The overall goal of the NorthWoods Living History is to create and encourage learning, teaching, sharing and active participation in military history worldwide. We recognize those who have served and sacrificed. We wish to learn and teach the public the everyday life of the soldier. We are not interested in the political climate in which the soldier served. We do not focus on the governments that forced nations to go to war. We focus on the sacrifice and everyday life of that soldier's service.
We portray the everyday life and survival of the soldier. We focus on the command, uniforms, gear and equipment and what they were issued. The food, music, friends, comradeship and those we lost.
Our membership fees are simple. Our future goal is for the purchase of a large property in which we as a living history association can play. A place we can call home and host both public and tactical events. A place we can raise funds to help our veterans and support historical museums and parks. None of our members are paid staff - we are all volunteers. We are officially a 501(c)3 organization.
As a reenactor, we have the responsibility to be as authentic in appearance as we can. We also have the responsibility to perform as safely as possible. An injury of any kind can cast a shadow over the living history community. They can prevent organizing, hosting and the sponsoring of historical events.
We take the safety of our organization, our members, volunteers and the general public very seriously. NorthWoods Living History requests we follow the safety rules and regulations currently in place to remain safe.
All living history events have active moving activities. NorthWoods will have safety and authenticity staff that can and will have the ability to remove, eject and escort those who are ruled unsafe. Disregarding the safety regulations, disobeying safety and/or authenticity rules can lead to removal of set events. Serious infractions may lead to permanent actions on the person, or the unit involved.
All attendees on the hosted event property must check in at registration as soon as possible. Filling out the proper paperwork for registration and listed medical or emergency medical information is critical with listed emergency contact information.
At all living history events, there will be safety and authenticity personnel on site. There will be a designated day, date and time for the safety and authenticity inspection.
All firearms, weapons, pyrotechnics, blank ammunition, edged weapons, blank adaptors will be thoroughly inspected. A dirty firearm is an unsafe firearm. No shredding like adaptors are allowed to be actively used on the battlefield, public or tactical field/event. Absolutely no live ammunition is to be allowed on site at any living history event. There will be no sales, purchases, or trading of live ammunition on site.
All pyrotechnics must be approved on site by the safety and authenticity inspectors, during the time designated. No edged weapons will be used and must always be in the proper sheath/case. Any equipment or modified specific type weapon for living history use, must be inspected and approved.
No horizontally fired projectile weapons are to be used. All vertical fired projectiles again must be inspected and approved by the safety and authenticity officers, during designated inspections. No flares, flaming flares or explosive simulators allowed. Your best actions regarding creation of a battlefield atmosphere is to use smoke grenades or firework type smoke only. This type is to be inspected and approved by the safety and authenticity officers on site.
Medical Emergency
In the event of a medical emergency, all activities must be halted/stopped. All participants must cease actions and remain in place. Any licensed medical personnel will render aide to stabilize the medical emergency. These trained members, First Responders and Certified EMTs, will contact 911 emergencies and request medical transport if needed.
Vehicle Safety
All vehicles must have a licensed driver in operation. All off-road driving at events must have a grounds person to guide driver in a safe manner. When vehicle is in motion, no person should be riding outside on top of vehicle, unless a member of its unit and designated part of the vehicle crew. All motor vehicle laws, rules and regulations of the state the vehicle is operating in must be always followed. The state's rules of the road must be followed. This includes not being under any substances while in operation of vehicle. Proof of insurance may be requested at any time, at any event.
The Use of Artillery and Motorized Weapons in Motion, Armor
The blank ammunition, black powder and/or shell used, must be in a closed container 15 feet to the rear of the gun. The gun should not be fired within anyone ahead of the bore closer than 100 feet in a 60-degree arch. The larger the gun, the longer the distance is required. Each weapon must have a full crew when in operation. All eyes for safety when in use is a must. No large artillery or weapons are to be in use in or around structured buildings. Large bore weapons must not be fired at or within areas.
Camp Safety
When you located and set up the campsite, the location, time and participants set up and environment must be well maintained. These sites must be safe and kept clean the entire time of use. The starting and maintaining of a fire, stove encampment and in the process of setting up and dismantling. All activities must be done in a safe manner. All State Department of Recreation must be allowed to the letter. All unit commanders of set unit will take full responsibility of cleanliness, order and safety of unit designated camp site. All fire pits, cook stoves must be a least 20 feet away from any building, structure or tent.
All campfire rules and regulations for specific events may differ. The park or property owner of the event may require specific safety rules and regulations. Such as fire pits, stoves, fire plates or requirements on digging a fire pit. These rules and regulations will be instructed prior to the building or setting up any camp site.
Camp lighting, lanterns, candles, flamed glass lanterns, must be fully enclosed and secured. No open exposed flame or lighting is allowed. No cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco will be thrown on the grounds, dirt, grass, concrete, sidewalks, driveways or gravel roads. The reenactor, living historian are guests and visitors. The best image, safe and clean environment is a must. A fire pit, bucket or designated place for your butts is a must.
No loose blank ammunition, gun powder, pyrotechnic powders, smoke grenades, etc. will be exposed or near flames or high temperature heat. SAFETY FIRST!
Animals
No pets will be allowed at events. If you have a PTS, medical or stress animal, please notify the event organizers to allow and make arrangements for your support animal to have full access. We will be open and accommodating for all cases. Do not bring your house pet(s) to any event, you will be asked to leave the property.
Horses should not be allowed to penetrate opposing forces in public or tactical situations. Close quarters can be allowed if well-rehearsed and practiced among units. Please check in and verify with safety and authenticity officers first. Getting safety approval is a must. Horses must be 50 feet or more away from all larger bore, artillery or armored vehicles, when firing. All horse driven units must have the proper safety and authenticity inspection.
Fixed Structures, Buildings, Tents and Bunkers
When in, at, or around trenches, buildings, structures, tents or bunkers, safety is a must. Do not break, damage or destroy these structures. All firing inside structures is not allowed. Outside movement must be in a safe manner, mussel down and safety on. You must not fire blanks inside, or around corners of any of the above listed. Firing around corners is not allowed. You must be 15 feet distance away for safe fire practice. The deliberate use of unsafe practices will get the person or persons escorted off site.
There will be no throwing of any type in vehicles or in buildings that or not cleared by safety and authenticity officers, prior to battles. You must have a safety inspection and coordinate situational environment.
Behavior and Activities of Participants
There is no use of alcohol during active participation in public or tactical battles or training events. Alcohol and firearms do not mix. You will be escorted out of event property if under the influence while operating a motorized vehicle or any firearm during event battles. We will arrange safe transportation off site if found to be in violation. At no time do we condone the use of any illegal substances of any kind. There is absolutely NO underage use of alcoholic beverages. NorthWoods will not tolerate any bully-like behavior. This includes in person and through social media or via any other electronic platforms. Members caught hazing or bullying will be removed from the organization.
Play Acting
The world's a stage, and we are merely actors playing a part. It's true, the living historian is not just an educator, a teacher or a volunteer. We are live actors, playing a part of a character. Some of those living historians have acted in movies, stage and yes, the theater. We love and enjoy the entertainment value of a good show. But there are rules and regulations when it comes to activities when in a uniform.
The hand-to-hand fighting, participation of cruel treatment of the enemy, assassination, murder, beheading, shooting at the fleeing enemy, etc. during public events or displays. We have a great desire to add the realism to living history, but there are things we will not approve of and that is the cruel acts of war. There will be no shooting of fleeing enemy, no assassinations of any kind.
The hand-to-hand fighting, wrestling, running away, escape, etc., must be organized, practiced, coordinated and approved by safety and authenticity officers at the event. We must have a well-organized, safe and fun environment for all involved. We must communicate our ideas, plans and performances with the safety and authenticity officers.
Creating a Safe Environment for the Living Historian
Having a safe and fun enjoyable time at all events is a must. We can not do this without knowing our own limitations. All of us must know our limitations. How can we expect others to remain safe if we do not hold true to all rules and regulations. This also includes our overall health and well-being. We all want to do our part, participate in everything we can in a safe manner.