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!

Signs of Summer

Yarnballs in the washing machine, stacks of sewing kits on the table, and a pile of yellow pages full of notes -- these are all signs of a summer program approaching fast. 

"Dust off the hula hoops and wake up the dragons," says mama Tomte, "The detectives will be coming soon!"

Madame Drak opens one sleepy dragon's eye and looks at the tiny house gnome. "Are you sure this isn't another drill?"

"You're the prognosticator! You tell me!" replies mama Tomte.

Madame Drak looks deep into her crystal ball, searching for signs of the dreaming. "Oh yes, I see a stirring among the Nine Dreamers. They are coming, the two-legged, furry-headed detectives ... well, we'll see what trouble we can find for them! I'm sure something must need fixing in the Dreamtime."

Madame Drak's crystal ball glows with a flurry of images that come and go. A black ship flying in the sky, a beautiful mermaid swimming among the coral reefs, a field of orange red poppies deep inside a cave, a giant boar standing at the far end of a dark tunnel, and a white dragon fighting against a strong current.

"Mmmmmm, yes ... trouble indeed," mutters Madame Drak. "I hope they bring their bejeebers."

Summer 2021 Update

Friend or Foe?
Find out in Session I: The Ship of Fools

Dragon's Eye Adventures still has spaces available for Sessions I and II in the 2021 Summer program. Both sessions are open for children entering grades 2 through 8. The program runs from 9 AM to 4 PM at the Freeport Middle School in Freeport, ME, with after hours available until 5:30 PM.

Session I features a mystery called "The Ship of Fools." The story plays with Russian folktales and a little Dragon's Eye history. Our team of detectives will be joined by two world-renowned detectives as they traverse the Russian landscape in search of a ship gone rogue. Can the detectives save the Thrice-Nine Lands from the pirate who has taken over the king's flying ship?

Session II involves a mystery called "Yemaya's Gardens." It draws on Afro-Caribbean myths about the Orisha Yemaya, goddess of the sea and mother of fishes. Yemaya has taken up residence in the Gardens of the Queen, an undersea coral reef preserve off the coast of Cuba. She needs help finding the little seahorse who followed her from the African shores to Cuba. Can the detectives find the missing dobbin of the sea before the sharks and alligators do?

For more information about the adventures, visit the Current Programs tab of the Dragon's Eye website. Details about fees and dates are there, and the title of each mystery is a link to more information about the stories. For questions, contact Rebecca McNulty at dragonseyeadventures@gmail.com.

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 2021, Session II: Yemaya's Gardens

Yemaya's Dobbin
RL McNulty, 2020
Micron Pen &
Colored Pencil

Session II will offer a brand new adventure called Yemaya's Gardens. The program runs from 9 AM to 4 PM, with After Hours until 5:30 PM, on July 6 - 9. This is a four day program, running from Tuesday through Friday. Detectives entering 2nd through 6th grades are welcome. We will hold this in Room 122 of the Freeport Middle School, 19 Kendall Lane, Freeport, ME, as part of the RSU5 Community Programs.

This adventure draws on the Santeria tradition of Orisha, drawing upon a mix of Yoruba and Caribbean myths about the sea goddess known as Yemaya. We will also learn about the living creatures of the sea, and discuss the environmental threats facing our coral reefs.

Here is the description for Yeamaya's Gardens:

The detectives are called to the Caribbean to investigate troubles in the watery realms of Yemaya, the Orisha of the sea. The seahorses are vanishing, including Yemaya’s beloved dobbin, her hardworking farm horse of the sea. Can the team find the dobbin in time to save the sea queen’s gardens?

We will be crafting sea creatures and coral reef gardens.

Summer 2021, Session III: Mask of Dreams

Mask of Dreams
RL McNulty 2020
Micron Pen & Colored Pencil

Mask of Dreams is one of the tried-and-true classic adventures for Dragon's Eye Adventures, first written in 1996. This summer, it will be the feature story for Session III, July 12 - 16. Detectives entering grades 4 through 9 are invited to tackle this mystery. The program runs from 9 AM to 4 PM, with After Hours until 5:30 as needed. We will be in Room 122 of the Freeport Middle School, 19 Kendall Lane, Freeport, ME, as part of the RSU5 Community Programs.

This mystery draws on Greek myths about dreams. Here is the description:

A mysterious mask leads the Detectives to ancient Greece to seek counsel from the Oracle at Delphi. It’s a race against time, as the Detectives enter the Underworld in search of two dream jewels. Will Morpheus the god of dreams help, or will the world plunge into a chaos of nightmares come true?

Our projects include a double-sided mask of dreams and nightmares.

Summer 2021, Session IV: The Market at Wits' End

Market at Wits' End
RL McNulty, 2020
Micron Pen & Colored Pencil

The fourth session of the 2021 summer is a five-day mystery for grades 4 thru 9 called The Market at Wits' End. The program will run on July 19 - 23, from 9 AM to 4 PM, with After Hours until 5:30 as needed. We will be in Room 122 at the Freeport Middle School, 19 Kendall Lane, Freeport, ME, as part of the RSU5 Community Programs.

I planned this story before the pandemic, and it seems strangely appropriate after a year of Covid-19. We will delve into some of the Victorian era history about underground London, touching on the pandemics that occurred in the 1850s and 1870s. The legend  about black boars in the sewers took hold during this fearful time, as did the tradition of wearing gloves in public.

Detectives who solved the mystery "Goat and Ger" will recognize this story as a follow-up for that adventure. Sleuths with keen eyesight may also spot some clues about one of our favorite villains, returning with a little pocket change. "Would you like a penny?"

Here is the description for our adventure:

A timid wild goat asks the detectives for help finding a legendary trade fair known as the Market at Wits' End. A visit to a hidden library reveals that the path leads through the sewers of London. Those passageways are guarded by a host of wild black boars. Pack your hazmat suits! We're headed to realms where the muck is piled high!

Our projects include Book Nooks and Wits’ End Treasures for trade at the market.

Summer 2021, Session V: The Book of Dragons

The Book of Dragons
RL McNulty, 2016
Micron pen & Colored Pencil

Session V of the Summer 2021 season features a story called The Book of Dragons. This mystery is for all ages, entering grades 2 through 9. It will be held in Room 122 at Freeport Middle School, 19 Kendall Lane, in Freeport, ME, as part of the RSU5 Community Programs. The program operates from 9 AM to 4 PM, with after hours until 5:30 PM available as needed.

The Book of Dragons was inspired by Chen Rong's Nine Dragon Scroll. The history behind this scroll is quite fascinating, and the scroll itself is among my favorite works of art. It can be viewed at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. A virtual version of the scroll can be viewed here.

I have blended the history of the scroll with the Dragon's Eye mythology we have been building for many years. So this mystery brings together a little history, Chinese mythology about dragons, and Dragon's Eye concepts about dragonmages. Here is the description of this adventure:

An old scroll from China holds clues to the location of a manuscript known as The Book of Dragons. This legendary book records the names and skills of the most ancient dragonmages. Can the Detectives find the book before it falls into the wrong hands?

Our activities this week include pen, ink and watercolor Dragon Scrolls, and beautiful dragon jewels.

Summer 2021 Hopes

Dragon's Eye Adventures will offer five adventures this summer.

Details about each week will be coming, along with the Summer 2021 newsletter. Registration by email is now open, with paperwork coming within the next few days!

Dragon's Eye is moving to Freeport, to join the wonderful slate of summer offerings by RSU5 Community Programs. We will be holding our adventures at the Freeport Middle School.

The space there is wonderful -- we have a quiet wing to ourselves, with access to trails, the fields, and a sweet little pond. The hallways are perfect for our sneaking games, and we have enough space to spread out during these challenging times!

Masks and social distancing will be required, along with temperature checks. I will be sending more information about this as we get closer to the summer, since the CDC guidelines are changing.

Our games will adapt to the guidelines, too. I have never been more grateful for the ability to adapt to creative challenges! Some of our favorite games with yarnballs will have to shift, but our basic sneak should be intact. Those floating eyeballs zap from a distance already!

Details about the weeks are on the Current Programs tab. Our prices have had to increase, thanks to the extra expenses that social distancing and a new location bring. Some scholarships are available to assist with the fees.

The Hero's Call

  

Thinking of the heroes of the Dragon's Eye on this important day. We tell stories full of strange and unexpected challenges, ominous threats, and the small heroic actions of ordinary people, because of days like this. May our courage, compassion, and wisdom carry us as we right this ship.

Summer 2020 Cancellation

After careful study of the CDC and state guidelines for operating summer programs during the pandemic, I have decided that it is not safe to run the Dragon's Eye programs this year.

I will be creating some fun project tutorials for detectives, so be sure to follow Dragon's Eye Adventures on Facebook.

I wish the Dragon's Eye families good health and safety this year -- and hope that we will return next year for more adventuring!

---Rebecca McNulty