Welcome readers far and wide to your “Reenacting: Surviving Camp” edition of “A Year in the Life of a Viking Re-Enactor.” Now the summer is in full swing and we are waiting for the sun to make its brief annual appearance, camping trips are in motion across all of England with families and reenactment groups alike.
Suns out Camps Up!
Some of you may be seasoned camping reenactors or even regular campers in a none reenactment setting. Whatever your camping level of experience there is sure to be something of interest to you here.
Camping Tips
When I was starting out in Viking reenactment some 9 years ago this web link was very helpful. I came to the camping experience as a total beginner. I wish I had read a “Reenacting: Surviving Camp” guide back then – my first camp was on a flood plain during an exceptionally wet spring. I cannot convey the learning curve that took me on, but I’ll cover that story at another time. Of course the best teacher is experience namely my own and that is where this article is written from.
Kori’s Camping Considerations
Editor: These tips are focused mostly on the modern forms of camping – there are two schools of reenacting one where we are ‘on’ during the day for the public, but are otherwise modern people, doing modern things, and two, immersive reenacting where you try to live as far as possible like a historical person. This mostly covers the former.
- If you think you have enough bedding bring more. There is nothing worse than a freezing UK wake up at 3am then spending the rest of your trip cold to your bones. Authentic bedding is straw, supplemented with furs and blankets. For modern, a nice sleeping bag and blankets under and over will work.
- Same as above for food. Talking about our shared passion and being outside in the sun, as well as the set up and take down of a camp are all drains on your energy resources. You end up hungrier than usual.
- Include in your food salty and sugary snacks for quick energy boosts throughout each day. Salted chilli rice crackers are great if you can tolerate all the ingredients, and for authentic food, dried fruit and smoked or salted meat.
- Bring your own camp stove. Cooking on the group’s communal fire is social but there are lot of us wanting to use it at the same time.
- Do not worry about bringing and using sleep aids, though I find eye masks and earplugs are essential supplies! Does the 4am honking goose bring back vivid memories of nights at camp when you had a bad night sleep? I rest the point.
- Bring spare socks to keep your feet warm and dry each day and night. Viking Naalbinding socks are amazing.
- Even though it’s summer don’t forget gloves – at night you will be grateful for them being there if you did need them.
- If you’re super hygiene conscious, bring your own loo roll and diluted liquid hand soap for those events without plumbing facilities.
- Bring your own sunscreen, even in the UK the sun can be fierce. Our group has a stock of sun cream to use but build this good habit early on by applying your own when you wake up.
Work Life Balance
Our shows are great fun but interacting with the public can get intense and comes with it’s own challenges. After all we are there to provide them a great experience and inform them of our collective historical knowledge in a fun, enjoyable, memorable way.
- The weekend as a whole should be included in your planning, including getting there and back, what you are having for dinner when you get home etc.
- Check out the group’s schedule for a list of planned events and regular shows so you can work out which ones fit into your every day life. Our group has a Facebook group where we coordinate, with emails to give more detail. Sometimes you may only be able to do a day at some events others the entire weekend would suit.
- As with anything plan and double check and don’t over promise yourself. This helps your group plan the programme of events and give the sponsors a fair price on what will be the turnout. Making sure we don’t over promise but under deliver on the day.
- If you have any spare holiday days, a rare luxury in this period I realise, but do consider if you would be able to utilise a half day here or there to allow you to help with set up, or to aid your own recovery. We don’t want our members overdoing it and having negative health effects.
Key Members
This section is all about who we direct our questions and comments to in our group. . Either before the event or during, they help with the art of camping. When you join a reenactment society, make sure to hunt these kinds of people down and ask them loads of questions!
Meet regular camper Rœkia. Often seen in the hills of Scotland and extolling the virtues of the wild. Rœkia is our Membership officer, who makes sure everyone is alright, and sorted for their event.
Meet Lofthtæna, better known as Loffy. A seasoned camper with her whole family (Husband, 3 Children, and an adopted Saxon). Loffy has great experience in juggling multiple demands at the same time. Lofthaena is our group leader and always on hand to help.
Meet Kael and Throst. Both are seasoned campers in reenactment situations. There is probably nothing they have not encountered (camping in snow, force 5 storms, floods…) Kael is responsible for the group’s encampment. That’s planing the camp layout, making sure it’s on he right ground and works the best as an attraction. Throst is our Combat leader, in charge of making sure our displays are safe and unforgettable.
Meet Þorunn, our liaison with event sponsors. She is found providing assistance with on site viewings and getting our events booked in. So far Þorunn is the bringer of sun, with every event she attends nice and sunny!
Our next event is the first weekend in August where we will be at Cromford Mill. If you can’t make it there to see us why not check out our regular Wednesday night training sessions? Or other upcoming public events? Keen to read more about our group? Here’s a wide range of articles compiled from members keen to share their impressive historical knowledge. From making making clothes to making cheese.