Wednesday, June 26, 2024

Dunraven Fair Brings Visitors from Away

This week, Adam Shaughnessy and his daughter, May, will be joining us. Adam is an author, educator, and grants writer from Waterford, CT. We worked together at Kids' First in Wellesley, MA, where I introduced him to the joys of adventure play.

Adam moved on to teach in CT elementary schools. During summers, he directed Red Dragon Adventures to showcase the live roleplaying mysteries he was writing. He eventually moved into grants writing for non-profits, as he turned his hand to writing children's books.

One of his mysteries grew into a delightful series called The Unbelievable FIB. I recommend this series to our readers -- and can say that I was there when Mr. Fox began his enigmatic journey. I still have a copy of the mysteries Adam wrote in 1997, and am very proud to have played a role in his creative journey.

The illustration above shows how the FIB (Fantasy Investigation Bureau) first began, as a spoof of the TV series The X Files. Adam drew this in 1997 for our program, as a self-portrait for the Kids' First summer program.  We offered ten adventures that summer!

Adam's website is here for more information!

As a fellow Dragonmage, Adam will be teaming up with me to play various characters in our mystery. His daughter May will be joining our small group of detectives to enter the Dunraven Fair.

My portrait from the 1997 summer of adventures is posted here, too, for your entertainment. This was before Dragon's Eye became Dragon's Eye, which happened around 1998 or 1999. Dragons were still front and center in my concept of adventure play, and this self-portrait shows that the Asian dragons of water and wind have always been foremost in my mind.



"Dunraven Fair" Starts on Monday, July 1


The Summer 2024 season begins on Monday, July 1 with "The Dunraven Fair". This mystery features a visit to a goblin trade fair, where our detectives will exchange wares they make for the magical ones the merchants are selling. 

Our crafts this week include tiny dolls that represent the disguises our team will don as they enter the fair. They may go as goblins, fairies, Tomtes, elves, dwarves, wizards, witches or other magical beings. The trade fair is known for its danger to humans, so we'll be dodging freezing yarnballs and mortal traps as we make our way to the trading grounds.

Our day begins at 9 AM, with pick up at 4:00 PM. After hours run from 4 to 5:15 PM on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. There are no after hours on Fridays.

This is a short week, with a break on Thursday for the July 4 holiday. The main portion of the mystery, including the trading, will finish by Wednesday at 4. Everyone will end the week with one artifact they made and two that they traded. Those who come on Friday will have the opportunity to trade or make one more artifact!

Please visit the "First Day Reminders" tab to review what's needed for each week! The address of the school is listed there, as well as things the children will need each day.