VOLUNTEERING
What do Great Western War, The Peace Corps, and secret government experiments on college students have in common? None of these could happen without volunteers! Great Western War is, of course, the greatest volunteer opportunity of the three, as it involves a lower threat of exposure to malaria and much fewer interactions with needles or unexpected hallucinations.
Every hour you volunteer—at any task—at Great Western War also helps relieve the pressure on an overworked Event Steward, and you get raffle tickets that can get you cool stuff for your kit!
There are many War volunteer opportunities that involve sitting, schmoozing, mocking, snarking, giggling, pointing and laughing – all valuable skills in both the SCA and modern life.
You will also get to meet a wealth of interesting people, including possible boon companions, potential future accomplices and alibis, and maybe your one true love.
When you are volunteering, be sure to have the person you report to sign your volunteer card! We know most people are not looking for recognition, but we need to know how many hours it really takes to run the war!
Areas to Volunteer
Help is needed to set up the range. This includes some heavy lifting and helping set up other safety measures around the range. . Come out and join us at the Archery and Thrown Weapons range Wednesday through Sunday to help marshal and learn how to marshall if you are interested. Mostly standing. Sunday help is needed to break down the range, help to collect any trash that may be on the range and to stack the hay bales in an orderly fashion for them to be picked up. Manual labor required, including heavy lifting.
Armored Combat Marshal
Senior Marshals, Marshals, and Marshals-in-Training are needed. Marshals for armored combat are needed on the WAR FIELD to help keep watch over the fighting. Including (but not limited to) watching the edge, maintaining a safe perimeter from aerial weapons, armor and weapons inspections.. Mostly standing. Some sun.
Arts and Sciences
Help is needed to set up chairs and tables in the class area to help merchants set up classroom areas in their booths. Help is needed to assist the Arts and Sciences Stewards with Class scheduling, running around giving messages to teachers as needed, and other general help with tasks as needed. Mostly shaded and sitting. Some walking may be required.
Bardic Hall
Cashier at Headquarters
Combat Field Marshal
Constable on Patrol
Constables are needed everyday. This is a great way to learn the layout of the war. The Constable on patrol is a way to volunteer with a partner to walk around site and make sure everyone is safe. This includes tasks from helping people find their way to making sure that all of the fires are well attended. Constables get to explore all of the site and get to meet many different people along the way. Constant walking around the war for two hour shifts.
Constable in Charge
Constable in Charge is the individual who is in charge of all security on site during that time. They are the one who are called in case of emergency, they monitor the shift changes of the constables on patrol, and help keep track of the walkie talkies. Calm demeanor in tough situations. Some manual labor may be required. Ability to defuse tough situations. Please ask for the Constable of the War if you are interested in becoming a constable in charge.
Equestrian
Equestrian volunteers are needed for general maintenance and setup and teardown. Ask for Equestrian Steward if you have questions.
Facilities
Volunteers are needed for facilities to monitor and empty trash cans in merchants row. Heavy lifting may be required.
Fighter Support
Fighter Support is a very important place to volunteer as they help make sure that our fighters are kept safe and hydrated. This includes water bearing, giving fighters pickles and oranges, as well as helping make sure that the fellow water bearers, marshalls and fighters are all wearing sunscreen and keeping hydrated. Primarily standing, some sun.
Gate Staff
The people at Gate are the first taste of war everyone gets to have. They are the introduction and the beginning of Great Western War for each individual. Volunteering at gate helps expedite people who have spent a long time travelling and are ready to begin their event. Sitting and shaded for the whole shift.
Gate - Warranted Officer
There needs to be a warranted officer for every gate shift. This individual handles the cash box for those people who are coming in and paying on site. Sitting and shaded for the whole shift. Please contact the Gate Steward if you wish to sign up for this position.
Hay Bales
Volunteering with hay bales is helping set out the hay bales at the beginning of the war. Helping place them where they need to be before the war starts. And then help with stacking up the hay bales to be picked up at the end of the war. Manual labor required. Heavy lifting required.
Headquarters Staff
HQ has all of the information that is needed throughout the war. This is the place where people come to buy ice and ask other general questions. Headquarters is a great way to learn about the things that happen throughout the war and to meet new people. Sitting and Shaded for entire shift.
Heralds
Heralds (Morning Cry)
Heralds are needed for the camp cries who walk around the war once or twice a day to deliver the daily happenings of the war. Heralds are also needed to assist with the heraldic consultations. This is to help people who are attempting to register a name or device. Camp Crier- walking around until announcements are completed. Heraldic Assisting- sitting and shaded for whole shift.
Hounds
Volunteers are needed at Hounds Coursing to help set up the course each day and to help ensure all participants are kept safe. Please contact the Hounds Steward if you wish to sign up to help with Hound Coursing.
Merchants
Volunteers are needed to help collect stakes from Merchants after they have arrived and to help post any signs relevant to Merchants around the war. Please contact the Merchant Steward if you wish to sign up to assist Merchants.
Motor Pool
Newcomer’s Point
Volunteers are needed to help Newcomers gain their bearing at this large war as well as helping answer any questions that they may have. Mostly sitting during shift. Please contact the War Chatelaine if you wish to sign up for Newcomers Activities.
Porters
This is the shack at the entrance to war. Volunteers are needed 24/7. In the daytime, volunteers will be checking site tokens upon re-entry or directing new arrivals to gate. At night, volunteers will be checking site tokens upon re-entry and opening the gate to let them onto site. Sitting in shack for entire shift.
Production
Volunteers are needed to help with general site maintenance, contact the Production steward for more specific details. Manual labor required.Volunteers are needed to move hay bales to set them up for scenarios. Manual labor required. Senior Marshals, Marshals, and Marshals-in-Training are needed. Marshals for rapier combat are needed on the war field to help keep watch over the fighting. Including (but not limited to) watching the edge, armor and weapons inspections.
Rapier
Special Events
Volunteers are needed to help with the set-up and tear down of Special Event (ie: Court). Contact Special Events Steward for specific details. Manual labor required.
Trash
Volunteer Desk
The volunteer desk is staffed to help collect more volunteers. This position is important in helping keep the war staffed as it needs to be as well as helping answer any questions about volunteering. Sitting in shade for entire shift. Additional help is needed to collect volunteer cards and count out raffle tickets. Contact Volunteer Stewards with additional questions.
Volunteers Facilites Merchant
Water and Power
Youth Combat
Marshals and assistants are needed to help facilitate and organize Youth Combat. Marshals must have experience with youth combat. Mostly standing. Some sun. Please contact Youth Point Steward if you wish to sign up for Youth Activities.
Youth Activities
Youth Point
Volunteers are needed to help facilitate children’s activities. Mostly sitting during shift. Please contact Youth Point Steward if you wish to