We're Back, Rosedale!

Mobile Escape Artist-in-Residence: Rosedale 2022

“We’re back” has a double meaning!

We’re back, as in, Mobile Escape is back doing residencies once again in and around the Calgary area! Yahoo!

But we’re back also means, we’re back to Rosedale! Almost 4 years ago we helped students create an Art Museum and a DMC DeLorean from Back to the Future at this very school. Many students this time around remembered that prior experience - either their siblings had built it, or they had themselves, or they had walked the halls and saw the magic taking place in the Library.

Well there was more magic this year as one class of Grade 9s endeavoured to build a Space Bunker.

On Day 1, no one knew what we were going to build. We didn’t know the theme or anything! Its very rare that we go into a residency so wide open, but I (Eric) love the ambiguity and spontaneous creation :)

Day 1 was our intro and blueprinting day.

For the Intro portion, students solved 4 of our escape rooms - a fantastic introduction to the genre! It was clear from the solving of all 4 of our experiences that this was a sharp group. Their communication was high, problem solving happening rapidly, and great reflective learning taking place.

Phase two on Day 1 included blueprinting our own escape room plans. And when 3/4 groups chose a bunker as a theme, it became clear what direction we were heading. The 4th group chose a spaceship and the fate of our theme was sealed: Space Bunker.

Days 2, 3 and 4 included a flurry of building, sketching, painting, planning, taping, and arranging. But what I noticed about this group in particular was how thorough and careful they were. They planned many aspects long before setting about to complete them.

As time went on it became clear that we were going to have an amazing Space Bunker with the focal point being the Z5 Space Ship. It was wired with magnetic keys that activated both a speaker (with start up sound effects) and lights (for key entry and blastoff).

An original room soundtrack capped off an amazing room that the Grade 9s were proud to showcase to the rest of the school on Day 5. We even had some teachers get in there and try their hand at escaping!

One more story before we’re done.

This one comes from showcase day and does not involve a grade 9. It was a grade 6 student, in fact, who stands out in my memory. I think we could all learn from her. I only saw her for 15 minutes but she left an impression on me. How so?

As the grade 9s were explaining the premise and rules to the group of younger students before them, they made a comment to the effect of, “The room is hard because you are young.”

A girl at the front of the group speaks up, and standing tall with sparkling eyes says confidently, “Yes, but I’m smart.”

If only we all had the confidence!

We energy propelled the team to solve the first and hardest puzzle in the Grade 9 escape room. She did it more or less single handedly. And while there were other puzzles that she got tripped up on (no one is perfect at everything!) it was her energy, positivity and belief that struck me. I am sure that we would all experience more success given that kind of attitude.

Thank you Rosedale for having us back and we look forward to the next time we get to awaken wonder with you.

Cheers,

Eric