Pepper's Ghost Recap

Drawing of the Ghost Box
D. Jacobson

Our Experts of Enigma tackled a new mystery called "Pepper's Ghost" this past week. A visit to Pollock's Toy Museum in London led to a toy box that held a ghost prisoner. The detectives learned what they could about the box from Eddie Fawdry, the museum's proprietor, and then set off to the 1870's in London to find Benjamin Pollock, the original owner of Pollock's Toy Museum.

Benjamin told them what he knew about the man who sold him the box, the mysterious "J.D." A flyer the man had dropped led to the Egyptian Theatre and a ghost conjurer named Alissandro the Great. I can't divulge more details without jeopardizing secrets for a future group of detectives who may undertake this mystery, but I can tell you that the group followed the hissing lamp posts into the shadow realms.

Chaos was strong in this group of detectives, with delightful results that took us off the page in some crazy directions. The group summoned a tracker spell that was all purr and grin. They met a tiny, orange spider with an elegant web on the polar bear statue. Two Isaacs faced off with one another, followed by a showdown with Isaac's own shadow phoenix times two. Befriending a squirrel resulted in a secret tunnel into the shadow realms, and Wes gave a mole a magic ring that turned all of the moles into gargomoles.

Yarnball Game
M. Jacobson

Very special thanks go to Max Middleton, who tried his hand at writing a day's worth of adventures with wonderful results! The character of J.D. really took on new layers, thanks to Max--and we just may see him in another adventure.

Visit the Dragon's Eye Facebook page to see several albums about the adventure, including the Pepper's Ghost photos the children created and photos of the adventure.

Black Skystone of Doom - Recap

The Riddle Ravelers test their plant disguises

A meteor was fast approaching earth and the Dragon's Eye Detectives were on the move--first to the Flight of Mind Travel Agency to find Timedigger and his Tin Lizzy time machine, and then to the Atrocious Period, that little-known end of the Cretaceous Period when the dinosaurs had one last chance to save their world from the Black Skystone of Doom.

We spent the week befriending herbivores and dodging carnivores. The best advice learned along the way: Friends don't eat friends. The most hilarious game of the week? Activating our plant disguises as we ran from tree to tree across the campus quad.

Very special thanks go to Ken Walden, Lou Ensel and Max Middleton for their guest appearances as roaming spinosaurs, searching for something to eat. All they found were strange little plants cropping up across the jungle floor. Where did those Fuzztops go?

Another special thank you goes to Isaac Ensel and Drew Walden, two Mavens of Mystery who played baby quetzalcoatli (giant prehistoric pterosaurs) who turned out to be rescuers--older detectives sent to assist our Riddle Ravelers with their mission.

Humongasaura Regina in shadow puppet replay by J. Jackman

Our Dragon's Eye Adventures Facebook page has some hilarious photos of the plant disguises in the making and then in use as Isaac and Drew led the detectives from tree to tree, avoiding the spinosaurs. They left the spinosaurs so hungry, they seriously considered a vegetarian lifestyle.

The final showdown with Humongasaura Regina (Huge Lizard Queen) was yet another hilarious game of flying yarnballs and a pink purse. Max was a riot as the queen, Rebecca demonstrated her strange ninja skills at interceptions, and the children--well, they won the day! Magic ring captured, escape to 21st century achieved and Black Skystone turned aside -- all in a week's work.

Thank you, Riddle Ravelers! Your courage and determination were second only to your impressive imaginations!

Summer 2015 Update

There are still spaces in the upcoming Dragon's Eye Adventures programs:

Session IA July 13-17 Black Skystone of Doom (Ages 6-9)

Session II July 20-27 Pepper's Ghost (Ages 9-12)

Session III July 27-31 Wind Horse (Ages 9-12)

Session IV Aug 3-7 Jewel of the Dragon's Eye (Ages 11-16)

Read about our new intern, Max Middleton, here.

Session I: Winterlands Recap

Our first summer session of Dragon's Eye featured a delightful group of Detectives who faced many fearsome challenges with great honor. Our mystery took us through the campus, following the paw prints of a dream bear. We traveled from one campus bear to the next, dodging mist monsters all the way.

The journey led to the Arctic Museum, where we had a wonderful morning tracing the meaning of photographs our little dream bear sent our way. The group learned about Donald MacMillan and his journey to the Crocker Lands off the shore of northern Greenland. The Crocker Lands turned out to be a mirage, an illusion the Inuit refer to as poojok, or mist, but our Detectives had their Dragon's Eyes open, so they learned a few secrets that the great arctic explorer missed!

I won't give away too many secrets here, since I may run this program again in the future. Let's just say that our clever sleuths managed to find the moon-lit road into the Crocker Lands. They discovered who was keeping our dream bear prisoner and why -- and found a clever way to rescue their little friend.

Max Middleton, our intern, introduced his character Nyxos, a dragonmage who specializes in dream magic. Future detectives will learn more about Nyxos as the summer continues!

Thank you to the Detectives for a wonderful week! This group had everything they needed to form a top-notch team of Detectives: They were brave even though they were a little scared of those mist monsters. They were amazingly kind to one another and to the animals they met along the way. (While working on our bumblebees, we even saved a real bumblebee from being trapped inside Sill Hall.) They were wise in choosing the right moment to use their special magic (so wise that the cheetah and stone amulets are still waiting for the right moment). They were deeply respectful to one another and to the Sea Mother and the King of the North. All of this adds up to a group of great honor!

And their imaginations? They blew me away ... along with the Crocker Lands.

Visit our Facebook page to view some images of the beautiful sculptures, oil pastels and the adventure play from this week.

Welcome, Max Middleton, Dragon's Eye Part-Time Intern

Max Middleton in Winterlands, Session I

Dragon's Eye has had a change in personnel since the newsletter was published. Robert Choi was unable to join us this summer, but his good friend Max Middleton has stepped up to help out part-time! Max is working two jobs on campus, splitting his time between the music library and Dragon's Eye. I can't say thank you enough!

It's wonderful to have someone who has read Homer in the original Greek join the team. He comes with his own foundation of fantasy and myth -- and then adds to that a really solid instinct in working with young people. When Max stepped through the door just at the moment the children had seen a magical baby bear at that same door, the children's eyes were huge -- and Max quickly became a beloved addition to the team!

Here is Max's letter of introduction:

Hello Parents of Dragon’s Eye Adventurers,

My name is Max Middleton. I will be Rebecca’s part time helper. I am a member of the Bowdoin class of 2016, studying Classics and Music. I am a huge theater fan/fanatic, and I have performed in productions of plays and musicals at Bowdoin and around the state from a young age. I went to High School at Hebron Academy, where I was a member of the residential life team and class president. For the past few summers, I have worked with the various camps that use Hebron Academy’s campus while school is not in session. I am incredibly excited to participate in Dragon’s Eye Adventures!

Sincerely,

Max Middleton

Summer 2015 Begins with an Arctic Expedition

Session I: The Winterlands starts Monday, July 6 at 9 AM in Sills Hall, Room 209. I am excited to welcome our Riddle Ravelers to this new mystery, which features an old campus friend.

Newsletters went out a week and a half ago, so families should have them by now. If yours didn't arrive, let me know. There's a copy of the newsletter on the Current Program page.

One big change from the newsletter is that Robert Choi will not be able to join us this summer. Instead, Max Middleton will be helping out part-time during each day. Like Bobby, Max is an avid D&D player, a singer and a student at Bowdoin College. The bio will be up in the next few days, and as the summer progresses, Max will introduce a new character to the Dragon's Eye pantheon.

There is still room in three of the upcoming adventures. Check the Current Programs page for details.

Summer 2015 Update

2012 Maine Founders anticipating the roll of the 100s die.
There is no roll with a Maine Founders Amulet.

We have five Maine Founders joining the "Jewel of the Dragon's Eye" crew this summer. What does that mean? The Maine Founders are those detectives who joined Dragon's Eye during its first season in Maine. Each of them has a Founders Amulet, which brings one powerful spell that costs no jewels and is guaranteed to work.

I guess the other side will have to step up their game.

Here's an update on enrollment:
Session I July 6 - 10  Winterlands (Ages 6-9) -- FULL
Session IA July 13 - 17  Black Skystone of Doom (Ages 6 - 9) -- OPEN
Session II July 20 - 27  Pepper's Ghost (Ages 9 -12) -- OPEN
Session III July 27 - 31  Wind Horse (Ages 9 - 12) -- OPEN
Session IV Aug 3 - 7  Jewel of the Dragon's Eye (Ages 11 - 16) -- FULL

Summer 2015 Update

A Visiting Ravenmage

There is still room in four of the five sessions being held this summer on the Bowdoin campus.

Session IA (July 13-17) is "Black Skystone of Doom" -- a mystery for ages 6 to 9 (entering 1st grade to 4th grade). A visit to the dinosaur stomping grounds has its challenges, as the Detectives race against time to save the world from impending doom.

Session II (July 20-24) is "Pepper's Ghost" for ages 9 to 12. We'll be making ghosts appear and disappear all week as the Detectives sort the illusions from the reality.

Session III (July 27-31) is "The Wind Horse" for ages 9 to 12. The elusive horses of the indigo fields lead the Detectives into the shamanic lands of Mongolian myth.

Session IV (Aug 3-7) is "Jewel of the Dragon's Eye" for ages 11 to 16. A thief sneaks into Mt. Draig to steal the jewel of the dragon's eye, the source of the magic used in our stories. Will the Detectives return the jewel to the dragons or will the Starbowl's powers fizzle?

New Teen Adventure Program: Jewel of the Dragon's Eye

The Jewel of the Dragon's Eye

This summer will feature the first teen adventure, an advanced mystery called Jewel of the Dragon's Eye. This jewel is the source of the magic river that flows to the Starbowl, allowing all magic to occur. When the jewel is stolen, the Detectives travel to Mt. Draig to uncover the identity of the thief.

A little high-level tracking and trailing through the dragon realms of ancient Wales is in order--an absolute must for advanced-level Detectives. Walkie-talkies will allow the group to split into two units, and a campus-wide search will be conducted, using only a photo of the stranger.

Can the Detectives rise to the challenges of tougher codes, team-tracking and a truly devious adversary? Madame Drak says, "Beware the lairs of dragons when the battle begins again. Treachery is afoot, and the wise ones seek counsel from the head upon a hill."

Our art projects this week will include illuminated Books of Secrets and Dragon Warding Stones. Both projects will be of use during the adventure and may return for future advanced-level mysteries.

Black Skystone of Doom -- Second Week for Ages 6 - 9

The Riddle Ravelers face Freezing Ice Spells,
otherwise known as incoming yarnballs

Dragon's Eye Adventures is adding one more week to the Summer 2015 programs. This is an additional adventures for ages 6 to 9. Here is a brief summary of the week:

Session IA:  July 13 – 17 Black Skystone of Doom

A paleontologist leads the Detectives on a romp through the prehistoric swamps of the Atrocious Period. This little-known time of the dinosaurs holds a secret that may save the world from a meteor headed its way, if the Detectives can avoid the minions of Humongasaura Regina, the self-proclaimed Queen of the Dinosaurs.

Summer 2015 Programs

The Summer 2015 programs and registration forms are posted on the Current Programs tab.

Maybe it's the long winter that has inspired our first adventure of the summer. The youngest detectives (ages 6 -9) and I will be venturing into the Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum for a mystery combining arctic myth and local history.

The second and third sessions are for ages 9 - 12. The first of the two adventures delves into the strange history of a stage illusion known as Pepper's Ghost. I have, naturally, made it even stranger, once again combining truth and fiction into an engaging story.

The second of the two adventures for ages 9 - 12 is the third brand-new adventure of the summer. This one takes the Detectives back to the time of the Mongolian empire, for a wonderful romp with wild horses.

The fourth session of the summer features something new for Dragon's Eye Adventures: An advanced mystery for the experienced adventurer, ages 11 to 16. New detectives may come up to speed through an 8 AM meeting with Rebecca on the first day. Our theme dives into the dragon myths behind the Dragon's Eye Detectives Agency, with a visit to Mt. Draig.