Queen Caoilfhionn’s Kids Service Initiative
Please share widely the following message from our new Queen, and if your group is hosting a Royal Progress event, you are encouraged to include this youth activity!
Unto the fine people of the East Kingdom do I, Caoilfhionn Augusta, send my warmest greetings.
Many times I see our children hard at work learning about crafts and pursuits medieval and ancient. I see them learning about heraldry, life in times gone by, clothing that was worn and why. I see then engaged in youth combat, archery, and fencing. All of these things are good and pleasing. It left me to wonder, though, what do we teach them of OUR society, how the SCA functions and thrives on the backs of the hard working folks who give of themselves their service that we all might live the dream.
Service comes in many forms, great and small, from holding a kingdom office or autocrating an event to washing dishes and moving benches. Every hand makes the work lighter, every link in the chain makes it stronger, and every “thank you” given I earnest makes us a little brighter and happier.
Thus, I created the Kids Service Initiative.
At every Royal Progress event (autocrats willing), we will have something of a service scavenger hunt. Each item has a number of points, from 1 – 4. Any child reaching 10 points by 30 minutes before court is scheduled to begin can turn in their sheet to the Royal Room (All checked items should have adult signature/initials). Their names will be called in court and they will receive a token of a bead from My hand. Every event shall have a different color bead so at the time that our heirs take the thrones, the children can have one or many.
Service items may be any of the following (depending on the availability of activities and autocrat permission at any given event):
4 Points
- Wash dishes for kitchen for 15 Minutes (1 point each add’l 15 minutes)
- Retain for Royalty for 30 minutes (1 point each add’l 30 minutes)
- Organize & run games for younger children (6-12)
3 Points
- Help Setup Tent/Easy up
- Be a runner for List (from marshalls to MOL) Older children only (6-12 yrs)
- Guard Royal Room for 15 Minutes
- 15 minutes helping at Troll (hand out site tokens or site booklets) (1 point each add’l 15 minute)
- 15 minutes working in kitchen (any) (1 point each add’l 15 minute)
- 15 minutes water bearing (1 point each add’l 15 minute)
- Wipe down tables/sweep hall between activities
- Help set up hall for Court (move chairs, clean up from day’s activities)
2 Points
- Help Serve/Put out Dayboard
- Help Set up Tables for Dayboard (Move tables, Put table clothes on, etc)
- Run a message (written or oral) from one person to another (troll, merchant, MOL, etc.)
- Errands for merchants
- Assemble site tokens
1 Point (Only counts once for each. Multiple times doing same thing is not multiple points but greatly appreciated)
- Help someone carry something
- Pick up garbage that is not yours and throw away
- Hold the door for someone
- Give up your seat to someone else
- Help load/unload a vehicle
The above list is by no means exhaustive, and can be added to or built upon as we move along. You are free to write in an act of service if it is not on the event’s check-off sheet.
This program is designed for kids aged 12 and under, as it is our assumption that children over the age of 12 understand the gravity and nature of service already and would not require this type of incentive or game-based education (you find the fun aaaand SNAP! The job’s a game!). We would welcome the assistance of the older kids with this program if they wish to help out. It could be very rewarding for them, and would help the younger kids to be more eager about getting involved.
Lady Gautselin will be helping to coordinate this for me and will be the contact person for event autocrats.
This is a program that I am very excited about and I look forward to the participation of the Children of the East.
In Service to the Dream,
Caoilfhionn Augusta
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