Session I : Ship of Fools -- Recap

Session I: Ship of Fools began slowly, with hot weather and new distancing guidelines running a little interference, but we soon recovered our "sea legs" so to speak, and the adventure took off. We promised chickens -- and there were chickens. Living chickens, skeleton chickens, bespelled chickens -- and even a talking egg.

What did we learn about chickens this week? They have a tendency to spill secrets, at the worst possible moments. Zoya the chicken got our team into trouble several times with her habit of oversharing, but her heart was in the right place.

Which was not the case with Koschei the Deathless. His heart was in the wrong place, as usual. He hid his heart on an island in the sea, buried beneath the Tree of Life, in a chest, in a duck, in an egg, in a needle. We weren't sure how exactly his heart fit into a needle, but there it was ... beating at a distance, keeping Koschei alive forever.

This wasn't the first time that we faced Koschei the Deathless. One detective had faced him before, several years earlier, in a case called "The Golden Cage." That group had turned Koschei into a baby, in order to restart the maturing process. They gave the baby into the care of Cernunnos, and thought they were done, but that decision led to another mystery called "Hound and Horn."

That adventure left Koschei as a baby, but facing a spell that turned him into a lime tree. One might assume that would be enough, but as our detectives discovered this time around, Koschei is a wily little fellow, even as a toddler. He managed to convince someone to release him from the tree, and off he went, stealing the Tsar's flying ship and turning it into a black pirate ship.

Fortunately, our team of detectives were on the case! They tracked the Tsar's ship back through the story of "The Fool of the World and the Flying Ship," visiting the Tsar's parents and lost brothers, and then the Baba Yaga. Along the way, they learned that talking eggs say foolish things, but their advice may hide some secret wisdom, leading to unlikely treasures, like clumps of peat, empty boxes, or a stray bone from a spooky bone cow.

I'm happy to report that the Tsar's pirate ship has been returned and restored to its glorious firebird form. The Baba Yaga's wand of rebirth has sent Koschei on to his next life as a blackfooted ferret, and his bone dogs are now happy puppies living with a very cranky man who needs a little joy in his life.

Here is a link to the Dragon's Eye album on Facebook, where you may see the delightful flying ships the children made this week!

Seahorses for "Yemaya's Gardens"

Dragon's Eye Adventures is offering five mysteries for the 2021 summer season. The final three weeks are all full, but there is still space in the first two sessions. With low enrollment and waitlists for the other three sessions, I am expanding that enrollment to include detectives entering grades 7 and 8 as well.

Session I features a story called "Ship of Fools." This mystery draws on folklore from Russia and Ukraine. The story explores what kind of leadership it takes to steer a celestial vessel safely through the skies.

Two delightful chickens will help the detectives search out the malevolent force that has taken over the flying ship once owned by a wise king. Who better to help restore balance than a couple of chickens?

Session II focuses on "Yemaya's Gardens." It explores Afro-Caribbean myths about the Orishas who immigrated to the Caribbean when their followers were brought to the region as enslaved people.

In our story, Yemaya was a goddess of the river who evolved into an Orisha of the entire sea. She has cultivated a home for herself in the Jardines de la Reina, the Gardens of the Queen.

Our mystery calls for a search and rescue of Yemaya's beloved seahorse, so we will be exploring marine life in the Caribbean Sea, and learning how an African river queen finds a new home and life for herself and her beloved people.

Summer 2021, Session I: Ship of Fools

Ship of Fools
RL McNulty 2020
Micron Pen & Colored Pencil

The first session of the Summer 2021 season will feature a mystery called The Ship of Fools. This five-day adventure for detectives entering grades 2 through 6 runs on June 28 through July 2 from 9 AM to 4 PM, with After Hours until 5:30 PM as needed. We will be using Room 122 of the Freeport Middle School, 19 Kendall Lane, Freeport, ME -- as part of the RSU5 Community Programs.

This mystery draws on Russian folktales about the Fool of the World and the Flying Ship. Our detectives must learn what combination of skills, knowledge, wisdom--and folly--it takes to steer a ship through the celestial seas. Good thing chickens are along for the ride! What can go wrong with chickens on board?

Our projects will include celestial navigators in tiny, winged ships.

Summer 2020 Session I: Ship of Fools

The Ship of Fools
RL McNulty 2020
Micron pen, colored pencils
and digital ink

The first session of the Summer 2020 season will feature a mystery called "The Ship of Fools." This four-day adventure for detectives ages 7 to 11 runs on June 29 through July 2 from 9 AM to 4 PM, with After Hours until 5:30 PM as needed. We will be using Room 314 in Searles Science Building on the Bowdoin College campus. Friday, July 3 is the holiday, so the program will not run on that day.

This mystery draws on Russian folktales about the Fool of the World. Detectives must learn what combination of skills, knowledge, wisdom--and folly--it takes to steer a ship through the celestial seas. Good thing chickens are along for the ride! What can go wrong with chickens on board?

Our projects will most likely include celestial navigators in tiny, winged ships.