Spy Games

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to create low-cost and--dare I say?--sneakily educational program for teens and tweens that they'll adore.

Introducing: SPY GAMES.

Agent K, at your service.  I've done this program for multiple years at my library and it remains one of most popular teen offerings of the summer.  (Plus, I LOVE RIDDLES AND MYSTERIES, so I'm 100% on board for repeating this on a yearly basis.)
                                                 
Materials Needed:

• printer paper (to print off clues and the like)
• folders (this will act as your agents' dossier and will include a few key items, including a cover letter describing the mission, a few cipher keys, and the first clue)
• scrap paper
• pencils
• prizes (If you want.  Over the years, my prizes have varied from candy to SRP coupons to bulk sunglasses purchased from Oriental Trading or the like.)

This program needs quite a bit of preparation and set-up time, but once it's up and running, it's very low-key (at least for the person running it!)

The first step is to decide how many clues you'd like to include and decide on the path your agents will follow.  This is a fantastic opportunity to highlight parts of your library or collection that might not be as well-known.  I also find it helpful to require the participants to talk to another member of the library staff. (see Clue 5 below)  So often, kids beeline straight for their librarian--which is AWESOME--but we also want them to know that they can talk to other members of the staff, as well.

Here are my clues for Summer Reading 2018:

Just a note, I've included the master page for the clues with the answers, but for the game, I copy and paste each individual clue onto a sheet, cut them into individual strips, and hide them in their appropriate and respective locations.  (Clue 1 is included in the dossier, while the rest are hidden throughout the library--Clue 2 hidden in the answer to Clue 1, Clue 3 in the answer to Clue 2, and so on and so forth.)

HINT: Once you've decided on your various locations, be sure to snag any materials you need at least a week in advance--what with working in a library and all, there's no guarantee that the specific title you need will be on the shelf the day of your program.

Now it's time to create your ciphers!  I typically try to introduce one new cipher a year, while revisiting some old favorites: pigpen, alphanumeric, etc.  I highly recommend having someone else try to solve your ciphers after you've finished, as you'll be able to catch any errors that might exist ahead of time.  As you can see in the images above, certain ciphers are just easier to write by hand...especially pigpen. (as seen below)

 

On the day of the program, about an hour or so before, you can begin setting the scene.  You'll need to hide your clues, remind staff of the goings-on--including handing out scripts, should that be necessary--and set up mission control.  Depending on the difficulty of your clues, consider having a computer designated as "home base" where they can Google/use the card catalog.  (My clues tend to allude to something else to discover, rather than just telling them the answer, as you likely noticed earlier on.)

HINT: Be sure, when hiding your clues, you include extra copies - - especially if you plan to let the kids take the ciphers and work elsewhere.

As your agents start arriving, have them break into groups and explain their mission.  You can really have fun with this, playing it up: "Library security has been compromised and it's up to you, agents, to help recover sensitive documents." or whatever fun spy jargon you choose to incorporate.  

To get the ball rolling, I use the close-up images to "verify that they are up to the task of protecting library security" and get the participants in the right mindset for the game.  Here's an example of last year's close-ups:

After they correctly identify all the close-ups, they are given their assignment (in the dossier) and best wishes for a successful mission.  As excitement levels tend to be rather high, I would also recommend an additional mention of the necessity to follow library rules and be considerate of other patrons.  

As I mentioned before, each dossier includes a cipher page (which doesn't contain all the ciphers, just a few they'll need: pigpen, morse, etc.), the cover page with the mission, the first clue, a pencil, and scrap paper.

After they receive their dossier, off they go!  While not essential, it seems to work best for the kids to work in groups...and for you, as the head agent, to be available should they need assistance.  You never know when a junior agent needs a nudge in the right direction.

Lastly, be stationed at mission control when the participants are ready to return with package in hand.  (Be sure to have enough packages to allow each group to retrieve one.)  The contents of the package are completely up to you!  The first year or so, I included some fun swag in each package; the last few years, however, I've simply filled an interoffice envelope with scrap paper and given the librarian behind the desk instructions to inform the kids that the package MUST be returned to Agent K unopened--no tampering allowed!  

Upon receiving the package, I thank them for their service...and cue the cries of "WHAT'S IN THE PACKAGE?!" and "OPEN IT."  To avoid opening an envelope of nothing, I simply tell them that it's "above their pay grade, but that the library is eternally grateful for their service and discretion."  😈  This last exchange may repeat itself a few times, but their interest and concern usually subsides when you offer them some other incentive as a thank you. (Like the aforementioned candy, coupons, what-have-you)

As I mentioned before, this has become a regular offering at my library.  I change everything up on a yearly basis--clues, close-ups, final conversations, etc.--as I've found that many kids continue to come back year after year.

Now, of course, this is just a jumping off point.  I'd love to see how you take these ideas and make them your own!  Please don't hesitate to let me know if you have any questions, would like the documents sent to you, and/or need any assistance getting things organized.  (After doing it for so many years, I've picked up a few tricks/ideas on how best to implement the program--and it's by far my favorite way to sneakily teach kids how to use the library/locate materials.)  

You can reach out to me at aramkids@aramlibrary.org

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