CAPS – Charlotte Area Paranormal Society
GROUP RULES AND INFORMATION
A. General
1. First and foremost, we are a Paranormal Investigation Group
and will conduct ourselves as such.
2. Our number one concern is safety. Our primary goal is to
have fun, enjoy the experience, and seek out and capture evidence of
the paranormal.
3. Do not come to a Group Event or Ghosthunt under the influence
of Alcohol or Drugs. You will be asked to leave.
4. Never conduct an investigation on your own and perpetrate it
as CAPS sanctioned. To do so is cause for immediate expulsion from
the Group. CAPS works closely with historical societies, property
owners, or other local authorities to obtain permission to enter and
investigate all sites.
5. Due to safety reasons, we will never hold an investigation
with less than four members.
6. If we arrive at a site and strangers are present or something
looks amiss, we will cancel or postpone that investigation.
7. No one should ever venture off by themselves. Please remain
with another person at all times.
8. Please listen to all pre-investigation briefings and adhere
to any special guidelines given.
9. Always bring a flashlight.
10. Please be aware of your surroundings at all times. This is
especially true if we are in a graveyard with small footstones that
can trip you. We may be in wooded or overgrown areas with briars and
high weeds, or open fields with uneven terrain. Be careful to watch
your step.
11. Please use caution in, and be respectful of, the area you
will investigate. We must take care in and around historic
buildings, battlefields and cemeteries.
12. Dress appropriately for the investigation. That includes
wearing sturdy shoes.
13. In Winter months, you may want to wear gloves and a hat, and
layer your clothing with thermals and fleece to remain warm. Make
sure your feet stay warm and dry as well.
14. In Summer months, dress lighter, wear a hat and bring bug
spray and plenty of water to drink on those humid nights.
15. Always remember to lock your car and put away your
valuables. Do not leave anything in sight that might entice a thief
to break into your vehicle.
16. We will cancel a scheduled investigation or end a current one
in the event of bad weather.
17. If you have any questions or problems during an
investigation, please inform Tina or one of the Lead Investigators.
18. Please respect nature and wildlife, and give it a wide
berth. We have encountered ants, bats, bees, cows, deer, dogs,
eagles, hawks, horses, owls, palmetto bugs, peacocks, rabbits,
spiders, and ticks, while on investigations. If you have an allergy
to bees and carry an injection pen, please let us know.
19. If you have a medical condition that may cause you some
difficulty while on an investigation, please let us know beforehand
so that we may know how to assist you should the need arise.
20. Please be considerate to the other members of the Group. We
may not all share the same beliefs, views or opinions, but we have
the ability to respect those of others.
21. Please do not litter. This includes cigarette butts as
well. Most of the time, there are trash receptacles nearby. And, we
would be grateful if you saw trash and picked it up to dispose of
properly.
22. CAPS deeply respects and cares about the historic areas we
investigate, and pledges to do our part to keep them safe.
B. Investigations
1. Prior to arriving, you should check the atmospheric
conditions forecasted to occur during the time of your
investigation. This includes weather, moon, sun and space data. You
should make a note of these conditions.
2. When arriving at the site, you should make a note of actual
conditions found, including any observations you make concerning the
location itself, buildings, land, or surroundings.
3. Always take an inventory, check out and test your equipment
to be sure everything has power and is functioning properly. Be sure
you have everything with you that you want to bring along for the
investigation.
4. Remember to bring extra film if you need it, and extra
batteries for your equipment. In areas with high levels of activity,
your batteries can be drained.
5. Begin by gathering your base readings. Document the current
moon phase, weather conditions, temperature, EMF (Electromagnetic
Field) levels, Radiation levels (if you have a Geiger counter), time
and date (remember to document time investigation ends as well).
Also, list those present for the investigation and the equipment they
will be using.
6. We normally break into smaller groups of 2, 3, 4, or 5
depending on the total number of people we have for an
investigation. Everyone will get to experience all locations.
7. We will alternate in and out as small groups when
investigating the areas we have chosen. Please adhere to
instructions given concerning your starting location, timeframe for
investigating there, and rotation into the next area.
8. Absolutely NO SMOKING. Cigarette smoke will immediately
invalidate ALL photography. If you need a smoke break, you will be
required to leave the area of the investigation.
9. Absolutely NO LOUD TALKING. This may invalidate, or in the
worst case, ruin any attempts to capture EVP. Over open areas at
night, you would be amazed at how far sound can travel.
10. When attempting to capture EVP (Electronic Voice Phenomenon),
please try to talk to the entity and ask your questions in a normal
tone as you would when talking one on one in close proximity with a
live person.
11. If you are with a group of people who are trying to capture
EVP, it is best to remain silent and stationery while those attempts
are being made. Even whispering among yourselves can invalidate a
possible EVP. Was that you or an entity? How will you know for
sure? If no one is uttering a word, then maybe you have captured a
real piece of evidence.
12. Try to stand still when attempting EVP work. Breaking
sticks, rustling leaves, and brushing by trees, plants, or bushes can
create false positives or background noise that may interfere with
your ability to hear any possible ghostly answers to your questions.
13. Ask your questions clearly, one at a time, and remember to
pause long enough between questions to give time for any possible
answers you may receive.
14. It is a good idea to denote any sounds you hear while
recording. List the time it happened, how long it lasted, and any
other information you want to document for future reference.
15. Always clean your camera lens before the start of an
investigation. This will eliminate a dirty lens as a false positive
for an anomaly in a picture.
16. Always warn someone if you are preparing to take a flash
picture in their direction. In very dark areas, a flash directly in
someone's eyes can cause them temporary difficulty in seeing.
17. In cold weather, always hold your breath when taking a
photo. This will eliminate the "fog effect" (when you speak or
breathe in cold months and create a mist) from being mistaken as an
anomaly you captured on film.
18. For the same reason as above, you should be sure your hair,
clothing, camera or case straps, hands and fingers are well out of
the way of the lens when you take the shot.
19. Be mindful of where you are shining your flashlight. Avoid
areas where someone is taking pictures so as not to create a false
light effect in their photo.
20. Try to keep streetlights, car lights, or lights from
neighboring houses or buildings out of your pictures. If possible,
try moving left or right, or take the picture at a different angle.
21. Refrain from wearing perfume or cologne. Use unscented bug
spray in the Summer. These substances can interfere with your sense
of smell or that of the others around you. Many times, paranormal
activity comes in the way of smells such as cigarette smoke, flowers,
or other scents with no apparent cause for them.
22. Have a pad and pen or pencil with you to jot down notes as
necessary.
23. Wear a watch or use your cell phone to check the time that an
event was felt, heard or observed, and how long the event lasted.
Write it down or denote it on your recorder.
24. Information, directions, meeting place and time will always
be posted well in advance of the investigation.
25. Sometimes one may start to feel uncomfortable during an
investigation due to possible high levels of paranormal activity or
high EMF readings. Some of our members have reported feelings of
dizziness and/or nausea. If you experience something like this, tell
Tina or a Lead Investigator immediately. You will be escorted back
to the vehicles and can wait there until you feel better.
26. Suggested items to bring if you have them: flashlight,
camera – digital and/or 35mm, analog or digital voice recorder, video
or DVD recorder, pen and paper pad, watch, compass, Walkie-Talkies,
temperature guns, EMF Meters, Geiger Counter, or any
other "ghosthunting" equipment you may have.
27. If you have responded with an RSVP that you are coming to an
investigation, and your plans change, please let us know. Also, if
you are running late, please let us know that as well. Normally, we
will wait only 30 minutes after the stated meeting time before
starting the investigation. My cell number is 704/236-9678 and I
will have it on prior to and during the investigation.

Rev. 29 June, 2008
CAPS Charlotte Area Paranormal Society

Disclaimer: Ghost Hunting or participation in a Group Event is at
your own risk. CAPS and/or its Founder is in no way responsible or
liable for any accident, incident, injury, or damages that may occur.
 

Click HERE to return to the homepage