE EXPULSION FROM THE EVENT (WITHOUT ANY REFUND).
  2. Late night arrival: Vehicles that arrive on site during quiet hours may be parked for the night in the camping area. The vehicle must be completely off the road, in close proximity to the camp of the vehicle owner, until 8 am. However, once morning has arrived the vehicle must be moved to the parking area in accordance with standard policies.
  3. No party hopping in vehicles: This practice is dangerous. A person or persons found in violation of this policy, including the driver/owner of the vehicle and all passengers, are subject to immediate expulsion (without any refunds) from the Pennsic War Event. The roads need to be clear for emergency vehicle access.
  4. Oversized parking: There is a separate area in the parking lot for trailers and oversized vehicles (trailers, trucks, buses, campers, RV's, etc.); please park such vehicles in these specially marked areas. All oversized vehicles and trailers must be parked in these lots or they will be subject to rule 1 of this policy. This is to allow the large number of anticipated vehicles to fit in the parking lot this year.
  5. Handicapped parking: Those wishing to park in a designated handicapped parking area should contact Disability Services.
  6. No registered motor vehicles in camping areas: Registered Motor Vehicles (including motorcycles) may NOT be left in any camp, even if covered with tarps or other camouflage. No one may live in a motor vehicle other than those in RV Camping.
  7. RV camping: RV's have their own camping area. There is no electricity, and no hookups of any kind, but there is water nearby. Arrangements for RV camping must be done through the Cooper's Lake Campground.
  8. No vehicles may block side roads or facilities: If a vehicle cannot be moved into a camping site, it must be pulled completely off the road. Vehicles found blocking and/or parked in the road will be subject to Rule 1 of this policy. Roads must be available for emergency passage at all times. Vehicles that block access to the port-o-sans (portable toilets) will be subject to rule 1 of this policy.
  9. Use the parking lot in a fair and courteous manner: In the lot, please park only within the designated rows. Cooper's Lake Management reserves the right to tow all illegally or improperly parked vehicles.
  10. No vehicles may block the public road: Please remember that Currie Road is a public thoroughfare; do not block this road to local traffic for ANY reason. Blocking Currie Road is cause for eviction from Site. There is a 5 MPH/8KPH speed limit for all roads within the campground. Use special caution in congested areas. The posted limits may be too fast for local conditions.

UTILITIES

Please do not block access to water spigots or electrical boxes. Should you attach a hose to a water spigot, it must be equipped with both a vacuum breaker and a y-connector. Any unattended hose that is attached to a spigot and does not conform to this policy may be confiscated by the Pennsic staff and/or Cooper's Lake management. Please do not run hoses across roads.

Waste water may be disposed of by digging a waste water sump in your camp. Please do not dump your waste water into the lake, stream or at any of the water spigots. Please ensure that everyone in your encampment is aware of the locations of all waste water sumps and please fill in all sumps before leaving the War.

Under NO circumstances may the existing utilities be altered and/or modified in any manner. You may not access or tie into any water lines or electrical boxes in order to install new or additional connections. Anyone attempting to alter and/or modify any of the existing utilities may be evicted from the site without refund and shall be responsible for any and all damages resulting from their actions.

NO personal washing or bathing is permitted at the water spigots. Please be courteous when using showers. Please try and conserve hot water whenever possible.

ALCOHOL

The legal age for the consumption of alcohol in Pennsylvania is 21 years of age. Attendees of the War may obtain alcoholic beverages off-site for consumption on-site. Any violations of Pennsylvania law may be reported to the authorities and violators may be evicted from the campground without refund. Furthermore, no one may offer for sale and/or otherwise distribute alcoholic beverages without the proper license. Should you choose to serve alcohol in your camp, you do so at your own risk and are solely responsible for ensuring that you conform to the laws of Pennsylvania.


This website donated by panix.com
www.pennsicwar.org is sponsored by Panix.com (Public Access Networks Corporation). The event staff of The Pennsic War would like to thank Panix for their continued support of the SCA. Without their generous donation, this page would not be possible.

Website designed and maintained by Mistress Jessa d'Avondale (Marla Lecin). To comment about this website, e-mail her.


Copyright 2000-2010 The Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc. (SCA). This website is provided as a service to allow members of the SCA to obtain information regarding the annual event, "Pennsic War". Images and information on this website may not be used in, on, or for any commercial web page (excepting that of Coopers' Lake Campground, land owner and host of Pennsic War), for any purpose, without express written permission.

www.pennsicwar.org is not a Corporate Publication of the SCA, Inc., and does not delineate any SCA policies. This site is not intended to take the place of Official Kingdom Newsletters or Pennsic War On-Site publications. Every effort has been taken to provide current and accurate information, however, any discrepancies between the information on this site and in the above publications will be decided in favor of the printed version.