I have always loved those commercials where the
parents surprise the kids with a trip to Disney. They choke me up. However,
surprises in schedule and ASD kids don't always mix well. My kids get upset if
I don't remind them they have scouts that night or if I forget to let them know
we have an orthodontist appointment after school.
DH and I discussed it and we
decided to "surprise" the kids by telling about the vacation on
Firstborn's birthday. That way they would have a couple of months to process
the information and save their money for any extra souvenirs.
I wish I could say I made one of
those adorable "Countdown to Disney" calendars I've seen, but no--it
was all I could do to get the cookies made.
We tied the scavenger hunt into our
other planned summer activities and with book series they all love.
First clue setup: we were eating
pizza at Firstborn's favorite pizzeria. I asked the wait staff to come by with
a letter I had prepared, and to say it had been dropped off by owl. Firstborn
happens to be a HUGE owl fan at the moment.
First
Clue:
Dear
Misters and Miss Macindaw (not our real name of course),
We are
pleased to inform you that you have been accepted into the Macindaw Summer
School of Literary Themed Skill Learning. Please find enclosed the
opening portion of the list of all of the necessary and books and
equipment as well as subjects. (You'll need to be clever and as diligent
as Harry was in searching for Horcruxes if you want to find the rest).
Term
begins on June 13. We await your owls no later than Thursday.
Yours
sincerely,
Minerva
Macindaw (aka Mom)
Headmistress
Uniform:
All
students will require:
T-shirts
and shorts most of the time
Swimming
suits
Eighth,
sixth and fifth year students will require:
Scout
uniforms
You've
been eating in a great dining hall, but to complete your search, you must
return to your home and find the place where your favorite aquatic friends
dwell. Watch out for the giant squid's nemesis--Mamu.
Second Clue Location:
The Giant
Squid refers to the Harry Potter books. Mamu is the name of Lawboy's
GIGANTIC stuffed orca. This thing is seriously huge. I honestly
didn't know how we were going to get it home last year from Florida. In the
end we put it in a garbage bag and he carried it onto the airplane.
Anyway--the second clue was with Mamu.
Second
Clue:
Percy
Jackson and these animals don't need floaties or boogie boards--but we do.
Better take one along to help in case we run into the Kraken.
Third Clue Location:
Kraken is the name of one of the
roller coasters they rode at Sea World last year. The floaties and boogie
boards were in the garage.
Third
Clue:
Congratulations,
you've found the next portion of your book list.
Course
Books/Themes:
Percy
Jackson and the Olympians series
June
13-24
Swimming
lessons, 8th and 6th years will work towards swimming merit badges
Archery
Practice
Shield
making
Chariot
driving (biking)
Phalanx
training
Capturing
your Muse: or playing a musical instrument
Of
course it's not all swimming and playing war games-- Camp Half-Blood has lots
of different activities--including arts and crafts. Let's mold something
with our hands. Make sure you bring the alligator with you.
Fourth Clue Location:
This last clue was the first time I
had them start gathering things on their journey around our home. The
fourth clue was with the arts and crafts supplies--specifically the playdough.
Fourth
Clue:
The
Labyrinth Percy and Annabeth and the others traveled was like a logic puzzle at
times. Maybe we should try a puzzle of our own. Take a cookie
cutter with you.
Fifth Clue Location:
The
puzzle shelf. It is near the dress-up box. I put their mouse ears
with the dress-ups.
Fifth
Clue:
On
second thought, I think Wizard Chess is more my game. Each of you
better take a helmet/hat for head protection. Wizard Chess can be brutal!
Sixth Clue Location:
They took the Mouse ears with
them. The clue was with Whirlwind's chess set.
Sixth
Clue:
Congratulations
children, you've found your next portion of your curriculum/book list.
Harry
Potter Week(s)
Potions
(cooking)
Transfiguration
(art projects/building)
Herbology
(gardening)
Astronomy
wizard
chess
storytelling
(journalling)
Treasure
hunt (geocaching)
hiking/walking
--avoiding Voldemort
Using
music to calm the mythical beasts
Eighth,
sixth and fifth year students will see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt
2.
Professor
Sprout is expecting you in Herbology. Please get your shoes and find your
dragonhide gloves.
Seventh Clue Location:
The
gardening supplies in the garage where we have several pairs of garden
gloves.
Seventh
Clue:
I would
love to play Quidditch, but I'm missing my equipment. Please help me find
what I need.
Eighth Clue Location:
The
brooms were hanging up in the laundry area. Attached to one of the brooms
was a ziplock bag with chocolate covered pretzel rods (the really long kind).
Eighth
Clue:
Congratulations
on finding your brooms and wands. You're ready to tackle Hogwarts--just
don't go near the Forbidden Forest. Though if you had a Ranger like Halt
to help you learn how to navigate the forest you just might survive.
Bring your wands for magic and your Ranger weapons. (If you don't have
them on you, better go find them--it's where the next clue is).
Ninth Clue Location:
The seventh clue alludes to another
of their favorite series, The Ranger's Apprentice by John Flanagan. The
Ranger Corps are famously good with their bows and arrows. The boys had
to check their closet and find the bows and arrows.
Ninth
Clue:
You
remembered your bow & arrows! Good job. You've now also got
your training topics as a young ranger. Remember that an important
quality of all rangers is a sense of curiosity. It's also asking when you
don't know the answer. If we don't know the answers--where might we look
for them?
Ranger's
Apprentice weeks
Forestry
Archery
Wilderness
Survival
jongleur
training
Other
Possible topics:
Orienteering
Wilderness
Survival
Tenth Clue Location:
We don't
have a hard-bound encyclopedia set, but we do a lot of research online.
This clue sent them to the family computer. The CD mentioned was a mix of
Disney songs.
Tenth
Clue:
A good
jongleur knows it's important to have a good repertoire of music to
entertain. Turn on the computer, log in and play the CD in the CD drive
to give you music to help you be on your merry way. If you want to play
some of the music you'll have to look for it.
Eleventh Clue Location:
The jongleur clue refers to the
Ranger's Apprentice books again. Will (the main character) had learned to
play at mandola and had to go undercover as a traveling, singing performer
(jongleur). The kids had to go to our living room which acts as our music
room. The clue was hiding in the piano bench.
Eleventh
Clue:
Ahh,
the sweet sounds of music. Many bards throughout the years have told
stories to music. Some have just told them and others have drawn them on the
walls. Sadie and Carter have learned to read the writing on the
wall. Have you?
Twelfth Clue Location:
I have
some vinyl signs in our living room. The clue was taped to the back of
one of the phrases. Sadie and Carter are the two main characters in the Kane
Chronicles series by Rick Riordan.
Twelfth
Clue:
The
amulets Sadie and Carter had in the first Kane Chronicles book were vital to
the story. Mom's jewelry is pretty, but not life changing.
Kane
Chronicles subject list
visit
Museum of Natural History
Reading
Merit badge--Egypt
communications
Genealogy
Personal
Management
Archaeology
Record
keeping (Scrapbooking)
Thirteenh Clue Location:
My jewelry box on top of my Mickey
Mouse earrings.
Thirteenth
Clue:
Sadie
and Carter come from two important family lines. They ought to record
their family memories. Find our family memory book that goes along with
the music. Bring the earrings that match it too.
Fourteenth Clue Location:
We have a bookcase where I keep all
the scrapbooks/family histories. The new scrapbook I made (It was digital
and then I had it printed) was sticking out a bit from the rest of the
scrapbooks. The clue was sticking out with it.
Fourteenth
Clue:
Upon
completion of the summer's activities we will have a graduation from the Macindaw
School of Literary Themed Learning. Please turn to the back flap of the
book to find out where that will be taking place.
Last Clues...
The back flap said, "Surprise
kids! We're heading back to Disney World and to Harry Potter world this Fall, 2011."
There was
a final envelope tucked in behind the flap.
Dear
Misters and Miss Macindaw,
Congratulations
Children! You've successfully navigated the search for the missing book
lists, and have completed your initial journey into the literary world.
Upon completion of this summer's activities, you will hopefully have earned
merit badges, gained new knowledge, new skills and new confidence. We
have every faith that you will not only excel in your studies, but have a
wonderful time in doing so.
We hope
you apply yourselves in the learning of these important subjects.
Enclosed
is the complete list.
After
you read this list, we ask that you go to the cupboard under the stairs and
find your final reward. Bring the book with you.
We look
forward to seeing you the first day term. June 6, 2011.
Sincerely,
Minerva
Macindaw (aka Mom)
Headmistress
Second
Page:
Uniform:
All
students will require:
T-shirts
and shorts most of the time
Swimming
suits
Eighth,
sixth and fifth year students will require:
Scout
uniforms
Course
Books/Themes:
Percy
Jackson and the Olympians series
Swimming
lessons June 13-24 , 8th and 6th years will work towards swimming merit badges
Archery
Practice
Shield
making
Chariot
driving (biking)
Phalanx
training
Capturing
your Muse: or playing a musical instrument
Harry
Potter
Potions
(cooking)
Transfiguration
(art projects)
Herbology
(gardening)
Astronomy
wizard
chess
storytelling
(journaling)
Treasure
hunt (geocaching)
hiking/walking
--avoiding Voldemort
Using music
to calm the mythical beasts
Eighth,
sixth and fifth year students will see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt
2.
Ranger's
Apprentice
Forestry
Archery
Wilderness
Survival
jongleur
training
Other
Possible topics:
Orienteering
Wilderness
Survival
Kane
Chronicles
visit
Museum of Natural History
Reading
Merit badge--Egypt books
Communications
Genealogy
Personal
Management
Archaeology
Record
keeping (Scrapbooking)
We hope
you apply yourselves in the learning of these important subjects /Merit Badges/
Cub awards
Orienteering
Reading
Wilderness
Survival
Family
Life
personal
management
geocacheing
emergency
preparedeness
personal
fitness
communications
reading
The
cookies were an attempt to make these. Mine didn't come out nearly so
well.
Maybe
our journey will inspire you to create one of your own. If so, Happy
Hunting!
Love this idea!
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