The answer to this question depends a lot on who you ask. In our Pennsic neighborhood (affectionately called the Bog) we are half-jokingly referred to as the "Bog Snobs". This reputation comes from our tendency to be exclusive, both within our own Clan and with the others that we associate with. We don't, as a rule, hold open "beer bash" parties at War. We don't wander about showing off our talents for prestige or payment. We generally like to hang around in our own camp, with our own people, enjoying each other and the friends whom we invite through our gate. Although this may seem somewhat exclusive or "snobbish", it really isn't. As a group, everyone in the Clan provides a lot of time, energy and self sacrifice in order that we can escape from the pressures and distractions of our day-to-day lives. First and foremost, we are a family. We have all chosen to take our vacations and literally spend them working, not just for ourselves, but for each other. The result of this labor is an encampment which we are proud of, an encampment which reflects both the skills and the personalities of the individualities who created it. We are proud of our camp, and justifiably so, for it reflects not just man hours and materials, but most importantly the commitment which this group shows to each other. It's very easy in this day and age to lose track of the people you care about by getting immersed in your own life. Friends you made long ago tend to go by the wayside in favor of careers, spouses, children and outside pressures. What we try to do is set aside a couple of weeks every year to rediscover those old friendships, to rekindle the love and interest in one another that made us all friends to begin with. Richard Bach wrote, "The bonds which link one's true family are not those of blood, but of respect and joy in each other's lives. Rarely do members of one family grow up under the same roof". Like any family, the Clan is not perfect. There are disagreements and arguments, and members acting with the best of intentions can still end up offending others. This is the nature of human beings, and WulfDen represents a pretty broad cross section of them. We consist of computer programmers, musicians, auto mechanics, dancers, retail managers, waitresses, housewives and many others. How, you might ask, can a group with skills and interests this diverse possibly work together, let alone find any common ground? Simple. We LIKE each other. Not for what we do, or where we live, or how much we make, or where we grew up but for WHO WE EACH ARE. We recognize the qualities in each other that make that individual a good person, and try to learn from and imitate those qualities in turn to perhaps make our own selves better. This above all is why it works. This above all is why we do this. This above all is what WulfDen is, and what it means to be Clan.
-Faelchon Dunkirk, Clan Chieftain
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WulfDen first came into being at Pennsic XIX, August of 1990. The original members were mostly a group of friends from Bowling Green State University, many of whom had never before attended the Pennsic Wars. The first banner was hastily constructed from some fabric bought at the merchant area, and what are now hand painted sheet walls were merely some sticks, tiki torches and string. The very first camping location was down in the area of the "old" classic swimming hole, which is now closed to camping. |
| Pennsic XX, August 1991, was the year of the displaced clan. Due to work and school schedules, no one from the group was able to attend land grab, and we basically stuffed the entire group into single camper space at the corner of what is now known as the Great Eastern highway and Abandon Hope. The banner from the first year made it's re-appearance, and the walls evolved into woven string walls. Movin' on up....! | .jpg) |
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The third year found WulfDen back in the area of the "old" classic swimming hole. Although nice because of tree cover, it had the decided drawbacks of getting pitch dark in the early evening, a constant stream of "water buffalos" to and from the swimming hole, and a "too close for comfort" proximity to the river. This did not bode well for Clan drunks stumbling around in the dark behind camp. Just ask Otto! This was the first appearance of actual sheet walls for WulfDen. Attractive, and functional! |
| Pennsic XXII saw WulfDen return to what is now its traditional encampment, the corner of Great Eastern Causeway and Abandon Hope. However, this time we arrived with a much larger, fancier and more permanent encampment. Camping in the area at Pennsic XX had given a number of the members ideas on how the corner could be adapted to a permanent "home" for the clan. The problem of access to the site due to the surrounding drainage ditch (now known as the Moat) was solved with the creation of a semi-permanent wooden bridge. Little did we know the temptations that bridge would cause... | .jpg) |
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WulfDen today still remains at the crossroads of the bog. The encampment continues to evolve in small ways year after year- the gate now has doors, collapsible wooden benches were built to replace the traditional hay bales, and this past year we discovered hot showers with water pressure! So, the next time you're at War, if you happen to be wandering through the Bog some evening and you come across WulfDen, stop a moment. If you like what you see, remember that it's a product of many different individuals working together towards a common goal. And if the lights are on, and the gates are open and the drums are pounding, wander across the bridge and introduce yourself. Who knows, the bog snobs may even invite you in. :-) |