Living History Operations Procedures (SOP's)

Purpose: To establish standard operating procedures (SOP) for the Monterey Pass Battlefield Park Living History Volunteer Program; to more effectively protect park resources, provide for increased visitor and volunteer safety, and meet the informational and interpretive goals of the park.

Scope: This SOP applies to all park living history volunteers participating in the Monterey Pass Battlefield Park Volunteer Program.

General Procedures: 
-Most importantly, volunteers hold a high degree of public trust. While on duty, volunteers represent Washington Township and Monterey Pass Battlefield Park. Volunteers must treat every visitor who enters the Battlefield with dignity, respect, and kindness.

-Volunteers must provide the highest quality resource and theme related interpretation. As representatives of the park, volunteers on duty or in uniform must remain professional and may NOT voice their own opinions in public. This includes refraining from discussing their views of politics, religion, race, or anything else that may be considered inflammatory. If approached by the public or the press about something of a potentially sensitive nature, please
refer them to the museum director. This includes but is not limited to discussions of first amendment issues and special use permits, park security, ongoing investigations etc.

-All volunteers and volunteer groups are required to complete a Volunteer form. Volunteers under 18 years of age must have a Parental Approval Form completed and signed by their parent or legal guardian.

-Volunteers will provide emergency medical services to sick and injured park visitors and employees within the parameters of his/her skill level. This may mean only summoning more advanced medical personnel/EMT for an ambulance.  

-Volunteers WILL NOT perform any law enforcement type activities or confront/approach suspects or violators. If a park visitor is observed violating any law or regulation please contact the police.  

-The volunteer coordinator will evaluate the volunteer's or group's performance after their first living history event. Subsequent evaluations will occur annually. The most important factors in evaluating a volunteer's performance are polite and pleasant interactions with the public, safety,cooperativeness in abiding by Washington Township and Monterey Pass Battlefield Park black powder/historic weapons safety regulations, and the accuracy of information provided to the public. Remember it is OK to say, "I don't know, but I can find out the answer to your question or find someone who can."

-Hearing protection is MANDATORY for all living historians who are participating in firing demonstrations (artillery). The park will supply all group members with foam earplugs. If individuals wish to look more authentic, they should consider purchasing clear silicon earplugs before their event.  You will not be able to participate in any firing demos without earplugs! 

General guidelines for groups who will be camping on the battlefield:

• Please stay in the general area of your camp after hours. Groups camping on the battlefield may not have any visitors or guests after the park closes.  Only volunteers whose names are on the volunteer sign-in sheet should be in the park after hours.
• Please leave your camping area in the same or better condition man you found it.
• Pick up your trash, no digging of fire pits, extinguished your fires, etc.
• Please let the volunteer coordinator know immediately of any accidents, injuries, or problems you encounter.
• Volunteers are often the eyes and ears of the park. In this time of heightened security, please report any illegal or suspicious activities to the rangers.

Volunteers, thank you for your hard work and dedication. Living historians like you are the educators and stewards of the battlefield. You serve an important role: To help the park visitors tie your particular unit and the individual stories of the men who served to the battlefield itself.

 

This section is designed to answer some of your most common questions about what to expect from the Historic Weapons Guidelines. Everyone's safety is our most important goal. You can help by following these regulations. Our goal is not to "fail" someone who for instance has a dirty weapon or cracked stock, but to work with you to make sure everyone has a safe and rewarding time. Please feel free to ask questions and provide feedback to the ranger staff. This is a brief overview of the most important regulations regarding the use of black powder weapons at Monterey Pass Battlefield Park. It is not a substitute for the complete historic weapons regulations. These regulations should be read and understood in their entirety by all living historians participating in events at Monterey Pass Battlefield Park.

The following conditions are mandatory for living historians who will be firing weapons at Monterey Pass Battlefield Park. Failure to comply with any of these guidelines will disqualify an individual from firing a weapon at

Monterey Pass Battlefield Park.

 • All living historians must be able to perform the load in nine times drill (or load in 10 times if using Gilham's) as per Washington Township guidelines. This means the drill can be performed flawlessly twice in a row.

•All living historians must know the misfire drill as per Washington Township and Monterey Pass Battlefield Park guidelines.

•Volunteers who will be firing the shorter muskets (for example one with two bands) should be in the front  row when firing in a two line formation.

•Living historians must be at least 18 years old to fire weapons.

•All ammunition brought into the park will be stored by the park. Ammunition must be in the form of cartridges. No loose powder.

•All weapons must be reproductions only. Original weapons may not be fired.

A weapon will be disqualified if any of the following conditions are present:

•     Dirty weapon.

•     Cracked stock.

•     Bulged or cracked barrel.

•     Corroded cone.

•     The half-cock position is unsafe. If a trigger set on half-cock cannot support the weight of the weapon, it is unsafe.

•     The trigger pull on full-cock is excessively light.

Cartridge box:  Must have tins.  Will be disqualified if the seams are badly sewn. 

Cap Boxes:  Must be able to be fastened closed and have fleece to keep caps in place.  Caps must be of the four pronged type only.  Vent picks must be present in cap boxes.

          

Cartridges:  Must be made according to Washington Township guidelines (see handout).  Blanks only. No projectiles.  Powder load is limited to 60 grains of ffg black powder (Goex only).  There should be no wadding of any type in the cartridges such as paper or cotton.

-Living historians must retain physical control of their weapons (including firearms and edged weapons) at all times

-Weapons are not to be left unattended.

-Visitors are not permitted to handle firearms or edged weapons.

-Knives must remain sheathed at all times. Bayonets may be fixed during drills (drill must be in place, no running, walking, or charging with bayonets fixed), provided there is a safety line separating the visitors from the living history volunteers. But, bayonets may NOT be fixed during the loading drill and/or, actual loading procedure. Arms may be stacked if there is a responsible person watching them at all times.

-No weapons in the Visitor Center.

-Hearing protection is MANDATORY for all living historians who are participating in firing demonstrations (artillery and small arms). The park will supply all group members with foam earplugs. If individuals wish to look more authentic, they should consider purchasing clear silicon earplugs before their event.  You will not be able to participate in any firing demos without earplugs!

For living historians who are not firing:

• Weapons must be unloaded.
• No ammunition or loose powder is allowed.
• No percussion caps are allowed.
•  Living historian must be at least 16 years old in order to have a weapon in their possession.

This handout is designed to answer some of your most common questions about what to expect from the Historic Weapons Guidelines. Everyone's safety is our most important goal. You can help by following these regulations: 

• Living historians must retain physical control of their weapons (including firearms and edged weapons) at    all times
• Weapons are not to be left unattended.
• Visitors are not permitted to handle firearms or edged weapons.
• Knives and bayonets must remain sheathed at all times.
• No weapons in the Visitor Center. 
• Weapons must be unloaded.
• No ammunition or loose powder is allowed.
• No percussion caps are allowed.
• Living historian must be at least 18 years old in order to have a weapon in their possession.

Interpretive Program Critique (Groups/Individuals will be graded upon this outline)

Group:	Date:
Observer:
Program:

	Excellent	Good	Needs Work
I.  INTERPRETIVE PROGRAMS
A. Introduced self, group, and MPB.
B.  Program started on time. Program was appropriate length and ended on time.
C  A central theme was evident, supported and carried throughout program.  Program was organized with an introduction, transitions, and a clear conclusion.
D.  Subject matter and content related directly to the Resource and promoted sense of stewardship.
E. Mechanics (Enthusiasm, eye contact, volume, tone, etc.)
F. Historical Accuracy
G.   Interpreters were available to respond to questions and comments.
II. INFORMAL INTERPRETATION
A.  Members of group were professional and courteous to visitors.
B.   Interpreters were available to respond to questions and comments during formal programs and in camp during informal visitor contacts.
C. Historical Accuracy
III. Safety and Logistics
A. Group was familiar with and implemented Black Powder Safety Regulations.
B.  Group was well organized, well prepared, and professional.
C.  Members/Leaders of group were cooperative during weapons inspections and when following instructions from the historic weapons supervisor.
D.  Group followed park rules and left their camp as they found it or in better condition than they found it.